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FALLON COUNTY
O’Fallon Flashbacks
Copyright 1975 O'Fallon Historical Society, Baker, Montana. ALL RIGHTS RESEVED
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Copyright 1975 O'Fallon Historical Society, Baker, Montana. Printed by Western printing & Lithography
home we had to learn English as well as make our grades. Miss Pauline Hall was our teacher and said that we did fine. Some of the teachers I remember are Ada Crow, Mrs. R. W. Rose and Estelene Randell. I have lost track of her but would like to hear of her. One year three student teachers; Josephine Howell, Jean Neveux and Adeline Sherwinn, took student lessons at our school. They stayed at our place, so in the evenings Dad took lessons from Rodemacer's Spelling and Language Book. The Thomas Breens were our closest neighbors, so naturally we became close friends and spent many happy days together.
The men enjoyed rabbit hunts, taking sides north and South of Pennel Creek. The losers had to serve an oyster stew dinner at the schoolhouse.
There also were the school plays, picnics, the demonstration of the first radio with ear-phones, sled riding down the steep hills at noon or recess and the boys flying their kites, at which they were very good. We had a bell at the ranch which fascinated us children, but we were taught to ring it only when needed. In the spring when the creek was swollen to the banks and the footbridge was covered with water we had to stay with the neighbors on school days. Threshing time was a busy season. The men were up at dawn to eat breakfast, lunch in the field was enhanced by watermelon which mother had grown in her garden. They loved them, as they were a real treat. Sometimes the Watkins Man would drop in with horse and buggy. We always looked forward to his coming because he usually stayed the night. The horse roundup always fascinated us youngsters. We'd hang over the fence and watch the sorting and branding.
The Fred Straub family at the Clark place.
Our church was the Plevna Congregational, so every Sunday we drove the seven miles to church with horse and buggy-that is until Dad bought a Model T.
My brother, Richard, was born at Eureka and sister, Emma, was born at Vananda. Art was born north of Plevna.
My parents are deceased. Fred Straub died November 11, 1966 and Magdalena Straub, my mother, died April 29, 1971. Brother Richard passed away in 1933, Rudolph in 1966 and sisters Emma Straub Wenz in 1950 and Rosalie Straub Hirning in 1966.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Straub, 1960, 43rd. Wedding Anniversary.
PAUL STRAUB
I was born in a small village named New Lustdorf near Odessa in the Ukraine of South Russia, in January of 1893. There were 11 in our family, 2 of which died as young children. My parents were Friedrich (Fred) and Elizabeth Huether Straub.
They were farmers on 100 acres of land, some deeded and some leased and my father also practiced the profession of blacksmithing. He passed away in 1913. My brother, Fred, and his wife stayed on the place and I worked as a farmhand for a wealthier neighbor for about a year. During this time Fred learned from our Uncle Henry in America that we could better our fortunes by migrating to the New World as he had done some years before.
So my brother, Fred, and wife; one of our sisters and a sister of Fred's wife decided to come to America. I also decided to come. They received their passports, but I discovered that I could not secure one because I had by then reached draft age.
Then I learned that the Underground Agency could and would assist me in getting from Odessa to Bremen, Germany on the payment to them of $72 of American money or its equivalent in Russian money. The adventure began on July 7 by train, carriage, wagon, on foot, by boat, undergoing many delays, and hiding in woods. We finally arrived at a Russian port where I was separated from several traveling companions who were trying to leave Russia, too. I went from there to Bremen by ship where I met the others of my relatives who had come by train from Odessa. After completing arrangements, we boarded an Ocean Steamer and arrived at Baltimore, Maryland in the U.S.A. the latter part of July, 1914.
We traveled by train to Eureka, South Dakota where we met Uncle Henry Straub and family. I found work near Wishek, N. D. for a time and in 1915 I married Joanna Sophia Krueg at Vananda, Montana. We farmed there until 1918. We came to this vicinity where we leased land, first 12 miles south of Plevna, next year moving to another lease 6 miles northeast of Plevna. In 1926 we purchased land of our own 16 miles northwest of Plevna where we farmed until we retired and moved into Plevna in 1953.
During these years we obtained our American Citizenship Papers, continued our farming and stock raising
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operations and raised our family of four children; Albina, Johanna, Erna and Helmet.
Our neighbors were the Rony Tunby, the Fred Straub, and Fred and Charlie Houzvicki families.
We enjoyed having picnics with our neighbors and attending church services. I went to grade school in Russia but I had no opportunity to get a higher education. I was very much interested in books and lessons and I really enjoyed my schoolwork. From the age of nine I was very much interested in history and loved to read the Bible. After I was confirmed at 15, 1 was so happy for the fellowship of the other people, both young and old. At 18 1 became much interested in religion and in singing with other people. I have always tried to help and love my neighbor. I still like to go visiting in the homes of friends and relatives and at the Hospital and Nursing Home.
My wife passed away in 1960 and I have continued living in our home in Plevna. I often visit friends and have taken several trips. 1 have attended reunions in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and North and South Dakota.
My son, Helmet Straub, is on the home place northwest of Plevna. All four children are married and I enjoy visiting with them and their families.
The Sutton hornestead west
of Ollie, .June Orton Sutton with horse.
MR. AND MRS. RAY SUTTON
Ray Eugene Sutton was born at Shady Grove, Minnesota on April 7, 1878. His father was a veteran of the Civil War and died when Ray was eight years old. His mother, Elsie Hyde, was of Scottish descent and passed away when Ray was 12 years of age. Left an orphan he went to live with an aunt and uncle in Melrose, Wisconsin. Here he worked on his uncle's farm, played baseball, rode running horses at the county fairs and in the winters cut timber in the woods.
At the age of 21 he married Jane Orton. They lived in Princeton, Minnesota and then in Minneapolis where he worked for the fire department, driving the well trained horses that were used at that time.
In 1909 he came to eastern Montana and took a homestead four miles west of Ollie. His chief interest was raising Belgian horses, and farming. During World War I, he and Chris Jesperson bought horses in Fallon and nearby counties to be used in the war zones. He was a County Commissioner of Fallon County for six years and during these years the first graveled road between Ollie and Baker was built. The work was all done with horses. Some of the men who worked on the project were Bert Scisson, Ott Buckingham, Roy Holder, Clyde Pugh and Albert Sherva, the grader man. Mr. and Mrs. C. Bishop cooked for the crew in a cook-car. The cook-car was a complete kitchen on wheels which moved along from camp to camp. Some of the neighbors were Marion Hopper, Carl Rose, Charley Slater, and Carl Fultz.
