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 | [...]FIRST EDmON. FIRST PRINTING PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA[...] |
| [...]our request for materials to all who have been or are a part of the Valier Community, including individ[...]ssible to locate or contact everyone, for this we are sorry. Some who were contacted chose not to submi[...]. Without all the volunteers who took time in research, offered addresses, brought materials, a[...]t is a vibrant account of courage and achievement in Valier.[...] |
| [...]The First Baptist Church ............... 357 2. In the Beginning[...]hurch .......... 358 History of Valier in Its Early Days . . . . . . . 5[...] |
| [...]• • • Oft times I sit in meditation I read the cov[...]no more. And set each one in their proper places. |
| [...]Valier-1910 Each day there was Mr. Hullinger Everybody ga[...]To get their single gossip sheet. |
| [...]and sodas Whether in the heat of summer And often got home late. Or in the winter's coldest storm. There was Hurshberg, Tidyman and Powell.[...]ter had the business We could boast three doctors in that day. That made all people[...]The undertaking parlor You wonder how they made it pay. Wher[...]e could also boast a lawyer. And he kept the town in line. Mr. Bullock w[...]Fritz Rineo and Hans Kristopherson There were saloons in place of bars. In this little shack next door, Then the ladies neve[...]Sometimes they picked it off the floor. There was Kennedy and Kingston These are just childhood memories Mined the coal for all th[...]here one short year. With our coal bins brimming in the fall, T'was five years lat[...]Valier in 1910[...] |
| Many changes had been made,[...]Try each day to wear a smile, There were those who came and those who left.[...]fe is more worthwhile. But the sands of time make many changes We condemn the chi[...]tills. For mistakes that they are making. Revenue men checked all the shacks,[...]independent We're always in a hurry; We all carry things too far.[...]Then too soon they too are strangers Don't we know we're slipping back?[...]wasn't built within a day For depressions moving in, I read this[...]We might feel big and proud today Before we 're in above our chin.[...] |
| 2. In the beginning .[...]• History of Valier in Its Early Days |
| [...]d by a remembered as one of the best dance floors in the Mr. Ralston; and the White Barn by the Le[...]Construction being tremendous, Va lier had in the late twenties. Colonel Stanford died in four lumber yards. Templeton Lumber, opera[...]and rented it to various operators for many years. Valier was like all other boom towns[...]s were to be north of the tracks The brick in the hotel and depot was and there were five down there at one time. One manufactured on the[...] |
| [...]Harry Rideout and Charley Chambers of in 1909 by Father McCormick, a traveling Shelby. Mr. Aiken tells us that there were three missionary, and services were conducted for a small lakes in the valley before the Conrad time by a[...]rst dam at the east end of what resident priest in Valier came in 1911. He was is now Lake Frances. Incidentally th[...]ncis Joe Shevlin. The first Protestant washed out in 1906 and took out all the old Church was built in 1909 and principally known narrow guage railroad[...]first Pete St. Dennis had a blacksmith shop in minister was G. E. Hutt and the second w[...]C.H. The First National Bank was established in Kester operated a restaurant in Valier in 1909 Valier and some of those sponsors were Toole, and it was in her restaurant that the first Kester and Leech. T[...]the church. by the Montana State Bank, organized in 1914, Valier, for many years, had a newspaper which operated until the e[...]an. It was originally edited by important figures in this bank at various times R. L. Dewer who operated it for many year~. were Bryant, Erickson and Wickware. Valier[...]the "Independent Observer" in Conrad. Valier now The first Catholic church was built in Valier has "The Spray", a mimeograph[...] |
| [...]bucket from a well. In 1910 or 1911 , the first[...]bound. What a day when you could open a tap In going back to early business, a drug store and get your water in your own house! was built by Drake and operated by J. N. Star- The first doctor in Valier was a Dr. Long, the buck who later became[...]tore and second was Dr. G.D. Powell, and in 1912, Dr. G. operated same continuously until a f[...]hat he came to Valier on August retirement in the late twenties when he moved to 20, 1909, went[...]when Joliet. Dr. Powell practiced medicine in Valier in a man came in with diarrhea. Mr. Drake told 1909 until his death in November, 1943. Valier "Star" to see if he could[...]without a resident doctor since that man. He said in the first package he opened, he date. found[...]rs. ing firm known as Powell and Egland, are now That was the first drug sale in Valier. occupied by Marsh, Otthouse, Geo. Henneman, It seems hard to conceive in this day and age, Don Wentworth, H. Palin, B. F[...]team generator plant was were all built in 1909 or 1910 so you see the town built by the Wat[...]ly recognize them. only available for a few hours in the early Bill Emery, one of the early businessmen, evening. Montana Power was brought in and the operated the first moving picture house, north of steam plant was shut down. It was operated in Pete's Cafe, known as the Majestic, later[...]a time by Schuler. Pete Marcus their natural gas in 1929. The grain elevator business came on with the beginning of the town. Among those remembered are the Montana Central (Cargill's) operated by a man[...]Bullock was one of the early lawyers to practice in Valier and we are told that the late Judge Hattersly also practiced law in Valier for a short time. The first ma[...] |
| [...]fice business. opened the present Capitol Theatre in the bank sizing up the player, "Red" d[...]had already been placed. The game turned out 8 in Valier from 1909 until he closed it quite a few to 1 in favor of Valier. years ago.[...]Valier also had several resident dentists, in- Abe Ferguson came in 1909 and did plaster cluding Dr. Smith, Dr. Warzak and Dr. Jimmy work in and around Valier for years besides Jones, who now practices in Cut Bank. Dr. Smith operating a farm east of Vali[...]lso Police Judge and the record shows he building in Valier with plastered walls, it is a sure held his first court case in Valier on March 11, bet that Abe Ferguson did the[...]The schools have played their part in the LaCrosse, Wisconsin and worked as a conductor history of Valier. The first school was held in a on the Montana Western and played baseball on[...]"Farmed" teaching Frances Heights in 1909 but later teams for the major league were unknown at that time and there were many ball players available for board and about $60.00[...]er, and Conrad did their share of hiring players. In fact, Conrad had what was known as the "Million Dollar Club" and on one occasion Car wreck in 1918. Bert Geiger and Scott Crum- two passenger coaches and four boxcar loads of packer were in .one car and Bill Geiger, · Vera and Conrad people came up to Valier to play ball, Hazel were in the other car. The accident happened at bringing the band, players and rooters. After night in front of Louis Larson's on the Heights. 10 |
| taught many years in Valier grades. The first high enrollment in elementary and high school was school graduation class was in 1915, consisting 412. of Louise Kingsbury, Bernard and Mable Ander- Many people who have contributed to the son. Graduatio[...]unintentionally until the big class of 1922 when there were 24 overlooked, but with the short time to pick up a graduates. In 1918, the new high school was few loose ends and put them together, we have built, which in turn was demolished to build a tried to do the best we could. It is the opinion of new school in 1965, adding a gym, farm shop, the report[...]ok, and a very interesting grade school was built in 1953. Valier schools book too. have now gro[...]ding Conrad and his brother Charles of Kalispell, in- to their claim, stood on land which they own[...]about four miles east of eleven sections of land in 1886, leaving it idle Dupuyer and extended ea[...]25,000 shee·p were raised, was Tom Curry. In The land which the Conrads acquired was[...]e sheep were sold to a Mormon outfit for obtained in various ways. Some of the land was one doll[...]0 acres was deeded land were shipped in. which they later purchased. This deeded land in- The Old Home Ranch was the headquarters[...]ffered 640 acres of and canned goods; however, in spite of the fact land at twenty-five cents an ac[...]ich the ranch abounded-antelope, could be rented, there was still much that did not prairie chic[...] |
| [...]y also built a tlemen, they tried to avoid losses in every canal from Birch Creek to supplement their water possible way. Hay was cut in great quantities, supply. Traces of these[...]can still be and they fed some during the winter. In August, seen today. Nearby a shed shelter 1[...]er neighboring ranches. On Bullhead Creek in 1909 noticed an animal not doing well, he cut it[...]out and an Irishman by kept over the swamp ground in the Bullhead, as the name of Connolly. Lou[...]s were main- Seven Block won-186 calves in an hour. This tained at the Home Ranch, there were several roping is never seen nowada[...]ble to move. That year losses were great all In summer, the cattle stayed close to the ove[...]rom water. the line into Canada and were left there for two or Great quantities of hay were cut in the Big three years, for at the[...] |
| [...]ctions of land with a fence The animals were in excellent condition and built of eight-fo[...]were likely to charge and kill any horse in their would roll off.[...]by the head, and the project was abandoned. (Many parts of but by the train load. Prices varied, but the this fence can still be seen in the Bullhead.) average price was $35 for a good cow. At one In 1909 the Cargills from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, time[...]ed into a spraying shower bath, which the in charge of the last roundup, shipped 9,000 cattle[...]area has been divided into smaller units of Many familiar faces were found on the list of i[...]f saddle Great Falls; from M. S. Darling in June, 1929; from horses and 150 head of work horses were kept on Eugene Leech in June, 1919; and from J A. Tidyman, the ran[...] |
| [...]. Tom McGovern's wife was a part Indian tle ranch in the area. The Conrad Brothers woman w[...]ed different methods and also filed water rights, in- for allotments on the Reservation. There are still cluding reservoir sites, along with many of the relations of this family living on the Blackfeet streams and coulees in such a way that no other Reservation. catt[...]s diverted ditch system for them some fifty miles in length from that stream to an area east of[...]uyer Conrad townsite. Shares were sold in the com- Creeks. This system placed five or six thousand pany to landowners in the vicinity for the acres of hay meadow under ir[...]13,000 acres. The present present town of Valier. There was a small lake on irrigation project is an[...]d exten- the south side of what is now the island in the sion of the "Old Conrad System" and or[...]he Conrad Investment Company. In 1908, the Conrad Brothers' land and Tom McGo[...]of one million Birch Creek to the Town of Conrad. In about dollars. 1898, he started a cana[...]hance, one day while Act irrigation project in this area. With this he was in Great Falls, he met the Conrad Brothers[...] |
