Leeds School District Early Pioneers
Taken from Leeds/York Seventy-five Years Diamond Jubilee 1886-1961 book
The first pioneers who claimed land in this area came in the year 1884. Ole Gronback took up land which later became part of the townsite of Leeds, but he did not establish a permanent home for his family until 1886. Martin Hanson was apparently the first to build a house and establish his home here. He was married in Norway in 1882 and later came to America to establish a home for his wife and daughter who had remained in Norway. He and his brother Anthon chose land near Lake Ibsen. Anthon's first claim was in Lake Ibsen township but in 1886 he "squatted" on land in Leeds township, and made a permanent home here. Thomas Cascaden, a young Canadian, came to Leeds township in 1885, and settled in the northeast corner. Devils Lake was the closest town where these pioneers could go for provisions, often making the trip on foot.
Many new settlers, anticipating the coming of the railroad, came to this locality in 1886 or possibly earlier. Alfred Nord squatted on land which later became part of the Leeds townsite. Mr. and Mrs. John Nelson and family settled just west of Leeds, Neils Urness, Alfred Nord, Frank Engstrom and Mr. and Mrs. Christen Batalden and family chose sites north of the town. Descendants of these pioneers continue to farm the old homesteads. Coming into this locality a few years later were the families of Nels Grimsrud, H.A. Blegen, Severt Gresdahl, and Gilbert Knutson whose descendants are still on the old farms.
As is evident by the names these people were of Norwegian or Swedish ancestry, many coming directly from Norway to this new land of opportunity. By the year 1888 the northeastern corner of the township began to be settled by people of Irish or English ancestry. Mrs. Will Fox, the wife of one of the early pioneers who lived in this locality, wrote some interesting historical data that gives us valuable information of some of the pioneers. She tells about her husband W.S. Fox, C.J. Fox and E.B. Page coming to the community in 188 with a party of twenty-one emigrants from Illinois. They had with them eight carloads of stock and machinery. These three men chose land in Leeds township. Pioneer neighbors were John Conway, Michael James and Edward Grady, and J.M. Fox.
In the north and northwestern portion of the township names of early settlers again suggest their Scandinavian ancestry. Permanent home builders were the families of Ole Rodlende, Knut Myhre, Sven, Sever and Even Medhus, Peter Jorgenson and Gilbert Tostenson.
Early history also includes such names as Gunhus, Nestoss, Jones, Howery, Reap, Reynolds, Lyon, Johnson, Doherty, Opdahl, Anderson, Sanders, Morstad, Levorson, Brager, Born, Goldberg and Rytterager.
Early county records show the Ole Gronback home was designated as a polling place April 6, 1886 with Anton Hanson, Ole Gronback and Martin Thoreson appointed to be judges of election. The first meeting of Leeds civil township was held April 24, 1890 at the school house. The first town clerk was Amos Parsons. The town board consisted of William Willocks, O.R. Nestoss and Charles Fox. Many men have served the township diligently and well in official capacities throughout the years. Mention should be made of Peter Jorgenson, who served as supervisor from the yeas 1904-1940. His son Oscar, has been chairman of the board of supervisors since that time. Serving with him this year, 1961, are Norris Gresdahl, Joseph Blegen, clerk Ernest Elverud and treasurer Selmer Medhus.
The earliest settlers lived in sod houses, dug outs (houses built into a hillside) or crude shanties. When lumber became more available these shelters were replaced by more comfortable houses. In 1892 Rev. and Mrs. H.A. Blegen built a small six room house on their farm in the township, and this house served as a church, parochial school house and boarding house for children from outlying districts. As financial conditions improved new spacious homes and large red barns began to dot the prairie. The greatest building boom seems to have been in the period of 1900 to 1910.
Our history includes these "firsts". The first white child born in Leeds township was Anna Hanson in 1886, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Hanson. She married Einar Vallager. The first fourth generation farmer in the township is Richard Jorgenson, great grandson of Sven Medhus.