Ray was always interested in baseball and played on the team that used to have a diamond opposite the Dennis Hall on the old road to Wibaux.
Mabelle and Marion Sutton on farm at Ollie.
Mrs. Sutton passed away October 19, 1920, leaving two daughters, Mabelle and Marion. Mr. Sutton was father and mother to the girls until he married Mildred F. Lamb on June 17, 1923 at Baker. The family lived on the Ollie place until they bought the Bruce Bert ranch five miles west of Baker. The two girls finished high school at Baker. During the depression years the farm was sold to Pat Kaiser of Plevna, and they moved to Mrs. Sutton's homestead south of Plevna.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Sutton, 1934.
In 1947, when Mr. Sutton's health began to fail, the ranch was sold and after the auction sale they bought a two-acre plot of land near Hubbard, Oregon to retire on. Here Mr. Sutton passed away on September 5, 1951. By his request he is buried in Belle Passe Cemetery near Woodburn, where his
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following friends and neighbors of Ollie, Montana are also buried: Mr. and Mrs. Marion Hopper, Mrs. and Mrs. Lowry West, Mr. and Mrs. C. Zollinger and Mr. June Billington. Ray was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge of Ollie, Montana.
Mildred F. Lamb was born December 5,1873 to Mr. and Mrs. 0. F. Lamb of Walker, Iowa. She received her schooling in Marion, Iowa and at the age of 17 began her teaching career in the rural schools of Iowa, South Dakota and Utah. Her life read like a storybook. When teaching in Utah she and several other teachers hired a driver and covered wagon and spent the summer vacationing in Yellowstone Park. In 1910 she came to Montana and took a homestead in the Lame Jones country. At times she hauled her grain to Ismay by team and would bring home supplies for the winter months. She taught schools in Fallon County until she was elected the first County Superintendent of Schools in Fallon County. She served in this office for five years. She married Ray E. Sutton in June, 1923 at Baker in the home of Shirley Donovan, the minister being the Reverend Benjamin Donovan of Spearfish, South Dakota. Others present at the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Keener and L. Vine Donovan.
During the depression years when the family was living south of Plevna, she again went back to school teaching and taught at the Gregerson and Webster rural schools. When Mr. Sutton became ill, they moved to Mitchell, Oregon where she taught for two terms in a lumber mill town school. She and Mr. Sutton lived in a little one-room log teacherage.
After Ray passed away she sold their little home at Hubbard and returned to Iowa to make her home with her sister, Ellen.
She had come to Baker to attend the 50th Wedding Reception of Mr. and Mrs. Urvin Cox, staying on to visit friends and relatives when she became ill and passed away August 27, 1962.
This little poem was in one of her diaries.
Lord, Thou knowest that I am growing older.
Keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the idea that I must express myself on every subject.
Relieve me from the craving to straighten out every one's affairs.
Keep me from the recital of endless detail. Give me wings to get to the point.
Seal my lips when I am inclined to tell of my aches and pains.
They are increasing through the years and my love to speak of them grows sweeter as the time goes by.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.
Make me thoughtful but not nosy. Helpful but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom and experience, it does seem a pity not to use it all.
But Thou knowest Lord, I want a few friends at the end.
THE BROTHERS, AUGUST AND EMIL SWANSON
The bachelor brothers, August and Emil, Swanson came to Montana from Minnesota. They purchased the T. T. Lunder farm-ranch land three miles south of the Willard Hall. They were very popular with the younger folks. Many "drop in" potluck suppers, cards and dancing were enjoyed in their bachelor home. Emil, the elder, married a widow, Gina Fletcher. August took for a wife, Katherine Anderson, a widow from the Ismay community. Home for them then was Baker, Miles and Billings.
August Swanson
Emil Swanson.
Pictures loaned by Marion Hanson.
LYLE TENNANT
My father, Abe Tennant, was born in April of 1877 near Hay Center, Nebraska. At the age of seventeen he left home and went to Medora, North Dakota. Medora was a frontier town at that time and they were building the Northern Pacific Railroad then. My father worked for ranchers around there and he also built a blacksmith shop in Medora.
He then went to Harding County, South Dakota where he and Lulu Willett were married in 1910. Lulu was one of four children. Lulu's father, my grandfather, was the first postmaster of Willett, South Dakota. This post office is discontinued now. My grandfather was the first homesteader in Harding County, South Dakota and I was the last.
My parents homesteaded north of Camp Crook, South Dakota. There were seven of us children; Lyle (Shy) of Baker, Montana, Fritz, deceased, Onida Winson of Lolo, Montana, Orval, deceased, Abram, deceased and Loretta, deceased.
I graduated from the Marmarth, North Dakota High School in 1933. After graduation, I went to Harding County, South Dakota and bought a small bunch of sheep. I married Frances Havner of Marmarth, North Dakota in 1936. We have one daughter, Darlene (Dude), who is married to Wayne Rustad of Ollie, Montana. I have two grandsons; A.L. and Todd.
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Lyle Tennant home on the ranch, Lyle and his grandsons, A. L. and Todd.
In 1938 1 trailed a bunch of sheep to the ranch I am presently on. My father and two of my brothers, Fritz and Bun, and I stayed on this ranch which consisted of about seventy sections. We raised mostly sheep until recent years when we went to both sheep and cattle. In 1967 1 sold a large part of the ranch due to the deaths of my two brothers. It was purchased by several neighbors and myself, who formed a Grazing Association. My daughter, her husband and their two sons and I now live on the portion of the ranch that I kept.
ELIAS TRAWEEK
Elias Traweek, son of Bailey and Sarah Traweek, of Lampasas, Texas, who owned a farm and horse ranch there, was born Nov. 25,1873. Elias came to Sundance, Wyoming in 1891. He worked on a cattle ranch for his brother, Tom, who was foreman for the YT ranch, owned by Colin Hunter and Bergman. This work eventually brought Elias through the Black Hills and Powder River country to a YT ranch located at the mouth of the Mizpah Creek, about thirty miles east of Miles City. Range work later brought him to a YT winter camp located in the southeast corner of present Fallon County.
In 1900 he married Lela Maude Johnson of Jericho Springs, Missouri, who was visiting her sister, Mrs. Robert Yokley, living in the vicinity of the winter camp. He then homesteaded at the head of Coal Bank Creek, thirty miles south of Baker, and started raising cattle and sheep.