| [...]n of the of Montana, which comprised 70,000 acres in irrigation system and the right to s[...]ter rights to the settlers or purchasers of acres in Lists No. 12 and 14, making a total of public lands. Each of the water rights in the com- 95,252 acres of public lands set aside f[...]. To obtain patents to these lands from the in the Teton County Canal and Reservoir Com- Federal[...]comply with this requirement, were issued in part to the settlers or purchasers, the non-irrig[...]an acre of irrigated land. government, resulting in about 70,000 acres of The Conrad Land a[...]nd its "Carey Lands" being patented to the state. In successors agreed to a final acceptance of the addition, there were about 50,000 acres of irrigati[...]ate of Montana when privately owned land included in the project. 90% of the water r[...] |
| [...]ere not very successful and became delinquent in their contracted land payments to the Construction Company and many failed to pay their county taxes. Foreclosure[...]James T. Stan- ford, who had served long and in many capacities with the company, passed away and[...]Canal and Reservoir Company filled dam in 1912, was put into operation on (PCC&RC).[...]15. It is named after William Swift, who In 1948, the physical part of the project was was[...]ceptance by the State Engineer. After works in the world. The dam drains about 200 many inspections and compliances by the State[...]to the Settlers Corporation, The Pon- remains in the Birch Creek river bed until dera County C[...]two miles, in "C-3" Canal. The remaining head of[...]er. Water can be added to the A picture taken in 1913 shows Dr. Smith, Mr. Swift "C" Can[...] |
| [...]ding the Siphon east of Valier. Picture taken in 1914 - outlet end of Spillway Channel.[...] |
| Newly made Kunkel Drops before the water was turned in. Water turned in newly made canal and Kunkel Drops. 20 |
| [...]this rate, it would have filled up in less than Traveling further east you will fi[...]the other side by way of a five disasters in the history of the State of Montana, foot diamete[...]lives of 29 people, some of whom are still missing.[...] |
| [...]capacity of 112,000 acre feet of water . There are[...]r four which is the largest the Valier Water Co. in 1928.[...]y replaced Pete Walley in 1974. He oversees all First Meeting of[...]. trustees, held this 25th day of January, 1904, there Stan Wangseng and Vernon Stokes make[...]the maintenance crew. Vernon is also in charge James T. Stanford representing 625 shares[...]lly representing The office is kept in order by Betty Olson, 320 shares, making a total[...]Bill Stokes are the machine operators.[...]United between success and failure for many of the area States, desiring to form a company[...]hereinafter set forth, is hereby, pursuant to and in con- . formity with the statutes of the State of[...]rder Pictures taken before the flood in 1964 of Swift Dam .[...] |
| [...]reek and Badger Creek. Warnings were issued to as many families as possible; some just happened to look[...]s mobile communications system was set up in the virtually impossible. Flood waters in Glacier Park high school gym. Women of Va lier and the tore up many feet of Great Northern track, surrounding area responded to the call for help in washed out bridges and isolated both ap-[...]ing. had spent the night in the Grandview School. Two of the three bridg[...]e could cope with, Bridge, over the Marias, broke in two before being the heartache hung heavy ov[...]d; the four-year-old son of Mr. and early Tuesday in an effort to locate survivors or Mrs. Chet[...]children are safe; Mr. Gil England; Mrs. Mary[...]drowned at Babb and many others whose names are unavailable at this time.[...]important, they are safe. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Davis[...]are safe. Rescue operations are continuing throughout[...]role. Valier churches, the hotel and motel are 24 |
| [...]Valier, Montana erected a memorial plaque in Radio Station KSEN in Shelby did a memorium of the Birch[...]all the names of those who lost their lives in the flood, without their help, we could indeed ha[...]d. which appear on the plaque are Dorothy Hall, Unless you see it, it's hard[...]has had its top shorn off to a depth of about 18 in- ches. Huge slabs of asphalt topping rest in the The new Swift Dam was dedicated o[...]ved as The impact of the flood was felt for many master of ceremonies with presentation of[...]Welcome and introductions by Wyse was silt in each room. fo[...]President of the Pondera County Canal and in, such as was the case with Mr. and Mrs. George[...]uzzing their trailer home. Thinking the plane was in trouble, they looked out the window and saw the w[...]to the top of the hill before bogging down. From there, they waded in mud to the Russell Yeager home, arriving about 5:[...]they were unable to contact the outside world for many hours. Hence, the first reports listed the[...] |
| [...]fill dam with ~ concrete facing completed in[...]devastating floods in June, 1964.[...]irrigation and municipal use in a large area of[...]ck abutments, rather than upon gravity, to remain in place and retain waters behind it. A circula[...]when it had frozen over, to skate. A few of us in sou th. For fifty years the lake has influenced o[...]close and intimate upon it. friend, and we are always conscious of its pres- The lake[...]eir far- has been our playground, the place where many sighted engineer, M. S. Darling,[...] |
| [...]at the east end of the lake. its possibilities. In order to irrigate the large hay wide and cove[...]thirty-six feet of usable water in addition to about |
| [...]scale improvement began in January of 1961. A[...]project was started in the winter when farmers of East end of Lake Frances. our community are not so busy, farmers and townspeople have spent many weeks digging The fishing has ranged from fai[...]with caterpillars, hauling gravel, and bulldozing Many fish are caught each year, both during the to for[...]ld and snow summer from boats and through the ice in winter. did not dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic Also thousands of salmon are snagged every fall workers. Soon it was[...]further without funds to purchase trace of perch are among the species of fish·in the cement for boat ramps and camping facili[...]lunteers immediately came forth and called on In 1954, the trend to boating moved over the[...]te to the Lake Im- nation. Lake Frances took this in stride and provement Project. The res[...]o appear on the lake. many in surrounding communities.[...] |
| In 1928, George and Elmer Brown, sons of[...]Frehlofer, who jumped from a plane in an[...]Inn, fell in the lake on the night of June 22, 1934,[...]In that same year on July 29, 1934, Mrs. Ab-[...]ner Hall of Browning was drowned when a boat in[...]pinned her in the boat as it sank. An aerial view of Lake[...]g a pleasant Sunday afternoon, it is not 1951, in a boating accident. unusual to count as many as one hundred boats P. A. Mowbray,[...]which lasted from 1909 until 1970. Here are a From the Annual, 1962, The NORTHERN LIGHTS,[...]In 1908, Cargill and Withee from LaCrosse, Lake F[...]the Conrad Lake Frances has been enjoyed by many Brothers and purchased their entire holdings in- people over the years, but it can become very[...]eir land, livestock and water rights. treacherous in a short time if strong wind should They organ[...]ompany and the Montana Some of the drownings are: Western Railway Company. The Montana In 1912, Robert Reinecke! was one of the first Wes[...]when he lost his life while road opened in July, 1909. The railroad was built swimming.[...]s men from Keith Nuzum of Valier was drowned in 1916, LaCross by the name of Peter V[...] |
| [...]McMillan family, with grain interest in Min- o Paku[...]'°'o.,~ '.f';t """ •~ In the early days it is reported that the Mon-[...]many years. The demand for the train service was[...]so much greater in the early days because it was[...]example in the year 1918, the railroad carried[...]The Montana Western carried mail, fuel, In the beginning, the tracks were laid up[...]tana Western has hauled many bushels of grain acre irrigation project. They also hauled in some[...]There were two towns on the line between possessions of[...]Miss Elsie Campbell, who lived in Valier and told of having the corral full of 7 Bl[...]taught school in Williams. During the week she ready to be shipped. The train was bringing in[...]ce to the depot, but the engineer somehow Conrad. In 1928, an agreement was made for the[...]d came out holding a 50 pound duplicate trackage. In 1940, the western end of[...]train. There stood Palin and Wakeman looking Valier, resulting in a main line of 17. 51 miles[...]There were many other boxes of butter waiting to the smallest, independent railroads in the nation.[...]be loaded. In the meantime word was gotten to The little rail l[...]flagged down the train. Mr. Sanders, who at names in the commercial grain business . The[...] |
| [...]inancial aid when the line was first built. After many years of dwindling business the Montana Western R[...]the Railroad Com- mission to abandon the railroad in 1949. The Company felt it could never repay the o[...]ed the Great Northern to buy the Montana Western. Many complex meetings and hearings were held on the issue. Alarmed at the thought of losing the railroad, many concerned citizens worked to "save the tracks". In 1950, to keep it going, the Great Northern agreed[...]he rates which kept it going a while longer. In 1954, the railroad went from steam to diesel. The[...]diesel was capable of pulling 8 loaded cars. Many, many people have worked for the Montana Western over the years in many dif- ferent capacities. A few names are mentioned that came to mind and were found in articles about the train. J. McCambridge was[...]n agent. Chester E. Atwood became general manager in 1928, followed by Louis Wefsenmoe, station agent[...]rly day engineers. Dave D. Brown was engineer for many years. Upon retirement, Bill Wentworth, who had p[...]na Western were Red Johnson and Claude Wake- man. In 1931, Herb Campbell became the con- ductor[...] |
| [...]Krupp in Germany in 1886-1887 is still in use, last brakeman was John Hayes.[...]In its final years passenger service was section crew for many years. Some of the discontinued. There were four trains a week, crewmen were John Jennin[...]Departure from Valier was 8 a.m. with arrival in Barron, Harrison Kelly, Wint Hale, Harold[...]taken to Seattle and used in the large shipping Comb was the last station agen[...]n Northern comes to 20 mile an hour speed limit." Many people[...] |
