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Manuscripts - ND Oral History Collection - 10157 - Emmons County

Emmons County

Region 1
1 Mrs. Anna Corbin, Livona
2 Mr. Frank Meier, Linton
3 Mr. Joe Vetter, Linton
4 Dr. Herman Bertheau, Linton
5 Mr. Paul Kurtz, Hazelton
6 Mr. Meade Ward, Hazelton
7 Mr. Walter Bohlin, Braddock
8 Mr. Ivar Edholm, Braddock
9 Mr. Carl Jacobson, Braddock
10 Mrs. Hanna Walther, Linton
11 Mr. Joe Fettig, Linton
12 Mrs. Juliana Baumstarck, Linton
13 Mrs. Margaret Mastel, Strasburg
14 Mr. John Baumgartner, Strasburg
15 Mr. Gerrit Van Boven, Hague
16 --------
17 Mr. Pius Kraft (no photo), Strasburg
18 Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Easton, Mandan
19 Mr. Math Dahl, Bismarck
20 --------
21 Ben Barrett, Linton
22 Dewey Lawler, Temvik

The following interviews are filed in other counties, but portions of them pertain to Emmons County:
Clara Otterson #4 Ransom 5
Norman Runion #6 Golden Valley 6
Frank & Lena Burbage #4 Burleigh 7
Julia Bender #16 Burleigh 7
Cora Argast #23 Burleigh 7

Tape #1 Mrs. Anna Corbin
000 – Introduction
017 – Family history
035 – Travel experiences
049 – Family homestead
070 – Food preservation; Crops
107 – Recreation
129 – Garden
134 – Emmons County Seat fight
145 – Politics; Depression
203 – Crops
226 – Husband’s Saw Mill business
241 – Area Indians
279 – Depression
307 – Medicine; Midwives
332 – Family life
385 – Farming methods
412 – Education
426 – Employment
450 – Area nationalities
506 – Businesses
522 – Homemaking
534 – Family history
543 – Recreation
577 – Family history
596 – Railroad
617 – County Agents; Experiment stations
638 – Communication
663 – Education
685 – Cattle
699 – Community leaders
726 – Area settlers
814 – Butchering methods; Meat preservation
960 – End of tape

Tape #2 Mr. Frank Meier
000 – Introduction
016 – Family history
188 – Education
215 – First recollections of United States
267 – Railroad
290 – Williamsport Court House Incident
303 – Freight Transportation
359 – Education
370 – Employment
456 – Area lignite mines
502 – Bad winters
525 – Prairie fires
542 – Family life; Recreation
688 – Bad years; Linton fires
783 – Depression
851 – Politics
910 – Depression
077 – Bank closings during Depression
089 – People’s attitudes during Depression
136 – Family life then and now
155 – Recollections of first employment
319 – End of tape

Tape #3 Mr. Joe Vetter
000 – Introduction
015 – Family history
118 – Area nationalities
142 – Farming methods
204 – Farm machinery
332 – Fuel for heating purposes
380 – Neighbors purchasing farm machinery
404 – Hauling and selling grain; Railroad
443 – Seeding methods
503 – Depression
654 – Politics
812 – Soil conservation practices
855 – Depression
888 – Family life then and now
924 – Recreation
955 – Purchasing good in Linton area
981 – Gasification vs. agriculture
007 – Farming methods
043 – Experimental stations
061 – Religion
081 – Medicine
165 – Family history
199 – Railroads
227 – Cattle sales
252 – Rural Electric co-ops; Farmers Union
404 – End of tape

Tape #4 Dr. Herman Bertheau
000 – Introduction
016 – Spicer Massacre
102 – Bertheau’s background; Medical background of area
331 – Linton businesses
359 – Politics
610 – Bad years; Depression
678 – People’s attitude prior to WWII
732 – Family life then and now
765 – Recreation
833 – Bertheau’s early life
855 – Early Linton
872 – Education; Early medical experiences in Linton area
992 – People’s attitude during Depression
096 – Politics
182 – General discussion
215 – Family history
231 – Transportation
297 – Recollections of old area pioneers
588 – Future of North Dakota
623 – End of tape