While developing his ranch he freighted by team and wagon between Ekalaka and Wibaux, hauling wool to the railroad at Wibaux, and returning to Ekalaka with groceries and other supplies for the R. C. Charters General Store. The farm land was worked by horse drawn implements for many years before tractors came into use in this part of the country. Wheat was hauled to Baker in horse drawn grain wagons. This was a two day trip from the ranch, and winter supplies of groceries and clothing for the family were procured on these trips.
Picture from the Baker Museum. Elias Traweek.
Elias Traweek ranch, Tom Traweek and wife, Gladys, still live on the ranch, the original log house is in the left foreground, 1945.
Elias and Maude had two sons, Thomas B. and Everett D., who grew up on the ranch, going to school a few summer terms in country school, then later in Ekalaka and Baker. They assisted their father with ranch work over the years. Elias and Maude spent their retirement years in Baker.
Thomas, known as Tom, and Everett, known as Dick, married Vincelette sisters, Gladys and Sybil. Tom continued to work with his father, Elias, and still lives on the family ranch with his wife, Gladys. Tom and Gladys had three sons, Wayne, Howard and Roger. Wayne married Leona Scheuffele Bechtold, daughter of John Scheuffele of Ismay, Montana. Leona was formerly the wife of Ted Bechtold, deceased, and had a family of seven children from that marriage, being Saundra, James, Vicki, Sherri, Terry, John and Edward Bechtold. Howard married Norma Askin, daughter of Alva and Helen Askin of Ismay, Montana. They have four children, Howard, Jr., Mary, Thomas, and Timothy. Roger married Lennice Nichols, daughter of Harvey and Ruth Nichols of rural Baker, and they have two children, Susan and Greg.
Everett, known as Dick, married Sybil Vincelette. After
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a few years of living on rented ranches, they bought the Charles Hamilton homestead, located on Little Beaver Creek, near the old Webster store and post office. He farmed and ranched, developing alfalfa meadows with irrigation from Little Beaver Creek. Their children were Gordon and Shirley.
Shirley married Kenneth Asay of Lovell, Wyoming, and they have three children, Jacque, Linda and David. Gordon continues to operate the home ranch. He married Margaret Jarding Jensen, daughter of Emery Jarding, coming from South Dakota. Margaret was the former wife of Ralph Jensen, deceased, of Baker, and has two daughters, Joan and Deborah, from that marriage. She was Administrator of the Fallon Memorial Hospital in Baker, Montana for a period of ten years.
Mr. and Mrs. Art Tronstad, 1968, 25th Wedding Anniversary.
MR. AND MRS. ART TRONSTAD
I was born Jan. 29, 1910 at Arvada, Wyoming daughter of Grace Anne and Edward Leo Burke.
My father, Ed Burke, was born in Ireland or New York City June 5, 1884, the youngest of five children. The Burke family home was at Muscatine, Iowa. His mother died when he was six months of age. His father died when he was two years. He was adopted by an older cousin and lived until he was a young man at Aledo, Illinois. When he was nineteen he went "WEST" to Arvada, Wyoming where his sister and her husband lived. He worked in a general store owned by his brother-in-law. It was there he met and married my mother.
My mother, Grace Anne Shreve, was born August 29, 1891 at Decker, Montana, the youngest of three children and the only daughter of Annie Jane and Morris Alexander Shreve. They lived at Decker, Montana on the Tongue River until about 1902 when they moved to the Ekalaka area. She attended St. Martin's Academy at Sturgis, South Dakota for high school and taught on Powder River in 1908. She and my father were married in April 1909.
In March 1912 they moved to the Willard community to a homestead near my mother's parents. My sister, Alice Louise Burke, was born at my grandparent's home May 10, 1912.
Old friends and neighbors, left to right, Mrs. Palma Schorsch, Mattie Whisnant, Mrs. Maywold, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Bob Yokley, Mrs. Coldwell, Mrs. Maud Traweek and Laura Yokley Owen.
My first school experience when I was five was school held in a small room of the Lunder bunkhouse. Lillian Hildreth was the teacher. The next year my first grade teacher was Myrtle Cox. The other teachers I remember best were Beulah Robinson and Mrs. Stenerson for my eighth grade at the Willard School.
More friends and neighbors, Elias Traweek, Dick Traweek, and Tom Traweek.
The outstanding event of my middle teens was the trip our family made to Iowa and Illinois to visit my Dad's relatives. We visited at Muscatine, Iowa with my Dad's brother and family, uncle, aunt and two cousins, then on to Aledo, Illinois where Dad's adopted sister entertained us royally. Our car was a Model "T" and it took six days to get to Muscatine, Iowa.
I graduated from the Baker High School in 1927. 1 worked for a time at Moshier's Millinery and Ready to Wear store. In May 1942 1 returned to Baker to work at Grainger's Cafe. Art Tronstad and I were married at Miles City February 3, 1943. We operate the place his father had taken as a homestead in 1914 and we live on and operate the place where Art grew up.
Our family consists of my daughter, Jeanette, (Mrs. Harold Tronstad) our son Harry, and our daughter, Gail (Mrs. Richard Brockbank).
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Frances and Art Tronstad, Wedding picture, 1943.
Our grandchildren: John, Mikell, Patty, children of Jeanette and Harold Tronstad; Leroy, Cindy, children of Jean and Harry Tronstad; Keven and Cheri, children of Gail and Richard Brockbank.
Helga and Rony Tunby, 40th Wedding Anniversary at the American Lutheran Church in Baker, June, 1959.
RONY H. AND HELGA TUNBY
Because both Rony H. and Helga Tunby are deceased, the following history was compiled by their children and submitted by Elphie Briggs-1973.
Hieronymus (Rony) Heyerdahl Tunby was born near Houghton, South Dakota on April 6, 1887.
Rony H. Tunby came to Montana in the spring of 1910 at the age of 23 years to establish a homestead. He traveled by train to Ismay and walked from there to the site of his homestead. This was located on a quarter section of Section 18, Township 9, Range 57. This is about 12 miles north of Plevna. At the time he established his homestead this was a part of Custer County. At that time Westmore was the closest town, being about 6 miles distant. While living on his homestead he worked for Mr. Titus who apparently had a large ranch north of him. This ranch is now owned by Glenn Rugg.
His parents were Otto and Erika Tunby who came from Norway to Houghton, Brown County, South Dakota in 1886 where they homesteaded. Otto was a stockman.
Rony's childhood was spent in the rural area near Houghton, South Dakota. He attended elementary school in nearby Brookings, South Dakota.
Rony enlisted in the U. S. Army in April, 1917. He was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone for two years, being discharged in 1919.