| [...]ement to air is extremely healthy, because there is much more lure Belgians to come to the Valier area - sent out by open sky than in Belgium, therefore much healthier. WM. Wayman.[...]ce of the Land Enlarging of the Belgian Colony in Montana The land in the Valier area is very picturesque. It[...]Printers Bouquillon, Merckem are being grazed. There are neither trees or brush, one Exceptionally pr[...]per finds some rocks which have been brought there by hectare, divided in fifteen yearly payments. nature, in some fields there are more rocks than in Read this letter, addressed to Belgian farmers, others, none are completely free of rocks, one finds and see how you, with a few thousand francs, can in a this all over America. After removing thes[...]Altogether, there is only one bad drawback in today, for you will need all your time to make th[...]scarcity of rain in Montana. Some of us were thinking around 20 Febru[...]makes irrigating easy. There are a few hills, which I have the honor of infor[...]Belgians of 80 persons left were much reduced in price. for the Valier area in Montana, United States of North America.[...]Irrigating the Land I took part in this colony and have now returned to In Montana there is not enough rain to meet the Belgium with the a[...]er, requirements of the crops. For this reason there is a in order to enlarge the existing colony. This colony[...]ve Victor de Brabandere of Desselghem, now living in to worry much about rain, indeed, they m[...]: three families Christiaens and they are assured of a harvest by irrigation. By originated in Waereghem; family of Henri Deketele of irri[...]Cyrille Ghekiere of Beveren (Leie), necessary. In irrigated land there are the necessary family of P. Leclerq of Bachte (0.[...]of Th. Beelaert of comes from the snow in the Rocky Mountains which Meulebeke; Emile Verstraete of Meulebeke; Cyrille are about 15 hours away. There are places where the Decramer of Langemarck; Maurice[...]ow stays the year around. Much of this snow melts in Caeneghem; Ch. Vanderjeught of Dendemonde (0.[...]after seeding the Houbens, Raemaeker, originating in Holland. grain, one makes the necessary ditches in the field to Some bought irrigated land and some are renting. bring water from the canal, then let these ditches fill All are satisfied with it and harvested a crop better with water and make small dams here and there to than they expected.[...]ween the towns of fields. It is unbelievable how much water this land can Valier and Conrad in western Montana, and about 15 absorb. Aft[...]twice, once during harvest season and again in the Climate in Montana spring season. The climate is somewhat harsher in winter than in In Belgium one often wishes he could have rain in Belgium, in summer the temperature is about the same one field and not in the other, in irrigated land this as in Belgium. There are approximately 300 days of wish can become a reality. One cannot control the sunshine in a year, therefore much nice weather. The[...] |
| [...]Even as in Belgium, the prices of grains are sub- Nature of the Land ject to many changes. At this time they dropped fast, The so[...]since the creation of for example: flaxseed in 1911 went to $2.11 per the world, and still retai[...]opped from the Creator. It is brownish loam, rich in foodstuffs $1.00 to .60 per bushel. Othe[...]ants. Several years will go by before ped in price. Potatoes, on the contrary, went up in the farmer will have to resort to adding fertilizer. The price, they sold for 12 fr. per 100 kilo, in the begin- ground is thick with mould, so that we[...]ug. For example, when we prices will be in the future. At this time it would be dug for cell[...]t is According to recent information, prices are as follows: very sticky and difficult to travel o[...]and sheep 1. 10 fr. per kilo. In the Valier area one can raise all types of crops,[...]lowest price on eggs has been 1 fr. per dozen as in Belgium, such as rye, wheat, oats, barley, peas,[...]remember one animals costs less than in Belgium, as they are outside thing, the need to supply water. The harvest of wheat more, even in winter, as in winter it is a very dry cold can easily reach 40[...]) Of this, $40 goes to the land and water company are of excellent quality. Alfalfa is a type of seven-[...]ay be paid over a period of 15 years at 6 percent in- one cannot make this old grass grow more so it c[...]0 per acre, lumber for were to seed oats and flax in freshly plowed grassland building $200 to $300 per family, horses $150 each, in Belgium, I think one would not reap a very big ha[...]vest. The flax and oats resembled a good harvest in binder, $425. One will also need enough money for Belgium. The flax ripened in the early part of Septem- household goods,[...]to live on until the first harvest. The first few in Montana is much more productive than in the other harvests will be more than enough for upkeep and states in America, it is called the Treasure State. The yearly payments. Living costs are a little higher than slow ripening of grain crops plays a big role in the in Belgium. If necessary one can borrow money from large productivity, the many sunny days are perfect the bank, but the interest is 1[...]e grain does not themselves some losses in the following way: in the ripen too fast and is not overcome by the heat, like in month of June there was a good rain, so that everyone some other stat[...]they all stopped irrigating, more nourishing than in many places in Belgium, as and they were sadly[...] |
| [...]rprise for irrigation. It is possible that there is much more of what a difference there is in crops that are irrigated this land available, that I might[...]o feet. Maybe this country is populated, there will be more railroads will change in future years after the turf has been ab- built. If our wishes in this are fulfilled, the land will sorbed more.[...]toadstools. th of four inches. You cannot imagine how hard it is to By next spring many Belgians will plant trees and the plow new grassl[...]in- Renting of land is every bit as good as in Belgium, ce this first plowing would have require[...]because without a doubt, properties will increase in work, most of the Belgians had their land plowed[...]18 fr., after this time one is the owner, while in reduction in price. Also the threshing was expensive, B[...]greatly influenced by the will power and in- reduced by jointly buying a steam engine and dustriousness in their undertaking, as well as luck and separator.[...]colonist will be the owner of a nice large farm in a few large farm of 160 acres irrigated land, and who would years which will double in value in a short time. This is want to share in buying a threshing outfit, would need something that most people in Belgium cannot dream to have on hand 20,000 fr. t[...]ng on a household of 3 persons. On 160 in the Belgian Colony, it will not take 15 years bef[...]00 fr. For anyone planning they can do it in 5 or 6 years. to farm 80 acres it is much more profitable to work Conrad and Valier are two towns which are together with the neighbors, to share horses and growing very fast, and where evidently there will soon machinery. In that way you could figure on needing be[...]ntil after the has 1000 inhabitants, they are constantly building. In second harvest. By cultivating otherwise it is prepared Conrad they are planning a creamery. Also next year for the secon[...]milar progress of all kinds, the Valier area will are figured for households with the least number of change like many other parts of America. Where for- persons, for example, a household with many children merly it was uninhabited, there will be much industry. will need more for traveling expenses. Last summer there was a new church built in the The land and water company, which requested colony. Up to that time we attended mass in a large me to bring more settlers, to come around 20 house. We all lived together in that house for a time, February, 1914, still has[...]n house built. Next year irrigated land for sale. In this large abundance it is not there will also be a school built. For the coming all t[...]but I know of around 10,000 acres colonists many difficulties have already been over- which is nice. come, in comparison to what we underwent. The trail[...] |
| [...]d also all Belgians can offer selves in my circumstances. I had no more hope of ob- hospi[...]families of their fellow coun- taining a farm in Belgium, because after thinking it trymen. They can also come to your assistance in over, one must admit there is shortage of space. Since various difficulties, an opportunity which we did not it is overpopulated, there is competition in trying to have. Regarding the strange language, t[...]creases and unhandy as you would imagine. With so many the cost of renting is also increased. Belgians living in the neighborhood, you will be sorry Therefore I traveled to the Va lier area last winter, you are not compelled to speak English oftener. I will[...]served the opposite to be gladly give you support in these circumstances as true, Everyone can obtain a farm, because there is a much as possible.[...]other buildings is not productive. Instead of in Belgium, where one sees with as difficult as one[...]o move to the own house. The wages for carpenters are too high in Valier area, with the hope of becoming an owner in- America. Anyone who will need a hired man, it wo[...]ng. This country is If we could live in Belgium under these con- every bit as safe as Bel[...]annot think thieves or murderers, the punishments are very strict. this. Maybe it is a little sour[...]land, to Also the settlers have very little money in their houses, make a living, but that cannot be helped. it is mostly deposited in the banks, one does not pay You can depend on these words, because they are with cash, so to speak.[...]perience. the Belgians have had some good hunting in their Now, in case you wish to become a part of this leisure ti[...]has become a hunter, one can colony, keep in mind that we will leave Belgium acquire a hunting[...]ear. As the around 20 February to arrive in Montana in time to population increases this delicious supply will cultivate the land in the spring and get it seeded, with decrease. The land is being sold in lots of 40 acres or the hope of harvesting a good crop the first year. 16 hectares. These are all square lots, 400 m long and Anyone[...]t one can buy, and write or come to see me. In Ypre, every Saturday from one cannot buy more than 160 acres or 64 hectares. 9 to 11 in the Hotel des Pays Bas. In Kortrijk, in Hotel This is allowed to anyone over 21 years of[...]1914. Now, honorable Belgian farmer, if you are In Noordschote, at my parents every Thursday. Ad- satisifed in Flanders, and if everything is going accord- dr[...]et, Noordschote-Merckem. ing to your wishes, stay there, and give this booklet to a friend or a neighbor.[...]Game Commission in 1929. At the time, it was the reality in Belgium. In that case, sell your farm, for the price of one hectare you can buy 8 or 10 in Montana. second largest plant of its kind in the state, and If you have 3 or 4 sons who wou[...]th that mony you Georgetown was the largest in the state and also can start each of your children on a farm, something in the world. The hatchery could accomodate ten you cannot think of in Belgium. to fifteen million rainbow eggs and was located 2-RENTERS-If you are a renter and have dif- on the feeder ca[...]to the Valier area, and buy a few acres of land. There you need not pay The plant was put into operation in the one cent of rent, all you pay is decreasing t[...]lled of your buying price, and after 15 years you are the about a mile above the lake. Th[...] |
| [...]of Valier, lune 10, 1930. Standing left to right are K. L. Molen, R. W. Speir and Leonard Ball. femal[...]aul Bruner |