Taken from Leeds/York Seventy-five Years Diamond Jubilee
1886-1961 book
Dr. J. Lunnell
Dr. J. Lunnell was located at Willow City, N.D., where he had a doctor's practice and a drug store. In the spring of 1894 the business men of Leeds induced him move to Leeds. As a result he came to Leeds with his family on Aug. 15, 1894, and became the first doctor and first druggist in Leeds. They lived in the "News" building while his drug store and office building was being built.
Besides being a physician and pharmacist he was an outstanding botanist. His collection of prairie plants, many of which are now considered extinct, his method of preparing and labeling his specimens was an outstanding achievement. The University of Minnesota purchased his collection, and it has become famous in botanical circles and is the one most generally asked by botanists.
He remained as a physician and surgeon in Leeds until he passed away.
David Howrey
His nationality was Pennsylvania Dutch and he came from Trimpealeau County, Wisconsin, to Minnewaukan April 2, 1887 with his wife over the N.P. which was the end of the railroad at that time. The first year he and his brother-in-law, Martin Nelsen, rented a farm from Martin Spaulding near Minnewaukan. aThe next spring they moved to Leeds, where his father Thomas Howrey was living.
He was a great booster for Leeds in the early days and engaged in several businesses. Mr. Howrey and his brother-in-law Amos Parsons built the first hotel in Leeds which they later sold to A. Gray. They also owned one of the first livery barns in Leeds, purchasing it from Wm. Fairman. He also dealt in horses, machinery and had farming interests. He was instrumental in the promotion of the first grist mill and cheese factory. He served on the first village board.
Thomas Aageson
Tom Aageson came to Leeds, February 1, 1898, from Buxton, ND, where he had been employed in a shoe repair shop. He came to this country from Norway in 1888. He and E.R. Nestoss were partners and built their harness shop in March, 1898. In 1908 Mr. Aageson became the sole owner and added shoe repairing to his business. He operated this business for 51 yers in the same building. He sold the building in 1949 and did shoe repairing in a building back of their home in Leeds until January 1, 1953.
Thomas Aageson and Karen Halvorson were married in Grand Forks, ND on December 28, 1898. There were five children: Ellen; Agnes, Mrs. K.C. Hathaway; Trygve, an accountant with a small business corporation in Washington D.C.; Herman, a doctor of medicine in Oconto, Wisconsin; and Ruth, Mrs. Richard Bettendorf.
Anton Hanson
Anton Hanson was born in Norway in 1860. He came to America in 1880. In the spring of 1885 he came to Leeds vicinity and took up land in Lake Ibsen township. In 1886 he squatted on land in Leeds township. He married Birget Tufte in 1885. They had seven children, including the first white child (Anna) born in the township.
Martin Hanson
Martin Hanson was born in Norway. He came to American in 1883 or 1884. He settled east of Leeds, near Lake Ibsen, where he built a shack 16x16x8 feet for himself and his wife, whom he had married in Norway in 1882. She came over the following year. Many extensive improvements were made on his farm home at various times. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson were the parents of six children.
Thomas Cascaden
Thomas Cascaden came from Canada in 1885. He was of Scotch-German descent. he was one of the earliest settlers in the township. In 1898 a large house was built on his farm. In 1892 he was elected county commissioner. Eleven children were born to this union. He sold his farm in 1905 and moved to Alberta, Canada.
John Nelson
John Nelson was married in Norway to Anna Birgitta Nilsen. Mr. Nelson, who was born in Sweden, came to Grand Harbor, Dakota Territory in 1885 and a year later took up homestead west of Leeds. They were parents of ten children. Their son Albin still farms the home place.
Christen Batalden
Christen Batalden was married in Norway. He and his wife came to America with a family of six girls and one boy. In 1886 he settled on a homestead north of Leeds. Three of the girls became brides of young pioneer farmers who also homesteaded just north of Leeds. They were Juditta (Mrs. Nels Urness, Kristine, (Mrs. Alfred Nord) and Jensine (Mrs. Frank Engstrom). Another daughter Inger (Mrs. Erick Urness) also lived in the vicinity of Leeds. After the death of his wife Mr. Batalden made several trips back to Norway. The second time he intended to stay there but the freedom of the prairie seemed preferable to the old country which in his own words "was so crowed with people they stepped all over one." He returned to Leeds to spend the rest of his life.