Rony H. Tunby while in the United States Army during World War I, in the Panama Canal Zone.
Helga Nygaard was born near Houghton, South Dakota on April 15, 1892. Her parents were Marius and Hanna Nygaard who had also come from Norway to Houghton, Brown County, South Dakota where they lived on a farm. They were neighbors of the Otto Tunby's.
When she was six years old the family returned to Norway for a visit, all of the family returned to South Dakota except Helga and a brother. This brother also returned to America in a short while but Helga remained there until she finished high school. When she returned to the United States she attended St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in Fargo, North Dakota. As a registered nurse she served with the Red Cross during World War I. Most of the time was spent at Camp Dodge, Iowa. She was discharged soon after the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.
Rony and Helga were married in Houghton, South Dakota on June 17, 1919. They lived on a farm near Houghton until in the spring of 1925 when they moved to Montana. Ten children were born to them, two died in infancy. The four older children were born by the time they left South Dakota. They lived in Westmore, Montana for a short while, then moved to a farm about four miles north. This farm is now owned by the Emil Sielers.
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Helga Nygaard [Tunby] shown in her Red Cross nurses uniform during World War L
In 1928 they bought the farm which was then known as the Abelt place. This is about 2 miles north of Sielers. The homestead site adjoins this place and comprises a section. He leased two quarter sections from two of the pioneer women homesteaders of that time, Mrs. Wolff and Mrs. Sarff. Later he bought these quarter sections and also another section from Art Bickle. The family grew up on this ranch. Two sons, Maurice and Rolph now own this place and another one located about 12 miles north, known as the former Chris Eklund place.
The winter of 1927 was a fierce one, this is the one the folks referred to often as one of the worst ones they endured. The memories I have of the winters spent on the farm are of plenty of snow, with drifts as high as the top of the fences, making igloos of snow blocks and sliding down hills.
Lack of moisture was a problem, also the grasshoppers destroyed grass and crops. The depression was rough on our folks, as it was on others. With money so scarce Dad worked with many others on the new Highway 12. This highway replaced the Old Yellowstone Trail which ran through Westmore and Ismay.
He raised Hereford cattle and sheep. We also had some very fine horses. At one time he had a team of black Percherons, they were a beautiful team. Horses were used to build Highway 12; and one time he loaned his team to a neighbor who was also working on the highway. One of these horses foundered on oats and I remember the great hurt this was for the folks. They also raised turkeys for a time, but this was a trial. I remember Mother being very frustrated she said one had only to look at the turkeys and they would fall over dead. At that, I remember a turkey butchering day, they did raise 200 one year.
We didn't always have a car that would run during the thirties, so much of our traveling was done on horseback, wagon, or on foot. At one time the folks found it necessary to try to borrow some money. Dad caught a ride to Baker but had no luck getting a loan, he then caught a ride to Glendive, but had no luck there either. So he walked home crosscountry as far as the Ole Sateren ranch on Cabin Creek. He had spent one night sleeping on the ground in the badlands. He borrowed a horse from the Saterens and rode home.
A bright spot during the late thirties came when the folks received World War I bonuses. They bought a John Deere Tractor. Besides using this for farming Dad used it to build dams. He built them for irrigation before the Government encouraged and subsidized them. Dad always was interested in conservation; he was way ahead of present day environmentalists and nature lovers. The beauty of God's creation was a wonder and a joy to him and he did his best to preserve it and teach this to his children.
All of the children attended Dry Fork School. This was about two miles north of the home ranch. The four oldest completed the eighth grade there.
The early years on the ranch weren't all unhappy times. There were neighborly visits, school picnics, Fourth of July picnics, dances at the schoolhouse and in Westmore. Also there were political rallies at the schoolhouses.
Our folks were always interested in county, state and national affairs. They always had magazines and newspapers even when money was scarce. Dad traded sheep pelts, hides, and scrap metal for these subscriptions. We had an organ and Mother played this a lot. Many Sunday evenings we sang hymns while she played. When neighbors came to visit they asked her to play.
Our parents had a deep and abiding Christian faith. This faith helped them weather the many difficult times and added to the joyful times. We couldn't attend worship services very often while on the ranch, but when a minister came to Westmore we attended there and when a car was working we attended services at the American Lutheran Church.
One of the neighbors at that time was Paul Straub. The family lived only a quarter of a mile away. Other neighbors were the Fred Straubs, the Park Householders, the Joe Rileys, all the Coopers, the Houzvickas, Minnie and Wesley Youngs, the Gratz family, the Fritz Oswalds, Clark Ferris, Benjamin Dierckman, Tony Pitsner, the Forrest Munyons, the Bill Ohlrichs, Mrs. Maude Willman and John, the Leonard Howes, the John Schueffeles, Sam Lusty, the George Griffiths, Louis Armsworthy, Patterson, the Semmermeyers and the Bergmans. Many of these moved away but some are still living on their original homes and the children of some are now on their parent's farms.
Special times were the busy times of shearing sheep and threshing when neighbors would come to help. Neighbors traded work with others as they still do.
It wasn't until in the 1950's that the folks got a good well on the place. During the years we grew up there was always the problem of good water. We hauled water much of the time from Straubs, we also used rain and snow water.
I remember Mother's dismay at the numerous cats we had, and we had plenty of them. Dad couldn't bear to kill them. One time he brought home three greyhound pups. We needed dogs to keep the coyotes from the sheep. At one time he borrowed a greyhound bitch for this purpose. She had 15 pups in one litter. That was a catastrophe as far as Mother was concerned. How does one feed that many hounds and a family of ten? But Dad made kettles of mush for them, and eventually they were given away.
In 1935 Maurice broke his leg during play at Dry Fork School. He spent three months in traction in the old Elizabeth Hospital in Baker. Mother stayed to care for him and to work to help pay the hospital bill. Before this time Mother had done all the family wash on the washboard. Because my sister, Helen, and I were now in charge of the household chores the folks felt it was necessary to get a washing machine. We were so happy with this gas-powered machine, fumes and noise were overlooked. During the time we lived on the ranch many of the neighbors called on Mother
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for help and advice when there was sickness because it was difficult to get hold of a doctor. She attended quite a few births in the country, but was always relieved when the doctor arrived.