| [...]s paren ts and his country. Heine and Zeimet are this week building a January 28, 1[...]ake for R. E. Leech. mick was in town Monday up on the mission of October 1, 1909, the first ad was placed in baptizing Valier's first born son, Peter[...]a'?tors and builders, plans and girl born in Valier, Montana. specifications furnished . Mr. H[...]ture, Vienberg, Ger- crew of 22 men who are erecting a structure for many, Pondera Avenue, Valier, Montana.[...]9, 1910, Valier beat Shelby 18-5. glad that he is in Valier. Friday[...]noted railway construc- the greatest team in Montana. Challenged all tor, Peter Valier of LaCr[...]Valier. Railway. Mr. Valier displays commendable in- terest in his namesake and sends word that it is his intent[...]Valier As I Remember It There is additional significance attached to[...]Valier fact that he is the first child to be born in Va lier, and there was a dozen freight teams from six and it is that[...]e the nigh-left wheeler. He have trebled at least in value. had a saddle so h[...]the saddle horn. Zeimet, the first child born in Valier, was on Robert R. Russl, a[...]Jack Crougham was the first marshal. There coat, cap, and pair of mittens with shoes and were some salty characters around in those days, stockings to match, a complete outfit[...]nis was the sure protection to the fortunate baby in any first deputy sheriff and he also[...]mpaning the gift was a brief note to In those days, there were hundreds of workers the parents intimating t[...]only besides all the homesteaders coming in. 38 |
| [...]ell later and operated it and a cafe for many years. w.;s engineer. There were coal mines on Birch They always se[...]of Valier. Some of the mine didn't matter how tired Martha was or how many owners were George Blair Ulrich, Paul Slezak, hours she had to put in, she always greeted you Joe Kingston, E. D. Kenne[...]ilent The streets were just the prairie sod, in dry moving picture show house. Ray Smith wa[...]piano while was wet they had ruts and chuckholes. There the show was on. were board sidwalks[...]or business. Holdbrook and horse team got hung up in one of these chuck Burton were the owners. There was also a barber holes and couldn't get out. Mr.[...]Bill Emery had a hardware and appliance out. There was quite a crowd gathered around store for several years. In it later was a pool hall. by that time and bettin[...]Mr. Curnut was Tom Haugen ran a pool hall there for many years. an old time bull whacker in the freight days. He The Montana Sta[...]here the hooked his oxen and he got his bull whip in ac- old picture show is now. It closed i[...]aded on Frances Heights ran a pool hall in it. I managed it for him for a and did all his br[...]Ferguson and he had it till Pete Marcus decided There were just two churches, Catholic and[...]had it moved. It is now the Log Cabin Bar. packed in the school like sardines which was[...]ng that is now the The Rock School was built in 1911 of rock Wentworth Clothing Store, where he had a from Dupuyer Creek. We had three teachers in grocery. Joining Emerys on the south[...]r, who was president. owned by Annie Dishel. Then there was a The little yellow hou[...]ped dressed beef and pork to the The Valerian was in what is now Arite's Cafe. The surrounding[...]the goods he has to owned by Bowmans. In what is now the Civic sell won't reap the dollars like the man who clim- Center, there was an area for the bandstand[...] |
| [...]to play quite Valier, often in good weather. It was a good one and drew lots of crowds as there wasn't much in the Permanent County Seat? way of[...]Being assured that county seats are storage by Cargill was the Empire Lumber Yard,[...]th shop. North, my father, materially in approaching battle November second. Billie Miller[...]Less than six weeks before election, our com- in horses. petitors assure us that "county seats are usually West of the Water Company yards was[...]ow the Mervin Chausse home. The Fulton are all counted, and we know for a dead certainty tha[...]apt to be some celebration. the county yards are now. The Leech Livery And right now, we are highly elated for when a Stable was where the Fra[...]antile is where Power "County seats are usually located where they belong,"[...]belongs- VALIER. manager. To the north in the same block on the Valier is right, and right there is where the county corner was the Boorman Lumber[...]Our competitor in this battle, Conrad, seems to[...]think we haven't a chance in the world, and on the[...]action is necessary and let there be plenty of action. Conrad Independent-April 17, 1919 In the last week's issue of the Conrad Observer,[...]eproche" torney W. L. Bullock, spent several days in Choteau "Dr. Simmons, the official reg[...]aking the final adjustment bet- community, was in Conrad Tuesday of this week and ween the parent c[...]es Leslie and Ewing presided at the and who in all probability, will cast their leverage for mee[...]Thrift in any game can not pass unnoticed, and the Und[...]e settlement Pondera County Valier people are to be congratulated on the active in- will have to pay approximately $7,000 to Teton Coun- terest they are showing in the contest. However, in our ty, but this is because of the fact that the new county opinion, their efforts will all be in vain. On the other takes over all of the road bui[...]ithin the new county, and which didn't many would always think that such and such belonged to[...]little City of Valier, situated on $15,000, which in reality gives Pondera County the banks of beautiful Lake Frances, located in the $10,000 to her credit in the settlement. heart of the Pro[...]We have nothing to say of her people, for they are of and starts Pondera County in business practically the best vari[...] |
| except in Conrad.[...]other thing, Brother, you know Valier has a "There are just a few things, and they are facts, reputation for bringing home the bacon; we may miss indisputable which kills all the stink in their argumen- our bet a long, long way but chances on the county ts thus far proposed. This little city in question is not seat question as they appear to us today, are two to situated in the center of population, and all the[...]paid Thanks. We're as thankful to you as we are thankful we for fixing up propaganda, speaks of t[...]aiment, it is pret- Our arguments, too, are without raiment, so there ty difficult to convince a voter to the extent that he will be no stripping to be done as they are simply bare will vote against his own best interest. After the votes facts, handed out to the public in their birthday are counted, records will show where the people want-[...]at and we contend that a voter "County seats are usually located where they voting for[...]Your railroad doesn't run in the right direction. Now what are you going to say to a fellow like[...]We are dealing in the futures at the present, both good things you[...]seat; and if, as you say, "county seats are usually is the exception, can you stand for that?[...]m the majority of the noses to be counted. winner in the coming battle.[...]. tunity as well and you can not find opportunity in the Personally, we are inclined to believe this battle past. You can not[...]I first came to Valier in the summer of 1918. Valier has never claimed to be in the center of At that time I was a civil engineering un-· population, but she does claim, and there is no[...]rsity of North Dakota. disputing it either, to be in the center of the county, and right there she is. It is also our opinion that she is[...]primarily as hydrographer measuring the flow in whole thing is in the future she will, in time, be the various canals and in Birch and Dupuyer Creeks. center of population.[...]I went back to the university in the fall of[...] |
| 1918, but returned to Valier in the summer of I believe Pete's wife was[...]eorge Ebner was the opera ting engineer and In the fall of 1919, I returned to the univer- had[...]reservoirs si ty where I graduated with a degree in civil (Birch Creek and Lake Frances), canal operation, engineering in the spring of 1920. During the water del[...]tc. Harry I. Oleson summer of 1920, I was engaged in engineering was in charge of accounting. work in Michigan, but in the fall of 1920, I again Among other 19[...]who had charge for adjudication of water rights. In January, of the company barns, store she[...]l, telephone operator; Wade Valier where we lived in the rear portion of the Starleigh, gun-toti[...]ervisor; always lived during my previous sojourns in Mr. Wheeler, resident of Lake Frances[...]dgen, janitor at headquarters and John wife lived in the front portion of the Ames house. Telgener, Montana Western RR Depot. In the spring of 1923, my wife and I left Others who came in the summer of 1919 Valier to live in Chicago. Late in 1924, we trans- were R. McCall, Jr. and M. Fr[...]Michigan to work on survey crews; Herman B. died in 1936. I remarried in 1939 and have lived Eickhof from University of North Dakota on sur- in San Diego more than 55 years.[...]ity of North Dakota at Illinois, who worked in the office. Agnes Roth Grand Forks. The first of[...]ner, later married Ed Carmody and they lived in who was the one who stayed in Valier the longest. Valier for a year or two[...]where he was an undergraduate. He may have was there for some years and about late 1918 been there in the summer of 1918 also. I believe married Mayme[...]Dutton. Queenie Charlton also worked in the office. In 1918, the project manager was Robert W. Abo[...]east coast. W. M. who was a designer in the drafting room. As I Wayman headed the sales department, there still recollect, Queenie Charlton later ma[...]fe, Rose, also Tourtellotte. spent some time in the office. Others who were in the drafting room or on The project was a C[...]ngineer Chester were: Frank Walkup, who was there for a few A. Atwood, who was also chief engineer[...]He had medical problems Montana Western Railroad. In charge of the and left to spend sever[...]enver following which he became Pete La Valle was in charge of project main- associated with the public schools in Pasadena, tenance and construction which l[...] |
| [...]Ebner's house where we were excellent dining room in the Valier Hotel; Eugene invited for dinner. Barney practiced dentistry in Leech, owner of a ranch on Dupuyer Creek, his[...]h the the Chicago area. ranch and lived in Valier. On Septe[...]perated the Valier Hotel time Valier was in Teton County as Pondera which I believe was owned[...]was a first class hotel and excep- In January, I believe 1922, American Legion tionally[...]d Palin, ad- dirty. The dining room was no longer in jutant; Harold A. Noble, finance o[...]wever, I un- he married Leda Wilke and they lived in Great derstand they were unable to raise sufficient fun- Falls where he practiced law for many years. ds to acquire the Armory. Er[...]educational and entertaining performances in and opened a dental office. Prior to that time, i[...]st was necessary to go to Conrad for dental work. In National Bank and the Armory. One or[...] |
| [...]Letters Home back to Conrad posed in the street intersection at the Valier Hotel for a picture. In the picture some These letters were writt[...]e seen on the Munyon to Eva Munyon. They are the parents of running board of the car.[...]o this area to work as a car- "dry". Water stored in Birch Creek Reservoir and penter and Eva was still back in Wisconsin. These Lake Frances was used early in the season and are typed from the originals. the only water availabl[...]Conrad, Mont. year was that flowing in Birch and Dupuyer[...]The Valier newspaper, The Valerian, was published in the basement under the Montana W[...]r of Mayme Pinger, day. Will start to work in the morning at five dollars who married Mike Manley, was the one who did per day, there is not a whole lot of work to be got but I[...]I can find another area by that time. while in the early 20's, I was the Valier[...]pondent for the Great Falls Tribune. About There is one building there now. We took out a load of the only news of Valier that got into print was that lumber for Mains. There is where he will have his yard. concerning sports, high school basketball games, The railroad will be there in about a month. I think the etc.[...]town will become all right. There is a fine country The ice industry flourishe[...]make a lake about ten miles long and three wide. in Great Falls. A large ice storage building was[...]o Conrad from barley. They yield well and are far ahead of Wisconsin whence the cars continued to Great Falls via the in quality. Oats will be close to fifty pounds per G[...]ecollect, the Montana Western ran two There is plenty of government land here but I will trai[...]s. The Mon- some today where it had piled in drifts. In going out tana Western RR was a "grass roots" rai[...]ills at a minimum and consequent- had died in the storm. They could not get anything to ly it h[...]s were as large a train as could hay shipped in. It is $18.00 a ton. More grass will be hauled.[...]grow on one acre in Wis. than will grow here on ten[...] |