Nels Urness
Nels Urness came to America from Norway in 1882. He was married in 1886. Also in 1886 he homesteaded north of Leeds. They were parents of four children.
Alfred Nord
Alfred Nord was born in Norway. From Mayville he came to Leeds in 1886, squatting on land north of Leeds, part of this land becoming the Nord addition of the city of Leeds. He was married in 1889. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nord.
Frank L. Engstrom
Frank Engstrom was born in Sweden and came to America in 1880. Previous to coming to Dakota Territory he was employed in Illinois and Michigan. He homesteaded north of Leeds in 1886. In 1890 he was married. Later he bought the Levorson farm, which became the permanent home. Eleven children were born to this union.
Gudbrand (Gilbert) Tostenson
Gudbrand Tostenson was born in Norway Feb. 6, 1863. In 1886 he came to America residing at Emmons, Minnesota, until 1891 when he came to the Leeds community filing on a homestead about 5 miles west of the city. In January 1893 he married Guri Engebretson Morken at Decorah, Iowa, and in the spring they came to live on his homestead and purchased a farm three miles north of Leeds, where he farmed until 1923, when he moved to Leeds. He served as janitor and custodian of Leeds Lutheran Church for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Tostenson had nine children.
William S. Fox
William S. Fox came from Girard, Illinois on an emigrant train and landed at Churchs Ferry, April 4, 1888. He and E.B. Page shared an emigrant car. He squatted on land in Section One and was the first to file his homestead right in Leeds Township on April 5, 1889 when Leeds Township was opened for filing under the Homestead Right law. In early days his services were very much in demand as a guide for homesteads in many areas of the state.
Charles J. Fox
C.J. Fox also came from Girard, Illinois with the group that landed there April 4, 1888. The first year he worked on neighboring farms. In 1889 he file on his land, although that winter he worked on the railroad in Montana. In 1897, Ollie Fox, his sister came to keep house for him. In 1901 he married Sarah Jane Cassidy, daughter of James Cassidy, pioneer York township homesteader. They had six children, Floyd who passed away at the age of 17, Adrian, Charles, Kenneth (on home farm) and Hazel (Mrs. Nels Fosen). One child passed away in infancy.
Portions taken from the Leeds
School Reunion 1909-1996, July 26-27-28-,1996
Taken from Leeds/York Seventy-five Years Diamond Jubilee 1886-1961 book
The first school in the community was located on the Nils O. Urness farm, about three-quarters of a mile north of the town site of Leeds. The land was purchased for "a consideration of two dollars" in 1889. The school was generally referred to as the Peter Anderson School as it was located across the road from his farmstead.
This school was started during the spring of 1889, with Mrs. David Howrey (nee Anna Nelson) instructing fourteen eager pupils for a three month term. The school furnishings were few and mostly homemade. After Mrs. Howrey, Miss Effie Billings was hire to teach followed by Joanna Russell, who later became the bride of James McCarty of York. In 1894 J.T. Page was hired to teach a total of 35 pupils. His beginning salary was $40 a month.
Soon afterward, the school building was moved into the Leeds city limits, being the first school to be located there. The large, one-room building sat on what was then Main Street. The present site of the school was decided by public election, as there were two locations under consideration. One site, north of the Great Northern tracks, was offered by A.J. Garver, the other by Ole Gronbeck. Each lot consisted of one city block at the price of $300. The election showed the site offered by Gronbeck to be the preferred location. The present school is located here.