After Roy finished the 8th grade he began high school in Plevna, boarding out in a home there. That fall he contacted scarlet fever, all of us children then got it, except Gordon who had had it the previous summer. Then the next February all of us had whooping cough. So Roy didn't go back to high school. The next year both he and Gordon stayed and helped on the farm. The following year, 1938, Helen and I finished the 8th grade. That fall the folks made the decision that she would move in to Baker with the children so we could get a high school education. The four older ones all began as freshmen. We rented several houses there until they were able to buy a home. Mother first worked at housecleaning in order to earn money to help for our schooling. Soon she began filling in as a nurse at the hospital and this led into full time employment until she retired.
The years from 1938 through 1951 when the last child, Rolph, graduated from high school were rough ones for our folks. It was a lonesome and rough time for Dad since he spent much of the time alone on the ranch. He came to town whenever he could leave the stock. Mother went out whenever she could, taking baked goods, clean clothes, etc. with her. One time she and Rolph walked from Westmore to the farm carrying bread and clothes because her postcard didn't reach Dad in time for him to know they were coming. This time was also hard on Mother since she had most of the responsibility of raising the family and working at the same time. During the first years we attended high school Mother and we children moved to the farm in the spring and back to Baker in the fall. Later we spent time at both places throughout the years.
The courage and strength Dad had, paid off because he was able to hang on to the ranch through all the rough times.
Mother managed the Elizabeth Hospital for several years, not because she wanted to, but because no one else would and someone had to. This wasn't a moneymaking proposition and her health became bad about this time. When the four oldest of us graduated from high school in 1942 the folks were presented with an honorary diploma. Life became somewhat easier for the folks after this time except for the anxiety of having Roy and Gordon in the military service during World War II. During this time Helen was in Fargo taking nurse's training under the Cadet Program.
Because of the many years of selfless giving through her nursing, a tribute was paid to her in the FALLON COUNTY TIMES after her death in February, 1966, which stated in part..." One never heard of Nurse Tunby, nor Mrs. Tunby but just "Tunby" and how often "Tunby" was wanted. Her years of dealing with many different and often difficult experiences developed within her a richness of understanding. Some of us have known others who have had extremes of circumstances in their life, and too often such a person, when the going is rough, will spend much time telling about their easy days, and show a bitterness. This quality had no place in Mrs. Tunby, she did not try to evoke sympathy, rather she was much more apt to find humor."
After 1951 the folks had some years of enjoying life together on the ranch again. Maurice and Rolph worked with Dad on the ranch. Dad died on October 24, 1960. Mother stayed on the ranch until her death on February 2, 1966.
Roy H. married Marion Gail of Highland Park, Illinois in 1949. They live in Bozeman where he is employed with the FAA. They have one son and two daughters.
Gordon 0. married Maryellen Knecht of Houghton, South Dakota in 1946. They live in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he is employed with the postal department at World Chamberlain International Airport. They have two sons and one daughter.
Helen Margaret married Delmar J. Jensen of Baker in 1947. They live in Baker where Delmar is employed by the Montana-Dakota Utilities Company and Helen as a nurse (part-time) at Fallon Memorial Hospital. They have five children, two sons and three daughters.
Elphie Ruth married Kenneth D. Briggs of Baker in 1945. They lived in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for 21 years and moved to Miles City, Montana in 1967 where both were employed at the Pine Hills School. Kenneth died in October, 1971. They have two daughters and one son, and one granddaughter.
Marie Louise married Henry W. Moe of Great Falls, Montana in 1948. They live in Spokane, Washington where Hank is employed by Kaiser Aluminum. They have four sons and one daughter.
Maurice 0. married Mickey Roe of Kokomo, Indiana in 1964. They live on a ranch north of Baker. They have one daughter and one son.
Edith Erika married DuWayne Johnson of Baker in 1951. They live on a farm near Hinsdale, Montana. They have three daughters, two sons and one grandson.
Rolph is unmarried and lives on the home place. He served as County Commissioner of Fallon County for a six year term, beginning in 1964. He didn't run for a second term.
As mentioned before, Rolph and Maurice own the home place and the former Chris Eklund place, raising cattle and sheep.
John Venell, Sr. as a young man.
JOHN VENELL
Mr. and Mrs. John G. Venell, the parents of John R. Venell, were homesteaders at Ash Creek, South Dakota in 1908. John R. had been born prior to that at Eaton, Indiana on June 19, 1902. While he was still at home John attended elementary school at Ash Creek.
In 1920 he left South Dakota and went to St. Paul, Minnesota where he worked for his uncle in a Drygoods Store until 1927.
John R. married Pearl Holstrom in St. Paul in 1925.
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Their daughter Jeanette was born in St. Paul on September 21, 1926.
In August of 1927, John and Pearl moved to Baker, Montana where John worked at the Carbon Black Plant east of Baker. While they were at the Carbon Black Plant their closest neighbor was Jonas Griffith. John worked there until the plant closed down in December of 1929.
Paul Venell with his parents, Pearl and John, Sr.
After this he worked for the State Highway until 1941 when he went to work for the Montana Dakota Utilities Company. In August of 1950 the company transferred John to Worland, Wyoming where he worked until his retirement in 1965. He plans on making his permanent home in Worland.
John and Pearl had three children and six grand children. They are; Jenette Calbick who has three boys and lives in Kalispell, Montana; John, Jr. who never married and is at home with his dad and Paul who is married, has three boys and lives in Tempe, Arizona.
NELLIE A. BREEN VISBORG [FREELAND]
I was born in the Pennel Creek district, the oldest child of Thomas and Cecil Breen, in June, 1912. 1 lived in that country and went to school at the Clark School, grew up and married Adolph Visborg in January 22, 1929. We were blessed with four boys.
I can remember during my school years, we would have programs, country-dances, and box socials. The girls would bring a fancy boxed lunch and then all the lunches would be sold to the highest bidder and the girl who brought that lunch would eat midnight lunch with the man who bought her lunch. Also when the jackrabbits got so bad they were destroying the crops, the neighbors would get together and have a rabbit hunt. They would form sides, the losing side would put on an oyster stew and dance for the winners. We really had good times.
In 1927 1 won an all paid trip to Chicago on my 4-H work. It was paid for by the C.M.&ST.P. Railroad.
Our four boys are Alfred, who lives at Decker, Mont., Frank who lives in Utah, and Cecil who lives in Riverside, California. Raymond was killed at the Bakery in Baker in August of 1947. I have four granddaughters and one grandson and will be great-grandma in March.
I lost my husband in 1955 after we were married nearly 26 yrs. I was remarried in 1957 to Wm. Freeland in Miles City. We had been married only four years when he passed away of a heart attack. In the fall of 1962 1 sold my home there and came to California City, California where I am a waitress at the New Holiday Inn. I have bought myself a Mobile Home. I like it here-no smog and last Christmas we had 4 inches of rain.