| [...]rops here. Where the gopher and badgers dig in the ground Valier, Mont. the grass is lo[...]July 4th, 1909 We are all of us brown as Indians. There is Dear Eva, something that puts color in a face and one cannot I will now[...]gh of the air. how I am spending the great national day. The Rockies are in sight but not very high. There We had a general moving time. Mains tr[...]two wagons with six I had a forty mile ride in an auto mo billy. horses on each wagon. That was yesterday in the af- I intended to send the interest dir[...]and will send you ten dollars The roads are bad, had a heavy rain yesterday. They now.[...]I will get fifty cents an hour and I can put in as much rain as in Wis. but I don't know how the rest of many as I want to. the season will be. We are baching so our board comes cheap, at the[...]ers were too lazy to work a loaf and other things in porportion except oranges and did not farm any. They made money too much which are about the same as home. Ground feed two[...]ats two and one half, beef is just I got in sixty seven hours last week that is $40.20. as high as in Wis. I have made $165 in a month and about $20 out for When I get up[...]note all ok now. It is a healthy place to live in I believe. The saloons I am building the First National Bank of Valier are open all the time here never lock the doors.[...]ter right on Dupuyer Creek which which represents many of their neighbors and went on record in Fort Benton when Montana was friends. As you visi[...]o you all about their gatherings, which represent many years of progress, it reminds them of all the old[...]elonged to Bessie Three cabins built in 1882, brought to Bruner's place.[...] |
| [...]childish scrawl in it was used by him in the Dupuyer school in 1916. A complete set of Elson[...]that cost $2.50 back in 1910 and a banjo that[...]cost $2.25. Paul paid $3.29 for a guitar in the[...]tainment in his childhood home. still a territory," Paul told us. "She died in 1904 Besides the old crocks, bread bowls, hand- and was buried in Dupuyer." churns, clothes stampers and other things of in- The interior of her cabin now holds a weal[...]lk, Mrs. Bruner attaches par- of tools once used, many invented, by farmers ticular value to[...]and a quilt top made by her grandmother in A tool chest that belonged to Paul's great[...]9 and transported by wagon train from grandfather in Germany is probably the oldest Wisconsin to Washington, hence to Montana. item in there, although some of the tools date Y[...]ice plow on loan from Danial back 100-120 years. There are wagon jacks and Slezak, which came fro[...]first Montana Western coach and the pect to find in a prairie home many years ago. To multigraph machine that was[...]r awhile and get their form letters. lost in another era.[...]r's can play for you the old A fire is laid in the pot belly stove, the table is set for four wi[...]ots and pans on it, all ready for business. There are many old "firsts" in the Homestead Museum - the admission sign from the first movie house in Valier; an all-wooden washboard sold during the F[...]ction of old books includes a Cook Book published in 1884 that has a fairly complicated remedy[...] |
| [...]d as time went by he learned 7 Block Cattle Ranch in 1898. They also have an his ulcers were g[...]motto which they try and patented, made ~nd sold in Valier by Anders to live by, "What good w[...]d feed grinder came from Wisconsin by wagon train in Rock City-North of Valier 1818. In their collection of log houses you can see a[...]Valier lies Rock City, Singer sewing machine made in 1879. Their sandstone formations wh[...]got out of the It has been the site of many picnics and ex- dump, which was at one time used to heat the plorations of young and old, hiding in caves and Methodist Church at Dupuyer.[...]An afternoon at a Chautauqua in Valier.[...]begin with a children's program in the morning[...] |
| [...]auqua. Everyone is dressed up and the big tent is in the background. Chautauqua admissions were f[...]from that mystical world 48 |
| [...]• • • Many of the stories in this section were researched and compiled by Glen[...]rgill this was enough to close the plant. In 1942, fire |
| [...]long to raise the money. The Armory had many uses. Many people The Armory was built on a concrete fo[...]r it had and it was dation and lumber was shipped in by express so the scene of many big dances. They ~lso held that there would not be the slightest delay in get- boxing matches in the Armory with seats selling ting it built. The[...]on either side. The turrets provided causes in December of 1929.[...]a extend to the residents of the towns a personal in- speedboat was provided to give short rides vit[...]followed by the big attraction at the fair in Great Falls, provided band, which gave brief ente[...]of the tertainment program that started at 10:00 in the resort. John Lucke was in charge of this enter- morning with a dance that n[...]r big league pitcher, Ryan Legion Post No. 36 was in charge of the flag Max Rachac, in the lineup for Conrad. ceremony. Andy Kinn[...] |
| [...]ere provided for those who wanted them. A nounced in advance that arrangements had been charg[...]dances and spoiled the fun of patrons There were twelve two-room cabins available at other pl[...]main building. Each cabin was divided into two in the northwest", sold tickets for airplane rides.[...]were also equipped with gas short or long rides. There was also parachute burners for cooking a[...]no better site for the promenade facing the lake. In the center of the establishment of this be[...]d office rooms lake and the Rocky Mountains in the background. on the east. There were two beautiful banquet The architect[...]acity of sixty people lumber businesses in town. Whenever possible, each.[...]local people were given preference in jobs and The bar room on the west was fifty[...]received a The bar fixtures were the very latest in modern much needed shot in the arm because of the in- refrigeration and storage with Frigidaire being[...]ler, chased by Mr. Fuller from Barber Music House in especially as it was on the heels of the Great Great Falls. There were four taps for beer and the Depression. brands being served at that time in 1934 were Blatz, Old Heidelberg, Great Falls Bohemian Style Lager and Budweiser. In the east end of the building were included sixty[...]Anderson, Indiana, was provided to visitors. There was a float 18 feet by 24 feet with two diving boards of the type used in the Olympic Airpo[...] |
| [...]barn and other buildings. Today some Conservatory in Great Falls. Alex Eisel of Valier, of the windows and 1umber can be found in the with several local men, did much of the actua[...]with blue labelia. Encircled by As in every early day town, the livery stables the appr[...]essential. Valier had three at one time. The out in the shape of a heart. In it were over 100 Red Barn was operated by[...]oil were used White Barn by the Leeches. in the making of the lawn ~nd flower garden. In the parking area, adjacent to the Inn, were plant[...]..'i'ment to a large number of people, especially in tht3 gathering and hauling of rocks, as many tons wen~ used. Some of the rock came from the sc[...]suc- Francis Manley purchased three lots in 1918 cess that Mr. Fuller envisioned with many factors and he and his brother built the ga[...]t a time. The floor of the building was building. In the 1940's the Inn was vandalized dirt e[...]shop. A and much damage was done to the building. In boiler was installed in the basement at the rear April of 1944, the build[...]Valier in 1920 to manage the business for Power[...]ficulties and in 1924 the garage was sold at a[...] |
| [...]John Newel sold his interest in the business to[...]Smith and Lucke and moved to Conrad in 1932.[...]wide door put in the north end of the building.[...]In 1937, Mr. Lucke bought two more lots, one[...]on either side of the building. Mr. Lucke retired in[...]After Holm's death in 1951, Chausse con-[...]In 1953, Chausse had a show room built. When In 1925, Floyd Smith bought the garage from Mervin retired in 1968, he sold the building to Mr. Kester. At this[...]er south of where the Some of the many men who were employed at old Hotel Valier stood.[...]n Ellis, Fred Newel into the business as partners in 1927. Scott, Albert Riggs,[...] |
| Newspapers In 1909, the Valerian newspaper was the first In 1952, Mr. Caverly sold the Valerian to the to be printed in Valier. This was published Independent-Observer in Conrad.[...]the Montana Territory on horseback in 1895 and Valerian Office first located in Dupuyer where he established a[...]e original the town was established in 1909 and built what owner and editor was R. L. Dower and the was the first business in the new town. newspaper office was located in what is now the He and his family lived in a tent until he Valier Trading Post. Editors succeeding Mr. could build them a house. He shod many horses in Dower were Mr. Kelly, G. M. Mass, Sam Rule[...]eight years of business and shod most of (brother-in-law of Mrs. E. F. Goff), Paul Lathrop, the b[...]from Fort Benton to Dupuyer. He retired in 1942 Caverly, Jr.[...]Pete St. Denis Blacksmith Shop in Valier 1909. 54 |
| blacksmith shop was located in the general area of the present Chausse home, but[...]t. Denis was a man of action and always took part in whatever community project needed his help. Altho[...]CompanyD When union trouble broke out in Butte, in September, 1914, the Militia Posts around the state were ordered to assemble in Helena, to establish and maintain order in Butte. Headlines in the "Valerian" on September 4, 1914, read, "Valie[...]ontingent had twenty more men than any other post in the state. Upon.their return three weeks later, t[...]weather . .Willard Olson and Bert Ofkes were in charge of Company D when it was sent to Mexico in 1916 during the Panco Villa incident. When World War I was declared April 7, 1917, many of Comany D, by then the National Guard, enlisted as a group in the army. Water Company bunk houses in Valier.[...] |
| Valier Hotel built in 1909. Anna and Andy Hammer inside the Valier Hotel in 1940. 56 |
| [...]aberge Saddlery A small saddle shop started in 1963, grew in- to the largest saddlery and western wear store in northwestern Montana. Arnet Aaberge, a state inst[...]s, Dale and Gary Vanden Bos, their apprenticeship in the art. The business boomed in to the Seven ties, then working conditions had to[...]Pete Marcus Cafe Arnet and Daisie Aaberg in the boot department of |
| Above it Rieder Mercantile hardware and grocery department in 1917. Below is Rieder Mercantile dry goods de- partment in 1940. Left to right are L. R. Rieder, owner, Jack Rieder, Lloyd Ep[...] |