Quoting from Mrs. Sherman Sander's biography, "Their first school (in the northeast corner of the township) was held for three months in Doherty's shack, then Bridget O'Donnell's house. School No.2 was built in 1892." Their first teacher was Mary Doherty. School No.3 was known by its location, as the Anton Hanson school. Some of the early pupils recall being taught by Usher L. Burdick, who later served many years as representative to Congress. School No. 4 was known as the Tostenson school and School No. 5 was near the Morstad farm.
Two area high schools, York and Brinsmade, closed in 1945. The York students have since attended high school in Leeds. Brinsmade pupils went to Minnewaukan for two years before transferring to Leeds. In 1947 the Irvine School district was annexed. Another area high school, Baker, closed in 1953 with its pupils transferring to Leeds. In 1958 Knox High School closed its doors with many of its pupils transferring to Leeds. In 1960 Gallinger Grade School near Brinsmade closed adding yet more pupils to the Leeds district. The Brinsmade grade school closed in 1970 with Brinsmade students attending Leeds. The following year the Knox school closed with many Knox students transferring to York. Harlow area students attending York school were then bussed to Leeds to better accommodate all students in the district. In 1980 it was decided to close the York School and move the students to Leeds. In 1998 the Churchs Ferry school was closed, so many of these students transferred into the Leeds School District.
In 1909 Marie Brunsvold, Clyde Friend and Minnie Gronbeck became the first graduates of Leeds High School.
| Jennie Engstrom | Laura Hanson | Clara Engstrom | Agnes Lyons |
| Oliver Johnson | Edward Opdahl | Albert Opdahl | Bertha Hanson |
| Cora Johnson | Cornelia Johnson | Louise Johnson | Frank Lyons |
| Oliver Johnson | Jennie Eriksmoen | Ole Eriksmoen | Halvor Eriksmoen |
| Mendie Larson | Olive Lyones | Stella Hanson | Hannah Engstrom |
| Ben Hanson | Jens Engstrom | Ida Engstrom |
| 1909 Marie Brunsvold Minnie Gronback Clyde Friend |
1910 Cora Brunsvold Josie Gronback Sidney Host Ethel McCrea Martin Laura Page Knutson Ralph Wardrope |
1911 Isabelle Aker Mark Conway Emma Hookland Eleanor Ritzman Gladys Rea Lydia Semb Claire Weiermuller |
1912 Marie Gronvold Ella Nord Melheim Inger Urness |
| 1913 Fay Brown |
1914 Theo Gronback |
1915 Alice Brunsvold Archie Host Laura Jorgenson Paulson |
1916 Grace Feeder George Glynquist Nora Hagen Carlson Raymond McKersie Maude Ritzman Henrietta Alvin Stone |
| 1917 Margaret Conway Edith Hendrie Emma Jorgenson Skele Dagmar Lunell Mildred Saunders Bellows Jane Stenson |
1918 Ellen Aagenson Euphemia Carnahan Dobberson Florence Conway Daniel Feeder Hazel Fossum Arvid Glynquist Adelia Hagen Margaret B. Jacobson Gine Medhus Englund Hattie Parker Myrtle Peterson Charlie Schultz Eva Spaulding Louise Weiermuller Moore |
1919 Alvida Anderson Nordhougen Agness Anderson Jewel Ebba Anderson Helen Anderson Smith Anna Cowan Bertnolli Blanche Fogelson North Opal Holmes Stout Walter Morris Gladys Nordhougen Spoklie Orris Nordhougen Myrtle Olson Quam Hazel Spaulding Jackson Howard Stone |