THE VINCELETTE FAMILY
Charles G. Vincelette, of French ancestry, son of Nazaire Vincelette, a farmer in Quebec province, Canada, was born in Canada, but later lived in Maine and Massachusetts, and became a citizen of the United States. He was a stone cutter by trade.
He married Alphonzine Savage, daughter of Joseph Savage, also a farmer in Quebec region. Their children were Arsidas, Azarias, Arthur, Alida and Amanda. He brought his family to Deadwood, South Dakota during the period of the excitement over discovery of gold in the Black Hills region. He worked as a quartz millman for the Homestake Mills, and his sons were employed in the Homestake Mines.
After a few years of employment in the mines, Charles and his sons became interested in a stock ranch near Deadwood, and invested in Hereford cattle. Arthur was drowned while they lived on this ranch. In June 1903 the Vincelettes drove these cattle to Montana. They had selected the old MC Ranch, a historic location about fifteen miles northeast of Baker. This ranch was established by Frank Preston, who disposed of it to the Connors, and Connors sold it to the Vincelettes. The Preston postoffice had been established by Frank Preston, and the Vincelettes continued to operate the postoffice for some time.
Arsidas had married Eva Doody, of St. Onge, South Dakota, before coming to Montana. Azarias returned to St. Onge in November 1903 after they had settled on the MC ranch, and married Gertrude Thompson, a daughter of John D. and Juliette Thompson, who was a farmer in that locality, having come there from Iowa. Azarias and wife came to the Montana ranch in early December, their household belongings loaded in their wagon. It was during mild winter weather, but took several days. One of their overnight stops enroute was at the 101 ranch with the Mulkey family.
For the first few months the three families all occupied the large log house on the ranch, the several rooms being divided into separate apartments. The following year Arsidas and family built a small house near the postoffice. A few years later Charles also built a home nearby, and Azarias and family established their home on the B. J. Gupton ranch about ten miles north of Baker. The Vincelettes continued their cattle ranching and farming partnership for many years.
Alida Vincelette, daughter of Charles, had married Edwin Berry of the Black Hills region, and they also came to live on a farm near Preston. They had four children, Arthur, Stella, Ralph and Lewis. This family later moved to Rockford, Illinois.
Amanda Vincelette, daughter of Charles, married Jones Griffith, and they homesteaded near Baker, Montana. Their children were Pearl, (Mrs. Arthur DeGrand, Sr.), and Raymond. Amanda died when these children were very young, and later Jones married again, and the children of this marriage were Earl, Ruth, Jane and Allan. Pearl's children were Evelyn (Mrs. Clifford Hurlburt), and Arthur, Jr. Raymond married Rose Schultz of Baker, and they had two daughters, Lucille (Mrs. Ed Sikorski, Jr. ) and Betty Jeanne (Mrs. Ivan Korneychuck).
Arsidas Vincelette married Eva Doody of St. Onge, S. Dak., and they had two daughters, Blanch (Mrs. F. L.
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Morris) formerly of Ollie, Montana, and Beulah (Mrs. Ernest Panter). These families later moved to Oregon.
Azarias G. Vincelette ranch north of Baker, purchased from B. J. Gupton, 1909-1910.
Azarias and Gertrude Vincelette had a large family of twelve children, nine of them living to adulthood; these being Douglas, Sybil, Gladys, Paul, Roy, Jessie, Garnet, Flora and Eugene. After selling their farm north of Baker in 1930, Azarias and family spent several years at Silver Gate, Montana, where they owned and operated a lodge and log cabin tourist court. They spent their later years in Billings, Montana.
A. G. Vincelette ranch house, 1920.
Douglas, son of Azarias, married Sylvia Morris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. A. Morris of Ollie, Montana. Mr. Morris was a farmer, and also an auctioneer. The Morris's homesteaded in the Ollie community in 1908, coming to Montana from Iowa. Their children were Sylvia, Carlyle, Voyle and Zola. The Morris's moved to Custer, S. Dak. in 1929. Douglas and family ranched and farmed north of Baker for a few years, then moved to Silver Gate, Montana for some time, later making their home in Billings, Mont. Their children were Joan (Mrs. Wm. Weaver of California), Muril of Denver, Colo., and Darold of Billings, all having married and having families.
Sybil and Gladys Vincelette married the Traweek brothers, Tom and Dick, sons of Elias Traweek of the Webster Community, south of Baker.
These families farmed and ranched in this vicinity; Tom and Gladys continuing to live on the Elias Traweek homestead after Elias and wifer etired to live in Baker. Tom and Gladys had three sons, Wayne, Howard and Roger. Wayne married Leona Schueffele Bechtold, daughter of John Schueffele. Mr. and Mrs. John Schueffele moved into the Plevna and Ismay community in 1930, coming from Long Lake, S. Dak., and were engaged in farming. Howard married Norma Askin, daughter of Alva Askin of Ismay, Mont. Roger married Lennice Nichols, daughter of Harvey Nichols of Knobs community.
Dick and Sybil Traweek lived near Webster, and had two children; Shirley, who married Kenneth Asay of Lovell, Wyoming; and Gordon, who continued to live on his father's ranch. Gordon married Margaret Jarding Jensen, daughter of Emery Jarding, coming from S. Dak. Margaret was formerly the wife of Ralph Jensen, deceased, of Baker, and had two daughters, Joan and Deborah from that marriage. Margaret was Administrator of the Fallon Memorial Hospital in Baker for a period of ten years.
Paul and Roy Vincelette, both married, live in Billings, Montana. Roy had two sons and a daughter, named Richard, James and Renee'. Paul has a son, Donald, and daughters, Jacqueline and Verlette.
Jessie Vincelette married Adrian C. Boyce of Billings, and they have a son, Dean.
Garnet Vincelette married Elmer Larson of Scobey, Montana, and they have a daughter, Kathy. The Larson's own and operate the former Vincelette lodge and motel at Silver Gate, Montana.
Flora married Ralph Nelles, Billings, Montana, and their children are Marilyn, (Mrs. Donald Brocopp), and LaVonne (Mrs. Ted Fink) also of Billings.
Eugene Vincelette married Magdalena Klos of Roundup, Montana. They had a son, Gary, and daughter, Arlene.