| [...]-Evans Story she came to Valier in November, 1909, with her Bob Aiken has his a[...]r homestead, ran a grocery business and Wisconsin in 1909. Cargill and Withee came was appoin[...]er Withee, formerly of LaCrosse, through the in- interests.[...]e M. S. Darling, U.S. Commissioner, at his office in Conrad April 6, 1916. The witnesses were Wallace[...]illiams. All of these homesteads and Earl Aiken's are still in the family and are part of the Bob Aiken Ranch. Another of the Evans daughters was Gwen- dolyn, who taught school in the Valier area in 1912 for a few years. The John Evans family, Cloie Aiken, small girl in the • Cloie Eva·n s was twenty-one ye[...] |
| [...]and farmed their land for many years before they retired. Earl hauled many tanks of water to main-[...]In the early days, Earl handled a large[...]Williams School Board for many years. He was[...]duty in Pondera County, but she did not have to[...]celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in Cloie and Earl Aiken with son, Bob.[...]ement Earl and Cloie lived for a She added to her many achievements when she short time at their home in Valier. Mrs. Aiken took a cowboy for a husband. passed away in April, 1963. Earl was 94 when he Earl R. Aiken was born near Frewsburg, New died in December, 1969. Burial for both was in York December 1, 1875 and was the youngest of[...]Helen Jean and a son, Bob. to Big Timber, Montana in 1898. He worked on Helen Jean married James C. Laudermilk on cattle ranches there and also at Geyser, Montana September 28, 1940[...]ing at Cody, Wyoming; Edmon- Valier-Williams area in 1902. He was here long ton and Calgary, Alberta. They are now retired before Valier was a town. At this time he became and make their home in Fresno, California. The foreman for the 7 Block Cattle Company. This children are Earla (Mrs. Jim Phebus) and her ranch embraced a[...]tall grass. This 7 Block also make their homes in Fresno. hay meadow was where Lake Frances is now.[...]Earl came to this area, spent his entire life in Pondera County except for one could ride in any direction without seeing a year at Bozem[...]Bob and Ruth Rouns, formerly of Brady, were In 1910, Earl homesteaded in the Williams married June 1, 1944, at Valier[...]Richardson, the popular young people were united in marriage Methodist minister. November 22,[...]ly after we were married we bought .the residence in Valier. The ceremony was performed two Parmelee houses in Valier. Our home was the by Rev. George Me[...] |
| [...]cking business for a number of years. He hauled many of his neighbors cattle and also his own.[...]l first from the Williams Post Office. One time in bad weather, he carried the Williams route on h[...]by Elizabeth Ireland. This certificate has come in handy many times. She was the last teacher of the Williams[...]urned to teaching and they make their home in Great Falls. They have taught at Valier for thr[...]s a secretary for a number of years for General in Elementary Education in 1965. Following this, Motors Acceptance Co[...]ith that firm on a part-time basis. At . remained in that school system for twelve years. prese[...]resident of the Great Falls Par- Ruth is listed in the 1974 edition of Outstanding ent-Teacher[...]Russell is married to Corinne Ogden, for- years in the classroom, she retired in 1977. merly of Simms. They make their[...]ey and Loren. Russell repre- put our farm land in one area. The Aikens also sents the third generation of his family to farm the own a large pasture in Glacier County, where the land and is part of the Aiken Ranch Company. He Angus are pastured during the summer. has served on the Dupuyer School Board and is We are very fortunate to have two producing now ser[...]unty fire trustee. gas wells on our land. They are part of the newly Russell is a member of[...]at present is Deputy Grand · The children are Jo Ann and Russell. Both are Master of the Grand I.O.O.F . Lodge of[...] |
| and are members of the Boots and Ruffles Square neso[...]thodist Mr. Akofer took an active part in civic affairs Church. She also serves the community by and was a County Representative in the State playing for funerals and weddings when needed. Legislature in the 19th and 20th Sessions. He was Life has b[...]lso a member of the Masonic Lodge. lovely family, many dear friends and enjoy good Along with t[...]help with our ac- Great Falls, Charlie was in charge of building complishments and success. It has taken a lot of some of the early houses in Valier. Among them hard work, but well worth it. We are glad to be being the Ern Goff home, the J. N[...]se where the Akofers lived, which is to build. We are indeed proud to call Valier and now the Earl[...]he attended grade and high school. He left school in 1902 to assume charge of his father's meat busine[...]ed this business for ten years. He was united in marriage December 18, 1907 to Miss Nancy Baker in Omaha. In 1912, the Akofers came to Billings where he was in business until coming to Valier in 1917. He purchased the Schwarder Lumber Com- pany here in 191 7 and in 1922, following the fire that destroyed the Monar[...]idated with Libby Lumber Company. As a are the parents, Anna Allen and Sam Allen. result of this, one of the oldest established businesses in Valier was formed. He added hard- The Allen Family ware to the stock in 1930. Mr. and Mrs. Akofer My dad, Samue[...]siness until it was sold to DeVoe Swank raised in Cook, Nebraska. In 1917, he came to in 1946.[...]d homestead, which is now owned by the Powers. there and worked for him for a few years. Later,[...]nd someone had to take them off the Boumans lives there now. train daily for[...]My dad was from the city, so he did merchandising in Valier, he had planned to not know very[...]he did like it and Ed liked his work, so business in Billings. However, he was taken ill he decided to stay in Montana instead of re- shortly after selling out[...]siderable turning to Nebraska. time doctoring in Great Falls; Rochester, Min- The[...] |
| [...]out of the house and onto the porch when we In the fall of that same year, Dad was drafted could see that the roof would cave in soon. There into the service and left from the county seat[...]course they could not hear us. Dad had fallen in France after six weeks of training back east.[...]ry while trying to get 100 pounds of flour While in the Army, he served as cook at Marseilles and[...]s way out carrying the flour on his back. married in 1921. Our first home was one mile Just a[...]t of where Doug Powers lives now, on land Dad in. I can still see the kitchen stove and everything[...]Winter set in all too fast, and all we had to We lived on many different places. We called live in was my uncle's cook car. It was a very hard livin[...]t west of winter for us with no money, not many clothes, Brent Gaylord's "up on the creek", Dad d[...]s given to us, a home that was not of trapping up there. He farmed with horses and made for the win[...]arm work. night and Dad did not have a job. In the Thirties, He liked to make hay and never did mind there just was not work to be found, let alone in shoveling grain. Mom said he and my Grandpa[...]ob and John, were born dreams all went up in smoke along with all the when we lived up on the[...]n, the Aubrey brothers, shoes caught on fire. There was a pail of milk sit- Henry, Selma and Harvey Myhre, Joe and Henry ting there for a pet calf that liked to come up Kuka and mys[...]dger area. and kept on with his work. In 1930, we moved back to Frances Heights In the spring things brightened up as my and lived w[...]by Del Welker. came up for sale. In the 30's, it was quite a In 1932, we lived on the Wade place which is dec[...]on day when President cents a bushel and there had been a yield of six Roosevelt was elected. We[...]ld for around about it. We four kids were put out in our car and eleven dollars a head. They made the decision to told to stay there while Mom and Dad would keep buy any[...] |
| [...]luck at Charlo since John and Evelyn moved there in would have it, my Uncle Adolph Tronson and An- the late 60's. ton Norsby came along in their car, so Dad was My Dad passed away in 1973 and my mother able to get away and escaped being gored to in September, 1980. -Margaret Parr deat[...]time after time. He had no fear of the pitch fork in Dad's hand, nor any respect for fences. The Leon Andersons In 1950, my brother, Johnny, married Evelyn[...]rother, Bob Lars Boe passed away in 1953 and his wife, and my parents moved to Charlo[...]this farm. They bought eighty and is now in the Cut Bank nursing home. acres over there. The climate was milder and I got[...]oes upon graduating they could raise more produce there than they from the eighth grade in 1926, as Tillie was ever had been able to at Valier, which made working in their store at Cut Bank. When they them extremely[...]while at Valier, but even more at Charlo, in 1928, Tillie asked me to accompany them. I because it was so easy to raise things there. Mom was with them until Leon and I were married in always had a cellar that looked like a store. She 1933. I graduated from Valier High School in had as many as 800 jars one year of every kind of 1930 w[...]elly you could think of along with the clerked in the store. fruit and vegetables. She froze a lot[...]st and the Brett farms along with th~ In 1934, due to the recession, Boes moved Bobby Rand[...]and part of Elwin the Valier outlet. In 1937, he sold the Cut Bank Gossards to go with wh[...]rtist, doing some very ranches has also take_n up many of Tom's hours, beautiful work. Her sense[...]was outstanding. She is still painting at passed in. 94.[...]e is a counselor. and Tom live in Seattle. Margaret Boe Kelleher Barbara Allen is married to Jim Fowler and lives in California. She has two daughters and they live in Edmonds, Washington. They have six one son[...]Ida Fowler. Jim is an electrical bridge club in Valier. It consisted of John engineer.[...]Powells, Andrew Our story is mentioned elsewhere in this book. Hammers and Tom Haugens. 66 |
| [...]brother of Lars, and Josephine Boe and was active in that church. She and I attended were married in Valier in 1928. They have two regularly.[...]One bright, sunshiny spring morn- active in the American Legion. ing the church door was propped open when we In 1933, Jo and Al started a grocery in the were there. Tillie could not get Jiggs to stay out buil[...]e closed this store, they moved to Conrad sitting in the pew directly in front of us, started w)lere Al worked in the courthouse and was later dozing and the dog h[...]When Jo and Al had the grocery, I helped many times.[...]light the gas stove and threw it in the refrigerator The Minister in the pulpit was very demonstrative[...]near the stove. And he wasn't even a as they were in days long ago. He uttered, "The[...]professor. word of God is in my mouth." Just then a mouse ran up his leg, "And the devil is in my pants." The Anderson family homes[...]allowing is a true story. On one of Rev. there in 1909 and Bernard and Mabel were in the Dover's calls at the Boes, he sat in a mohair over- first graduating class from Va[...]t, house call. he didn't know she had been busy in the kitchen making chokecherry wine.[...]Butte and finished with thirty-five Hoffman were there while we had community years in the Conrad schools. He retired in 1973[...]r son, associations. Edwin Dover and M. J. Wilcox are now in Hamil ton and are Masonic Brothers of Marlen and family live. In 1977, we decided we Leon.[...]de home. Lars We have been here in God's Cathedral on dropped John off at his home a[...]k to have hatched near and around the house in the get it. past year. They are traffic stoppers. We have Lars was very civi[...]ame into the store a ride to the of them are a white cross and are beauties. This high school to vote. He had hurried Mrs. Vermulm morning there were about fifty-five of them on the and me up to[...]stream bank when I looked out. The females are handed a pencil, she remarked, "I can't se[...] |