1920 Agnes Aageson Irwin Burke Robert Dulmage, Sr. Jennie Engstrom Anna Fossum Theodore Glynquist Tilie Glynquist Agnes Hanson Victor Host Cora Morstad Otterson Esther Olson Florence Sanders Anna Tostenson |
| 1921 William Cowan Karine Dokken Swanson Clifton Nelson Edna Nord Gray Ethel Parker Olson George Ritterman |
1922
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1923 Nora Blegen Engstrom Delores Byrde Simonis Kirk Cown Victor Dokken Galen Fox Lynwood Hanson Olga Julson Ganz Ragna Knutson Anna Morstad Holmes Grace Morstad Anderson Cora Medhus Nordhougen Clara Opdahl Smoke Annabelle Stair Dokken |
1924 Herman Aagenson Frances Fox Urness Merrol Larson Sigurd Medhus Olga Morstad Chester Paulson |
| 1925 Valborg Brunsvold Bell Hanna Blegen Pearson Curtis Fosen Naomi Fox Zabel Ann Grady Syverson Gina Knutson Eleanor Nelson Hannah Opdahl George Marion Piltingsrud Erickson Nora Tostenson Robinson Esther Tufte Hazel Weimer Peterson |
1926 Grace Bratlee Lucille Donovan Delmore Wilma Dooley How Adrian Fox Sam Galland Douglas Hendrie Elinor Johnson Mohns Justus Jorgenson Palmer Jorgenson Clara Knudson Evelyn Medhus Smith Agnes Nelson Gronback Archie Parker Emmet Peterson Charles Read Cloyd Riffe Grace Sexhus Edna Urness Nissen Thelma Underberg Thom |
1927 Myrtle Ahlberg Kathryn Cowan Powell Ethel Julson Lillian Jorgenson Ruth Larson McIntye Leila Lotvedt Chalmers Esther Morstad Asta Nestegard Thelma Piltingsrud Johnson Leo Semb Norma Story Blaire Wardrope Frank Wirtz |
1928 Clarice Bue Stangeland Laura Donovan Welu Esther Engstrom Waller Sidney Fossen Charles Fox Iva Franks Bjarne Hoff Buks Hove Angle Jorgenson Margaret McCrae Harvey Oson Norman Opdagk Edna Ostriem Esther Read Pine Alice Tufte Heber |
| 1929 Agnes Bratlee Joseph Blegen Lawrence Bue Thelma Bulman Westlind Lloyd Hanson Olaf Hove Carlyle Johnson George Knutson Eunice Larson Mountain Marguerite Quammen Emery Semb Maurice Story Neil Story Barbara Wardrope Randall Lucille Wardrope Roach |
1930 Lelia Bremseth Fox Aletta Brunsvold Robert Buttz John Cowan Hazel Fox Fosen Wilma Morstad Mavis Chester Olson Joseph Owens Cora Paulson Nestegard Elida Piltingsrud Rhea Lillian Piltingsrud Parker Victyor Piltingsrud Bertha Read Lionel Rifte Geneva Sanders Crow Alma Vallager Runsvold Emil Vallager |
1931 Eleanor Anderson Gertrude Braaten Odland Hulda Brager Cavage Ruth Brodwick McGregor Paul Dooley John W. Hanson Mayme Hanson Silliman Orris Johnson Cameron Larson Selma Nesheim Sara Owens Kramer Chester Parker Margaret Urness Alice Youtzy Julson |
1932 Eleanor Anderson Rosent Marie Anderson Smeltzer Rosella Brager Bakke Genevieve Dooley Schwab Inez Iverson Butz Minnie Jenssen Mertz Clara Jenssen Peiler Eleanor Julson Norman Nelson Margaret Semb Inga Tostenson Eleanor Urness Oneita Whitter |
| 1933 Ruth Aagenson Bettendorf Ada Anderson Clayton Anderson Pearl Bratlee Zyllo Ingalf Bue Charles Burgess Helen Crane Tarang Walter Crane Bjarney Fosen Bernice Garst Johnson Helen Kjelmyr Richard Larson Clarence Morkert Kermit Myhre Orville Nesheim Helen Piltingsrud Temple Raymond Read Fay Sanders Helen Torgerson Stenson Alice Urness Lee Ada Widen Donovan |