Tape #5 Mr. Paul Kurtz
000 – Introduction
021 – Family history
051 – Spicer massacre
062 – Farming methods
109 – Hauling grain
125 – Farm machinery
136 – Cattle raising; Feed
159 – Depression
178 – Recreation
196 – Religion
203 – Family life then and now
212 – Area and community leaders
231 – Medicine; Midwives; Home remedies
252 – Transportation
264 – Politics
281 – Selling cattle; Cattle drives
296 – Lignite mines in Hazelton
318 – Fuel for heating purposes
341 – Family homestead
360 – Relations with area Indians
381 – Area bands; Musicians
393 – Percheron horses
435 – Education
496 – Experimental farming
559 – Future of ND
580 – Depression
620 – Food preservation
631 – Butchering methods; Meat preservation
715 – Threshing methods
751 – Seeding; Various types of crops
831 – Personal anecdote
936 – Impression of North Dakota
949 – Marriage; Courtship
975 – Steam boats; T. Roosevelt anecdote
992 – Spicer massacre
008 – Williamsport County Seat incident
022 – Medicine
037 – Area settlers
050 – End of tape

Tape #6 Mr. Meade Ward
000 – Introduction
025 – Family history
125 – Home building
164 – Bad years
199 – Farming
228 – Discussion on horses
400 – Recreation
415 – Cattle drives
609 – Depression
630 – Area settlers; Indians
720 – Politics
833 – People’s attitudes during Depression
861 – Politics
902 – Discussion on area Indians
924 – Politics
944 – Depression
969 – Family history
004 – Education
063 – Religion
124 – Area nationalities
166 – Comments concerning ND future
207 – Purchasing supplies; Goods
230 – Farm programs
285 – Electricity
343 – Epidemics
399 – Family history
420 – End of tape

Tape #7 Mr. Walter Bohlin
000 – Introduction
022 – Family history
054 – Early Braddock
088 – Farming methods; Crops
135 – Early life
171 – Sod house building
213 – Blizzards
221 – Food preservation
241 – Digging wells
276 – Raising livestock; Selling
297 – Preparing and selling dairy products
311 – Discussion on types of crops raised
338 – Area settlers
348 – Farming methods; Machinery
446 – Recreation
456 – Automobile transportation
490 – Family
521 – Bad years
553 – Politics
679 – Farm machinery
721 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
752 – Community recreation; Baseball teams
766 – Politics
863 – Depression
898 – Discussion on ND future
934 – Politics
990 – Home remedies
006 – Raising livestock
020 – Family life then and now
045 – Recreation; Courting
090 – Butchering; Meat preservation
180 – End of tape

Tape #8 Mr. Ivar Edholm
000 – Introduction
021 – Family history
077 – Expectations concerning United States
094 – Language adjustments
101 – Discussion concerning United States
113 – Early Braddock
157 – Farming methods
207 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
232 – Bad years; Depression
370 – Politics
736 – Family life then and now
839 – Recreation
847 – Religion
923 – Farming methods
098 – Bad years; 1920’s and 1930’s
174 – Food preservation
213 – Selling dairy products
246 – Discussion of ND future
302 – End of tape

Tape #9 Mr. Carl Jacobson
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
085 – ND prairie fires
101 – Purchasing supplies; Selling cattle and crops
115 – Early Braddock and surrounding towns
140 – Family homestead; Area settlers
164 – Douglas Campbell Ranch
206 – Raising horses
221 – Crops planted
227 – Homestead houses; Sod barns
254 – Bad years; 1910 and 1911
271 – Family farms; Dairy cows; Creameries
290 – Depression
314 – People’s attitude during Depression
341 – Farm machinery and methods
438 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
475 – Early Braddock businesses
510 – SIDE B
731 – Businesses continued
753 – Food preservation
775 – Politics
836 – Farming methods; Soil conservation programs
860 – Family life then and now
891 – Recreation
905 – Discussion concerning ND future
936 – Religion
968 – Education
987 – Medicine
007 – Community leaders
045 – Farmers Union
055 – End of interview
056 – After interview conversation
171 – End of tape

Tape #10 Mrs. Hanna Walther
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
060 – Family homestead
131 – Mrs. Walther’s early life
177 – Discussion on area midwives
198 – Hard years; Includes Depression years
219 – Preservation of food
319 – Farm work
336 – Discussion on home remedies
374 – Family farms
400 – Linton area pioneers
445 – Recreation
465 – Purchasing goods in Linton area
481 – Preparation of food; Various methods
729 – Education
742 – Family life; Children
828 – Discussion concerning aliens
842 – Midwives
862 – Hard years
942 – Personal attitude during early years
977 – Discussion on land
989 – Family belongings; Family experiences
055 – Neighbors in area
176 – Sausage preparation
090 – Reaction to country’s change
114 – Personal recollections
217 – Family history
250 – Recollections of immigration journey
348 – Relations with area residents
385 – Family home
420 – End of tape