| [...]e brave, going out to Montana amongst all of In 1976, the Glacier State Honey Plant was the Indians out there. started in Valier by Andy Anderson. They came When Dad and Bernard arrived in Conrad in here from Choteau where they had been in the the immigrant car, they were side tra[...]t thirty years. They pur- unloading the car. In an adjacent car, that had chased lots from Mrs. D[...]they started talking, they Cascade house and were in business. For four discovered that they h[...]st help, except for the fall when help was needed in one-half mile north of ours. We remained neigh[...]bors almost fifty years. In the fall of 1979, Lloyd and Carolyn Mother and we girls arrived in Conrad in Toeckes, our daughter, came to help. We then early October, being met there by Dad and Ber- bought adjoining lots which had b[...]eady made house onto the that we would live in for several years. In the first lots. They have two daughters, Carla an[...]shed where we lived for a short time, we lived in one end with the cows and the chickens in the[...]however, as they built a house in which we moved The Martin J Anderson Family just before Christmas in 1916. The old one was The Anderson family came to Montana in then used for a garage for the old two-c[...]Buick that Dad had bought. mother. We had lived in Wisconsin where the That winter, 19[...]y, with so little opened at that time, we stopped in eastern Mon- moisture, crops for the next ye[...]to buy feed ty. A former Wisconsin man was living in Conrad, and hay for them for use that winter. Also, there helping newcomers in locating homesteads. As a were quite a few[...]esteaded at a location, which was were mostly in the forests and mountains of eventually to be fou[...]n of Valier. He re- was so bad that by 4:00 in the afternoon, one turned to Wisconsin, where we[...]for an immigrant car, which was loaded In the early homestead days, one of the best with ho[...]ds, farm tools, two horses and forms of fuels in the summer was "cow chips", cows, and he and Bern[...]e made a quick car. They also had a dog with them in the car who and hot fire, but did not last long after you were proved to be of help in discouraging the "railroad through with it. With the small country shacks hoboes" from trying to get in the car for a "free most people had at that ti[...]bel, Grace and Irma, came out on was dancing in the homestead shacks, at least in the train, after visiting in North Dakota and Min- the larger ones. There would be two or three fid- nesota. Some pe[...] |
| [...]ool houses were built, then they In 1920, our sister, Irma, passed away, a vic- becam[...]vent of insulin. Leon was born while we still and there was usually someone who would lived in the old ranch house. In 1916, we moved dance the schottische or polka, to[...]ches, cakes and and moved, but is still in use in the community. cookies, with lots of hot coffee.[...]graduated from crowd, the coffee was usually made in a copper the Valier High School. Leon was in California for boiler. These dances usually laste[...]several years, graduating from high school there, hours of the morning.[...]before re- The first school we attended was in Va lier, in turning to Montana. He taught school at the Fis[...]t Butte, then finishing his was Mrs. George Bush. In later years, Mrs. Bush teaching in the Conrad Schools. He now lives in moved to California, where she was in movies as Hamilton, Montana with his wife, Freda. Bernard, a horsewoman, in Hollywood. In 1912, a three-story Mabel Johnson and Grace Parmelee are all schoolhouse of stone was built, in which all eight making their homes in California. grades were housed. As needed, anothe[...]d until the full four years had been established. In 1915, the first high I. Henry and[...]l Anderson J. Henry Arnst was born in Wonberg (now Johnson and Louise Kingsbury graduat[...]o the schools was the building of had been in the Russian Army for four years, the high school and gymnasium with many serving two as a palace guard for[...]The young family came to the United States in the Day, November 11, 1917.[...]ll of 1898 when Henry was just a few months In 1911, the people of Valier and surround- ol[...]ay Henry's father homesteaded in the Chester Celebration, to be on Saturday, Sunda[...]k- children from Ritzville, Washington, in January, feet Reservation were invited to come in for the 1910. Henry was eleven at the time[...]orm their tribal dances. oldest child. Many of the church and other organizations had In 1912, while his father was away drilling planned[...]ve set up their tents for sleeping and would stay in inch plow. He averaged about two and one-ha[...]tarted, wells, with the last three coming in dry while they did not stop for the three days that were Henry was in charge. However, instead of water, planned for th[...]unday Henry struck the first gas well in Liberty County. everyone and everything was soaked. Indians The gas was only there to use in the winter, since were moved into the church, sch[...]was mer. Mat Thilges was Henry's helper in the well still necessary to feed them, which beca[...]ture, and Henry calls him his "biggest a problem. There was even a little snow mixed in little friend in Montana". with the rain, but by Tuesday, it quit and the In- Henry was encouraged by his folks to[...]he organ, but he couldn't quite get his left say, there was no celebration or Indian dances.[...] |
| [...]start the fire. He Henry had his own garage in Lothair in 1922 bought a fiddle and after six months was playing and had many interesting customers, some of at dances and gett[...]d played "Home Sweet Great Falls. Home", in hopes the folks would go home, but then the hat w[...]lake and Gertie Arnst Henry was playing in an orchestra on the Hi-Line, A 1925 Mod[...]s Arnst decided to For three years, 1918-21, there was a severe leave St. Louis, Missouri and return to Montana in drought which forced the family to return to[...]ubstake the "Work just gave out back there," Gertie said family farm again. The folks finall[...]ie was making $12.00 a Emma Stieger was born in Pierre, South week as a department sto[...]ust a baby. She and the promise of work in his brother Fred's garage Henry were married in 1924 and moved to Mon- in Valier, they headed back to the Golden tana in 1925. They rented a section, 640 acres, Tr[...]to Dr. Abran of Spokane. They later There were no maps, no paved roads, no purchased that place and then increased their graveled roads and in some cases no roads at all. holdings in 1937 with the purchase of the Sever Leaving on a Monday, they drove to Kansas City place. In 1942, they also purchased the Kent wher[...]nry and Emma now live. When sleeping in the car in a service station. Henry retired, the farm had gr[...]ncluding where they again tried to sleep in the car. "When Robert who married Janet Kingston,[...]e woke up, it was right next to a cemetery," away in 1976. They had four children, Mrs. Jess Ge[...]44, . singer of Denver. Marlene who is now living in they never again left the Va lier area. Billings, Montana and Randy who is living in Jake Arnst was born in Washington, August Missoula. 13, 1903. In 1910, his parents, John Henry and Dale who m[...]to south have two children, Debbie who is living in of Lothair. Conrad. She has one son,[...]ll frame married to George Coughlin and they live in structure to which later was added a barn. There Gildford, where he teaches.[...]d to Greg McGinnis did dryland grain farming there for sixteen years and lives in Pullman, Washington. Dennis is at- before[...]ied out and they were forced tending Montana Tech in Butte, Montana and to move to the Val[...]ive with their parents He attended school in Lothair and first met on a ranch near Geraldine. Gertie at a track meet in Chester in 1922. 70[...] |
| She had come to Montana in 1916 from Garage and helped operate[...]r Hotel Cafe and they lived with Fred in a two School, twenty-eight miles north of Chester[...]Their first child, Janell, died during birth In 191 7, the Eggers moved to Highwood and while Gertie was staying with an au,n t in Chester, farmed the Austin Ranch. On December 13, in 1927. 1918, Arthur Eggers died from "the flu" and[...]When Fred sold out the garage because of buried in Chester. Gertie at 13 and brothers, Ed- lac[...]r to make ends meet. in the spring of 1929. John Henry Arnst died in In 1920, the Eggers moved to Chester where J[...]e old remarried and the family moved to St. Louis in Moore place southwest of Valier on the "[...]in 1930 and they farmed that and his parents' In St. Louis, Gertie worked for the Stuckbar l[...]th Grandma Arnst to the former married Jake Arnst in 1925 and they returned to Scheel farm wes[...]d reprimand- Work, and lots of it, continued there until ed. 1923 when he went to Washington[...]so," was his innocent ex- the harvest, Jake said. In October of that year, he cuse. heard there was railroad work in Helena and un- The fall of 1932 saw everything that the der the guise of going to work there, he got a pass lease farmers had sold at auct[...]nly $117, Jake said. But his interest wasn't in going to work for the They had been milking ten head of cows railroad or stopping in Helena. His letters to and morning and night and Gertie said she wasn't from Gertie in St. Louis showed a definite in- exactly sad to see that phase of farmin[...]bucket of milk. Washington who were promised jobs in Helena, After selling out, Jake w[...]iving 30-60 and D- "To hell with them, I was in love," he said, "I 8 Caterpillars for his brother-in-law foreman, went home and helped Dad finish harv[...]ruck north of went to work for his brother, Fred, in the Arnst's Valier in 1933-34, Gertie had to hang wet[...] |
| [...]worked for the county under Hilly Miller in Prairieville Township, Michigan. He was until 194[...]d on his back. He then Ann Arbor in 1906 with a degree in civil worked as a mechanic for Bob Burgess at the[...]then was employed at Great Falls and Boise In August, 1939, son Wayne was born. Jake Dams before moving to Valier in 1909. said that during the eleven year gap betwee[...]mpathy with the boy, Jake came in Valier in 1912. down with the mumps, also. And, being[...]During World War I, he was a member of generous in that respect, passed them along to Co[...]lt Sill. As Jake recalls it, son Wayne In 1928, he became general manager of the didn't see[...]933-1937. He served on the Son Don was born in 1945, after six more rationing board[...]oard No. 37. the Valier Implement until it folded in 1964. The Atwood children were Heinie, deceased, He then worked for Dick Brown in Conrad at Chester J., Robert, deceased[...]plement Company servicing com- bines and tractors in the field for a year and a half. He returned to w[...]hool lunch- Nebraska to Valier, Montana in 1909. About two room program in 1966, Gertie had a heart at- years l[...]had to retire. Not to be outdone, Jake in 1921, leaving him with nine children, ranging had a heart attack in 1967, while waiting for a in ages of eighteen years to three months. flight of geese to come into a set of decoys west of In 1926, he returned to Valier, where he farm- Valie[...]also. ed for a living in different areas. He owned the Both have rec[...]old Slim Hubbard farm, which he sold several and in 1980 are in good health, still living in years after he retired in 1942. Valier, in the same home since 1944. After retirement, he lived in Fullerton and Jake still enjoys his lifelon[...]ing San Bernardino, California, until his death in and hunting and has picked up the title[...]great grandchildren. Six of his children are living to recycle.[...] |