ANNA DE GRAND WAGNER
I was born at Dickinson, North Dakota in 1904. My parents, Henry and Romanie De Grand came to Montana in 1910 when I was five years old. They took up a homestead south of Baker in the Hidden Water Community. Our neighbors were E. Weyerbacher, Mill Eggrick and Carl Pinnow. We had migrated to Montana in a railroad car full of livestock and household furniture from Minnesota.
I attended the Hidden Water School. My brother, Art, and I used to deliver cream, eggs and butter to Mrs. Lawler and Mrs. Schenck in Baker. We used a team and wagon to do the delivering in.
In 1922 was married to William J. Wagner in Baker. We went to live on Bill's land that he had settled on as a squatter in 1903. Bill had come from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. His first house was a dugout in the creek bank where the present building site is now. It is on the Hidden Water Creek where there is very good grazing.
In later years when the county was being surveyed, he rented his pasture to the surveying crew. The whole crew camped there. They had sixteen wagons with two teams of horses per wagon, which amounted to sixty-four horses in all.
One cold wintery morning, Bill Wagner, looked out his door and noticed a large patch where the snow had been melted. The rest of the ground was covered with snow as far as he could see, as it had all been the night before when he went to bed. He went just a short distance just north of the house to investigate and discovered that a meteorite had fallen during the night. It, being a good sized clinker, had melted the snow around it as it cooled.
Bill had to ride as far as Wibaux, Montana for his supplies. He used to tell about the time he had gone to Wibaux for his winter's supply and his mail. On arriving in town he gave the grocer his list of supplies with the understanding that the grocer would have the groceries ready when Bill was ready to leave. The groceries were picked up and Bill had been on his way for quite a while when the grocer discovered he had forgotten to put in the baking powder.
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Now baking powder is an important item in the winter's supplies, especially if it was going to be several months before the next trip was made. The grocer saddled his horse and rode out quite a few miles before he caught Bill and gave him the baking powder.
Bill and I had four children; Virginia, William, Jr., Bobbie and Harvey.
My husband died several years ago but I still live on the place, but don't do any farming as I have rented some of the land.
ART T. WANG
Arthur Wang was born in 1904 at Ulen, Minnesota to Edward and Lena Wang.
In 1906 his father, Edward, took the Northern Pacific Train to Beach , North Dakota. After arriving there he homesteaded south of the present town of Ollie. In 1907, Lena and family came with the household goods and they joined the father on the homestead. Arthur was four years old when they came to Montana.
Picture loaned by Mrs. Henning Steen. Group Picture, about 1914, left to right, Ed. Wang, Albert Wang, Mrs. Ed. Wang, Norman Rost, Art Wang, Alvin Rost and Alice Wang.
He grew up and attended the Ollie Grade School and went two years to the Ollie High School. Some of their good neighbors in that area were; 0. J. Jesfield, Carl Rost, John Tatley, Christ Rost, Olie Johnson, Pete Gilbertson and Theo Ropper.
When World War II developed he served in the United States Army in the 2nd. Armored Division. He served from 1942 to 1945 in North Africa, England, France, Belgium and Germany.
On August 20,1952 he and Mildred Phylis Johnson were married at Spearfish, South Dakota.
Mildred was born in the "tent town" of Tonasket, Washington in 1914, to Arthur A. and Helen Johnson. Mr. Johnson was Agent and Telegrapher for the Great Northern Railway there and did the same work when the family was moved to British Columbia, Canada.
While living in Canada Mildred attended elementary school at Nelson. She says of her life in Canada-"Had a wonderful time in the summer swimming, hiking, fishing, picking wild flowers and berries, riding horseback and panning for gold in the Kootenay Lake, Columbia River and Pend 'O'-Reille river valleys and mountains. In the winters we skied and skated."
Group picture loaned by Mrs. Henning Steen.
Back row, left to right, Paul Tatley, Laura Wang, Art Wang, front row, Oliver Rost, Millie Wang, Alice Wang and Elmer Wang, 1912.
Mildred furthered her education by attending high school in Spokane and Cabrille, Washington; after which she attended the Seattle Art Academy, Bible College in San Diego, Seattle Pacific College and the Black Hills Teachers' College.
Since 1936 she has been a teacher and home mission worker for the Assembly of God in which she is active in singing and directing the music. She has worked in this capacity in Idaho, California, Washington and British Columbia.
In 1951 at the age of 36 Mildred came by automobile from Seattle to teach at the Red Butte School which is west of Willard. She remembers being snow-bound two different times at the school in 1952. One time for three weeks and the second time for four or five weeks. Her mail and groceries were delivered by tractor, snow-cat and horseback. After the blizzards of that year this part of the country was declared a disaster area.
Since her marriage and the birth of a son, Dennis Arthur Wang, she has been busy as an active member in a Homemakers Club, Cub Scouts, Band Mothers President for one year and Chairman for Christmas Craft Tea for two years.
Before he retired "Art" farmed and was a Machine operator for Fallon County and Montana Dakota Utilities Company in Baker.
EDWARD ELLING WANG
Edward Elling Wang was born at Occola, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1870. When he was one year of age his parents moved to Tennessee where they lived for a short period of time. In 1878 Edward was in Ulen, Minnesota. On July 24, 1895 he was united in marriage to Miss Lena Dahl. To this union five children were born; three sons, Elmer, Art and Albert, two daughters, Laura Wang Holder and Alice Wang Mastin.
He came to Montana in 1906 from Ulen, arriving by Northern Pacific train at Beach, North Dakota. He claimed a homestead south of the present Ollie and built a small house and was ready for his family when they arrived in Beach in 1907. Lena had come with the children, household goods and
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livestock as far as Beach where Edward met her. They had to travel to the homestead by horse and wagon.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Wang, married July 24,1895.
There was no town of Ollie for several years, so trips were made to Beach for supplies and other shopping.
Besides farming, Ed Wang built or helped build a number of homes in the community as it grew. He also ran a blacksmith shop in Ollie for years.
In December of 1934 he and his wife, Lena, moved to Baker. Ed passed away February 24, 1938.
The Ed Wang family, front row, left to right, Lena [Mother], Alice, and Ed. [Father], back row, Art, Laura, Elmer and Albert.
He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith and held to that faith throughout his life. The following is a poem published at the time of his death.
He has laid his hammer down,
And the anvil rings no more
For the mighty arm that swung it
Is safe on the golden shore.
The shop is still, no voice is heard
Save the voice of fleeting years;
We say "Goodbye", our brother dear
And shed our lonely tears,
The tools are worn, and apron torn
By holding the horses feet;
His friends you know, knew where to go
When they wanted a job complete.