Tape #11 Mr. Joe Fettig
000 – Introduction
021 – Family history; Family business
059 - Family farm
078 – Running livery stable; Dray lines
181 – Bad years; 1910 and 1911
199 – Liquor traffic
264 – Various employments
285 – Butchering methods
453 – Baseball experiences
812 – Recreation
866 – Depression
003 – Politics
081 – Small town businesses; His own business; Bulk trucker
265 – Family life then and now
294 – Transients
335 – End of tape

Tape #12 Mrs. Juliana Baumstarck
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
044 – Building sod houses; Brick houses
133 – Building methods for baking ovens
212 – Gathering fuel for stoves; Heating
263 – Family history
301 – Medicine; Midwives
310 – Family history continued
401 – Food preservation
481 – Handiwork
547 – Purchasing supplies
583 – Medicine; Home remedies
622 – Family history
645 – Family life then and now
658 – Recreation
669 – Education
708 – Family history continued
751 – Neighbors helping each other
777 – Radio communication; Electricity
808 – Preparation and selling of dairy products
945 – Methods of well construction
957 – Land prices
965 – Food preparations
981 – Butchering; Meat preparation
004 – Religion
026 – Wedding traditions
031 – Preparation of alcoholic beverages
040 – Basket making
091 – Religion
109 – Epidemics
168 – Family farm
230 – Area settlers
233 – Surrounding towns; Postal services
260 – End of tape

Tape #13 Mrs. Margaret Mastel (Strasburg)
Tape is spoken in German

Tape #14 Mr. John Baumgartner
000 – Introduction
120 – Family history coupled with German-Russian history
306 – Family homestead
359 – Early Strasburg
430 – Family history continued
585 – Early Strasburg business
713 – Baseball teams
730 – Strasburg businesses continued
762 – Area nationalities
833 – Politics
927 – Railroads; Freight rates
937 – Politics continued
012 – Farming methods; Soil conservation techniques
144 – Politics; WPA
218 – End of tape

Tape #15 Mr. Gerrit Van Boven
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
101 – Depression
131 – Crop prices in 1900’s
148 – Farming methods
180 – Purchasing supplies; Hauling grain
212 – Farming methods continued
276 – Food preservation
302 – Recreation
321 – Religion
345 – Community activities
374 – Early Hull
415 – Marriage
457 – Politics
495 – Education
563 – Religion continued
595 – Baseball teams
623 – Government agricultural programs
715 – Medicine; Midwives; Doctors; Epidemics; Home remedies
762 – Politics
799 – Depression
823 – Farm methods; Farm machinery
909 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
926 – Family life
974 – Fuel sources continued
993 – End of tape

Tape #17 Mr. Pius Kraft
105 – Introduction
118 – Family history coupled with German-Russian history
336 – Education
363 – Immigration stipulations
380 – Wine making
404 – Family homestead; Family history
453 – Early Strasburg
484 – His youth; Various occupations
556 – Early Strasburg businesses
661 – Recreation
716 – Wedding traditions
812 – His courtship and marriage
881 – His and other Strasburg businesses
982 – Religion
034 – Area baseball teams
055 – Area musicians
077 – 1929 Stock Market crash; Effects on banks and other businesses
105 – Strasburg fires
135 – Religion continued
166 – WWI attitudes of area settlers toward German people
177 – Politics
390 – Family and community life then and now
423 – Transportation; Train; Automobiles
478 – Airplane travel
490 – His family; Children
508 – Medicine
536 – Community notables
587 – Electricity
640 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
746 – End of tape

Tape #18 Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Easton
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
065 – Train, ferry, and stage coach lines
170 – Steam boat travel
190 – Purchasing supplies
212 – Settlers in area
254 – Area flooding
316 – Livelihood of settlers along river
361 – Homestead land discussion
393 – Raising cattle
409 – Relations with Indians
432 – Crops; Raising alfalfa
441 – Bad years; 1910-1912; Late 20’s
521 – Farming methods; Planting
571 – Farm machinery
609 – Recreation
733 – Area nationalities
756 – Migration of settlers in bad years
798 – Family land holdings
824 – Depression
860 – Era of migration of ND peoples
889 – Butchering; Preservation of meat
911 – Food preservation
987 – Community life then and now
003 – Flu epidemic; Home remedies
060 – General conversation
069 – Politics
140 – Family farm
255 – Depression
396 – Wool prices
412 – End of tape