1934 Annabel Ahlberg Anderson Lyle Anderson Carmeleta Bulman Grant Bulman Helen Dulmage Katherine Engstrom Theresa Erickson Bailey Lenora Hendrickson Finely Marjorie Hovland Silliman Gladys Peiler Jorgenson William Olson Emma Opdahl Abner Owens David Owens Alice Piltingsrud Bullard Palmer Rude Norma Semb Rydeen Selma Straabe Peiler Dean Swenson Georgia Violett Mickleson |
1935 Curtis Bremseth Elenore Bue McKay Marjorie Buttz Hagedorn Margaret Donovan Asa Francis Fogelson Agnes Galland Brown Mary Ellen Grady Clarck Joyce Hendrickson Harris Blanche Peterson Holmes Alfred Hove Bertha Jensen Johnson Genevieve Johnson Ahlberg Lorraine Julson Lunde Curtis Larson Bertha Lillivig Weldy Orvis Mickelson Rosella Maristuen Mayers Helen Madigan Thoma Shelene Myhre Oleda Nestegard Fogelson Elmer Olson Orville Olson Harold Paulson Lorraine Peterson Ziegler Kermit Piltingsrud Julian Read Palmer Rude Victoria Solga Skold Hillyer Stuberg Doris Swenson Myron |
1936 Ida Ahlberg Guthrie Wilma Anderson Klusmann Edward Bingham Carl Brager John Bratlee Myrtle Bratlee Boyer James Chestnut Mabel Crane Vance John Dulmage Mitchell Garst Anna Holman Cole Wendell Holmes Margaret Halvorson Archie Huseby Mary Isley Gechelson Thelma Jenssen Schroeder Maureen Johnson Deving Norman Julson Manning Philip Kjelmyr Alf Larson Ardith Michelson Straabe Russell Manning |
| 1937 Walter R. Anderson Caroline Axness Fogelson Ellen Blegen Wawers Cameron Bremseth Irene Conway Poehls Bernice Erickson Olson Dongal Fogelson Myrtle Hagen Cowan Mabel Halvorson Jensen Juliet Hanson Maristuen Hazel Jorgenson Nystrom Ruth Jorgenson Hatling Quentin Maristuen Morlin Olson Kenneth Ostreim Donald Read Jeannette Ronalto Laverne Russell Nelson Richard Stair Alverne Stoeser Nelson Wayne Twito Myrtle Vallager Wilbur Youtzy |
1938 Agnes Blegen Bartz Evelyn Brager Kinnear Ruth Bue Schlieve Francis Campion Lola Corner Mortenson Loretta Donovan Agness Grady Gleba Gena Gunderson Gronvold Myrtle Halgrimson Pojer Ray Hanson John Hendrickson Wayne Holmes Evelyn Johnson Chestnut Eva Kvale Sinness Evelyn Larson Bratlee Clarence Nelson Archie Olson Clarence Piltingsrud Lilliam Russell Bowlin Eunice Sandven Charles Schlieve Floyd Solga Terrance Stave Henry Violett |
1939 Victor Anderson Harriet Avens Mears Evangeline Axness Olson George Brtatlee Orris Christianson Ernest Elverude Clareice Galland Jackman Harold Halgrimson Bernice Hanson Halvorson Norma Hill Christianson Doris Isley Bosch Leif M. Larson Vivian Larson Almlie Louella McArthur Jones Robert McCann John McCormick R. Douglas McDougal Mardelle Nelson Voiovich Ruth Nesset Eggleston Boyd Page Victor Paulson Kenneth Read Lois Sandven Barnes Evelyn Schaap Paine Leone Smeltzer Brown Evelyn Solberg Tuke Lyda Stave Thompson Clara Straabe Doris Torgerson Johnson Ralph Weimer |
1940 Dorothy Anderson Kitterman Grace Bingham Hale Jean Bohlig Christianson Selma Brager Dixon Doris Conway Follman Alice Harney Groves Maynard Holmes Richard D. Johnson Robert Kjonaas Myrtle Kvale Gamlem Norma Kvale Mildred Larson Wells Patricia Madigan Smick Iris McCann Page Lorraine McQueen John Napody Esther Olson Nayler Olga Quammen Zang Lincoln Schlieve Harlan Slotto Harry Sosalla Evelyn Thompson |
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