A soul released, a prisoner free;
His toil is o'er, his work well done;
He's up there by the golden stair
He waits for you and me to come.
Contributed to the memory of Ed Wang from his brothers and sisters; Nels and Peder Wang; Mrs. Annetta Eidem, Mrs. Emil Rustad.
Mrs. Lena Wang lived to be 89 years old. She was born June 22, 1870 in Lexbig, Norway, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels M. Dahl. Her family came to the United States in 1881. The last five years of her life were spent in a rest home in Miles City where she died in 1959.
DANIEL AUSTIN WASH by Dorothy Dala Wash, his daughter
Daniel Austin Wash was born in Walla Walla County, Washington of English and Welch descent. He lived with his parents, Joseph Gatewood Wash and Vienna May Chittenden Wash, in Washington and Oregon. In 1889 Joe G. Wash (born 1860 in Texas), with his oldest son, William Littleton Wash, seven years old, and his half brother-in-law, Samuel George Van Schuyver, drove a herd of several hundred horses across country to Johnson County, Wyoming. Daniel came by train with his mother and two brothers to Buffalo, Wyoming. There they settled on Public Domain on Crazy Woman Creek. In 1896 they moved into Montana, on Speelmon Creek.
At age fifteen, Daniel A. Wash went to work for the CY cow outfit, going into Wyoming with them until the company dissolved and Mr. Wash was about twenty-six years old. During the years of 1905 and 1908, Dan Wash was champion bronc rider in Wyoming and this was before the days of such professional riders as Paddy Ryan and Bob Askin. Mr. Wash also provided herds of bucking horses for shows as far away as Sioux City, Iowa.
Daniel A. Wash chose for his bride, Christa Augusta Ricketts, the granddaughter of Julia Ann Fost er. They were married June 7, 1911 in Buffalo, South Dakota, making their home in South Eastern Montana, except for two years on the Goose Egg Ranch near Casper, Wyoming where one daughter was born. Eight children were born of this marriage: Daniel Augustine Wash, Great Falls, Mont.; Dorothy Dala Frank, Seattle, Wash.; Lawrence Arthur Wash, deceased; Jacob Richard Wash, deceased; Gertrude Doris Brayton, Glendive, Mont.; Kenneth Carey Wash, Baker, Mont.; Margaret Mildred Arlington, Seattle, Wash. and Elva Mae Waltz, Wapakoneta, Ohio.
After two years in Wyoming, Mr. Wash moved his family back to Montana and took up a homestead. In the summer of 1922 he moved his family to Baker, Montana so the children would be closer to school. Daniel was employed on the Fallon County road south of Baker, worked for the Fair Board, was in law enforcement and the late years he
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spent working as Montana State Brand Inspector in South St. Paul, Minn.; Chicago, Ill. and the last years in the three northeast counties of Montana. In May, 1947, Mr. Wash succumbed to the many weakening attacks of asthma.
Mrs. Wash, born in Hill City, S. Dak., came to Montana as a small child with her mother, grandmother, and uncle Bill T. Foster. Mrs. Wash fell victim to cancer and passed away in July, 1965, and was put to rest beside her husband in the family plot in the cemetery at Camp Crook, S. Dak.
This couple, both having come to southeastern Montana from Wyoming and South Dakota in covered wagons as children, witnessed a territory in the raw develop into a productive stock and farming country, endured the years of depression with a large family, two World Wars and enthusiastically welcomed the Jet Age.
John Weinschrott, Sr., 1939, taken while he was in the Senate at Helena.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN ADAM WEINSCHROTT
John Adam Weinschrott, whose father's name was also John, was born in Bachovar, Hungary in November 1886. John's parents decided to come to "America-The Land of Opportunity", in 1897. They homesteaded at Lefor, North Dakota where John finished his elementary education that he had started in Hungary and then went on and got his college education at the Richarton Abbey, Richerton, North Dakota.
In 1906 John Weinschrott and Frances Herold were married at Lefor, North Dakota. Frances was born at Josefalva, Hungary October 21, 1887. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Herold came to America and homesteaded at Lefor, North Dakota in 1898. Frances had four years of education in Hungary. She completed her education at Lefor.
After Frances and John Weinschrott were married they moved to Plevna, Montana on the Milwaukee Railroad on January 20, 1911. Their first night in Plevna they stayed in the Section House and then they moved to the Town Hall and set up housekeeping there. They hung up blankets as partitions for privacy. The store building and living quarters were erected within a week and the Weinschrott store was open for business. They sold Hardware, Implements and feed. The other establishments in Plevna at that time were; a Grocery Store, a Bank, a Post Office and one other building owned by a Mr. Collins. The two-story building was built in
1914 with living quarters and office space on the second floor. It was in continuous operation until 1944.
Mrs. John Weinschrott, Sr., 1939.
Their greatest problems in adjusting or getting established were getting used to the hard winters and the different seasons. The portion of Europe they had come from was pastoral with fruit trees in abundance and a more temperate climate. Whether they lived in North Dakota or Montana, one of the first things they did in their new homes was to plant trees, shrubs and other things to help relieve the barren landscape.
One of the heritages Frances and John passed on to their children was involvement with the community. Frances was one of the original members of the Plevna Boosters Club. They met and planned box socials, dinners, picnics, and dances to raise money to add a dining room to the Plevna Town Hall. The family was community minded. They traveled many miles by horse and buggy (later in a 1912 Ford, the first car in Plevna) to attend these community functions. The family was also faithful in attending the Saint Anthony Church in Plevna and later Mrs. Weinschrott attended the Saint John's Church after moving to Baker.
The Weinschrotts used to furnish Plevna, each Fourth of July, with an aerial display of fireworks. As one of the sons said, "I swear, I haven't seen anything like it since". Plevna was very sports minded. The Fourth of July was not complete without a parade, street races, games and a big baseball game. Mrs. Weinschrott was the town champion when it came to pounding in the bridge plank.
Some of the fond memories of the children are the summer picnics at Medicine Rocks. Then there were the buffalo berry and chokecherry gatherings. People worked hard all through the week in order to relax and meet with their friends on the weekends.
Mr. Weinschrott was one of the first "power" farmers in Fallon County, and was very interested in soil conservation and better farming. He was a stockholder and officer in the local Farmer's Elevator, a member of the Fallon County AAA Committee and State AAA Planning Board. He was one of the founders of the Montana Grain Producers Association and was sent to Washington D.C. as a lobbyist in 1936. He was Fallon County State Senator from 1937 until his death in 1943. Through these years he also served as
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