Tape #19 Mr. Math Dahl
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
154 – Bad winters
181 – Area settlers
221 – Norway vs. North Dakota
254 – Family history coupled with information on Norway
328 – Bad years; 1910-1920’s
356 – Farm machinery; Farming methods; Normal workdays
770 – His land holdings; Depression years
833 – Politics
SIDE TWO
872 – End of tape

Tape #21 Ben Barrett (Linton) (Cavalier County)
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history; Civil War veteran effects filing claim; Railroad; Sharon population as child
104 – Nationalities; Education; School terms; Teachers; Neighbors; Nebo Post Office; Sherbrooke
256 – Early day Sharon; Early law enforcement; Norwegian holiday prevalence; Norwegian resistance to learning English
306 – Social life; Card parties; Church social life; Baseball; Scotch settlements
353 – Community bands; County agent; Family moves to Fargo; Attends Agricultural College; Plays with college and professional band; Band fees
473 – Education; Returns to farming; Thistle problems; Experiment stations and developing varieties of grain
508 – 4-H clubs; Homemaker Clubs; Farm resistance to county agents; Beginning county agent problems; Editor of Cavalier County Republican
636 – County agent’s advice to farmers; Leaves Cavalier County; Experiment station and county agent appropriations refused and cut; Good durum growing area 
705 – Compares 30’s Depression in the two counties; 30’s farmers leaves; AAA
851 – Cattle buying program; Cattle appraiser and appraisal values; Cattle bottom price; Cattle shipping destinations
918 – Government cattle and pig slaughtering
937 – SIDE TWO
937 – AAA Grain and Acreage Program; Program compliance; Farmer reception to 30’s program payments
029 – Dust storms; Grasshoppers; Cutworms; Hauge in 30’s; Grasshopper bait
139 – One crop agriculture dependency in 30’s; County agent accomplishments; 4-H clubs
218 – Fertilizer and crop production; WPA; Volcanic ash
286 – Politics; NPL; Bill Langer
392 – Experiences at Winona; Old Jack McCurrey (rancher)
441 – Winona picture description
519 – Winona location depressions; REA
629 – REA Loans; Artistic paintings
711 – Prairie fires; Sod house
829 – Using oxen
867 – End of interview
Comment:  This interview contains a variety of informative topics concerning early county agents, experiment stations, farm and grain programs.

Tape #22 Dewey Lawler (Temvik)
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history; Early settlers
120 – More family history; Immigrants; Homesteaders; Russian-German settlers; Homesteaders hauling grain
200 – Sheep shearing; Sheep raisers; Homesteader and rancher conflicts; Cattle country; Cattlemen and sheep men disputes
266 – Coyotes, wolves, ranches, and cowboys
314 – Prairie fires; Firebreaks; Dragging beef along aside firs; Old Winona
401 – Nearest town; Temvik; Post offices
498 – Free mail; Mail route; Morford’s store
556 – Mail carrier’s outfit; Mail carrier errands for homesteaders; River traffic
611 – Elevator; River floods; Indians; Indian and White relations
689 – Education; School terms
724 – SIDE TWO
724 – Students board with families; Revival meetings; Social life; Cannon Ball Dance Hall; Parkin ranch
786 – Horsepower threshing rig; Threshing rig horses; Threshing territory
836 – IWW threshing workers; IWW worker wages; Cook Car; IWW worker sleeping quarters
882 – Steam plowing rig; Stem plow life; Steam plow’s ability to work in rocks
922 – Father’s land ownership; Siblings; Hired men; NPL and leaders
970 – Doctor; 1918 Flu Epidemic; Midwives
012 – Home remedies; Horses; Good and poor crop years; International Combine
113 – More about combines; Carrington pasture; Sells cattle; Takes cattle to Carrington
199 – Feeding thistles; Terrain in 30’s and 40’s; Better years
265 – Grasshopper poison; His ’30 finances
309 – Flour mills; Peddlers; Gypsies
390 – Catalog ordering; Change in people’s attitudes
440 – End of interview
Comment:  This interview covers various informative topics from the 1900’s.

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