| [...]newspaper. He returned to teaching in the fall of[...]The Ballantyne family lived in town until July[...]hort time at a temporary structure while the ting are Frances McLeod, Lucille Bartich and Tillie "Lone Tree School" was being built. In those Cleghorn.[...]dances, plays and picnics. It Axtell (Laura, died in July, 1980), Corvallis, was of cour[...]ne and one-half My early memories of Montana are of lots of miles, during the winter a[...]half mile from school and in full view. About Some of the happier things[...]r first enclosed so late. We were kept in after school, the usual car, which was a 1926 Che[...]latives, I went to high school in Great Falls at St. friends and to see the beautif[...]-Ellis H. Axtell Mary. From there I went to the College of Great[...]taught school in and near Ledger for a few years·.[...]I also went to Kinman's Business College in Norman and Joan Ballantyne and daughters, Spokane. I did bookkeeping and office work in Julie and Jackie, came to Valier in August, 1967. Colfax, Washington and it was from there that I Norman began his first teachin[...] |
| [...]ing some sewing four years of age. Mother and Dad are both gone and bookkeeping when that time comes. But right and only four of us remain; Clara, who is in now, she's off to take care of another[...]d of attention. Laura (Sister Mary Bernardine) is in Spokane, Martha (Sister Geraldine) is in Walla Walla, Washington and myself, whose story f[...]The Andrew Becwars At the time of life when many persons might My father, mother and m[...]onsidered retirement, Sister Hilda in 1924 from Hingham, Montana, opened a Beelaert instead took a 2,000 hour course of in- grocery store on the corner of Montana St[...]she completed her own High School in 1928, with the largest class to novitiate in the 1940's until 1969, Sister Hilda graduate up to that time, nineteen. Sometime in trained novices in sewing and art. She also used the Mid-Thir[...]f her charges, and found a talent opened one in Browning. and liking for the work. When leaving the I attended Kinman Business University in Providence College of Formation in 1969, Sister Spokane, Washington, then re[...]red by Pondera County to work at the an assistant in the beauty shop at the DePaul courthouse. I was there several years, then retirement apartments and Mou[...]charge of the shop. we were married and lived in Van Nuys, where he She now has three part-time as[...]ater he was cir- Sister Hilda is perceptive. In a letter, after culation manager of the Arizo[...]a newspaper, for ten years. "Am I correct in thinking that you seem to need We had one son, Richard, who lives in an excuse for me being 'just a beautician'. That[...]ssed hopefully, a good religious, encouraging and in- away on October 9, 1980, one day before h[...]a seventieth birthday. She was preceded in death new line of work for Sisters, I'll admit. But any by her husband, Claude, in January, 1979. work done with love and done well[...]Marion had been a licensed realtor for many O.K.!" years and was employed by Ed Post Realty in For a time Sister Hilda missed working with[...]mething to contribute. Sister Hilda was born in Belgium, and was The 0. P. Blank[...]lier from Kremlin, entering the Order, she taught in elementary Montana in January of 1921. Our Dad had taken school. Two of her own sisters are members of the in the harvest in Valier in the fall of 1920, then Providence Comm unity, Sister Geraldine in got a job at the power house where Mr. Stowell Walla Walla and Sister Mary Bernadine, in was in charge. Dad worked there several years, Spokane.[...] |
| [...]until 1921. and Laura (Fields) Wheeler in 1934. Joel and They lived in several rented houses while in Mildred lived in Conrad until 1944 when they Valier. Our oldest si[...]m home moved to Washington. Mildred died in 1975 and before we moved to Valier, so there were six is buried in Ritzville, Washington. Joel still lives children, Gilbert, Elsie, Joel, Weldon, Lila and in Ritzville. His daughters Joeleen and Judy also Helen, who attended the Valier schools. Gilbert live there. graduated in 1924 and he lived in Great Falls Edward A. Wheeler and wife, Laura, with until moving to Salem, Oregon in 1942. He three children, came from Claresholm, Alberta, passed away in September of 1978. Canada to Montana in 1910. They homesteaded I finished my junior year in 1925 and then twelve miles west of Valier w[...]Walkerville, Montana. Womack, passed away in June of 1979. Arthur married Mildred Cheetham. He Joel graduated from Valier in 1930 and lived passed away in 1969. Mildred is living in in Conrad for many years. He then moved to California. They had four children and lived in Washington. He still lives in Ritzville and works Va lier until 1943. at the hospital. He was fire chief for many years Thelma married George Dimke and th[...]sent is a city council member. lived in Great Falls for several years, then moved We[...]gh school, to Minnesota. Thelma and George are both but quit in his junior year. He worked at Grand deceased, but have two children still living in Coulee Dam before going to Alaska for several Minnesota. years and then to California where he died in Pat married Louise Phillips. They li[...]Orr and Lila came to Ritzville, Washing ton in 1931 with their two children, Roberta and Ke[...]with us and went through high school live in Valier; Donna married Donald Williams and graduated in 1935. She and her husband and with their seven children, live in Lovel, have lived in Seattle for many years and she still Wyoming; Edward married Be[...]y have three children graduated from Great Falls. In 1943, she and her and reside at Hobson, Montana. husband went to Anchorage, Alaska and she passed away there in February of 1976. Our family is down to myse[...]liss Lila, except for our oldest sister who lives in Earl Bliss came to the Valier area in about Wyoming.[...]ton, Wisconsin. He homesteaded Our Dad lived in Valier for several years before moving to Salem, Oregon with Gilbert and family. He passed away there in April of 1958. Our mother moved to Washington in 1937 and she passed away in Ritzville in December of 1953. They are buried together at the Ritzville Memorial[...] |
| [...]was there she lost all her possessions when her[...]Sandy where she lived until her death in 1963.[...]family still living in the Valier area.[...]In 1913, as a young man in this early twen-[...]because land ownership was very limited in dense-[...]the very few. He came alone. He came in answer[...]Wayman, took his picture in his lush wheat field[...]Herman spent the first winter in Ghent, Min-[...]were also from his hometown of Voorendahl in sou them Holland. Then he came to Va lier. In about five miles southeast of Valier. Earl and Al[...]her, Walter, and a cousin L. Panchot were married in the Methodist Church named Lauren, joined him. His cousin did not like in Valier in 1913. She had a homestead near the Valier[...]the first year they working for local farmers in the area like the were married, later moving to a[...]Nine brothers bought their first land in 1915. Herman children were born to them, seven of whom are bought a delinquent homestead near Collins and still living. Mrs. Bliss was the piano player in the Pondera Wrangler's Orchestra, others included[...]and saxaphone played by Charlie Wellington. Many hard times were experienced by the Bliss family. Mrs. Bliss hauled water in barrels from an irrigation ditch to water her garden in dry weather, as there was very little money to buy groceries for a larg[...].F. Lodge and the Rebekahs. Mr. Bliss passed away in January of 1943 at the age of six- ty. Leon E. Bliss was killed in a truck accident in 1953. Ernest Bliss was lost in a blizzard in Havre, where he froze to death in 1969. After Earl's death, Mrs. Bliss[...] |
| [...]m, all sons of Hubertine and Her- and Va lier and in places followed the railroad man.[...]on, the two brothers both set- to Valier in 1933 from Great Falls. They were tled in Va lier. Herman exchanged his acreage for m~rried in Choteau in 1930 while he was em- a friends, and slowly they purchased neighboring ployed by the Ford Garage in Great Falls. At the farms as people found that th[...]move, they traveled to Valier via not economical in the area. The farm east of Choteau an[...]Clayton, Sr. was employed by the Ford In the early period, the two brothers often Garage in Valier until 1937, when he opened the spent their winters working in the timbered areas Chevrolet dealership on[...]of the Valier Bank of Montana. The Chevrolet deer in the Eureka area and elk in the Bob Mar- garage was built at its present location in 1945, shall Wilderness near Shaeffer's Meadows. T[...]layton, Sr. had three children by a previous In 1919, Herman returned home to Holland[...]Annie's four children of her first marriage are beaten shack with outside plumbing and water pump[...]at Hurbertine expected. She, at first, found life in Valier very disappoint- ing and lonesome, but soon became busy and in- volved. There were eight children, three boys and five girls. Farm life in those days was much more physical and varied. It[...]ubertine were proud of their success as farmers. In 1952, Walter retired. After a short stay in Great Falls, he return- ed to Holland where he li[...]came back "home" again after her husband died · in Great Falls in 1961 . She died here in Valier a few years after her husband.[...] |
| [...]California. They are the parents of a son, Ronald.[...]Clayton and Jim, reside in Valier and operate[...]from St. Louis, Missouri in the spring of 1910 and Tom, Clayton, Clayton Sr., Jim and Annie Briden in bought a quarter section of land four miles[...]t it was a dry Washington, Jack Woods who resides in San year and they didn't get much c[...]n the railroad all that Clayton, Sr. was born in Walhalla, North winter. Dakota on Marc[...]they returned to Valier Mary Briden. John T. died in Chicago in 1941 and planted the acreage to oats that grew so tall and Mary died in Poplar, Montana in 1923. it reached as high as Jim's c[...]ey Clayton, Sr. died April 23, 1973 and is buried in went back to St. Louis, taking with them so[...]the crop they had grown and bragged about how Annie was born in Stuartburn, Manitoba, tall oats grew in Montana. Canada on October 26, 1903 and presently They again returned in the spring of 1912 resides in Valier. To Annie and Clayton, Sr., three sons were born. They are John T. (Tom), born May 9, 1931, in Great Falls; William Clayton, Jr., born June 18, 1934 in Valier and James Donald (Jim) born June 2, 1944 in Conrad. Of Tom's marriage to Helen Pauli, three children were born. They are Jeff of Valier, father of Carrie, Andrea and Jole[...]Shephard and granddaughter, Christina, also live in Valier. To Clayton and Myra Mozer Briden, three children were born. They are Brett of Valier, married to Jill Geiger. B[...] |
| [...]get ready to move to Montana. Jim Brink died in 1956 and Alice in 1966. Early in the year 1915, he and Charles Moon They are both buried in Hillcrest Lawn Memorial arrived by train in the immigrant car loaded with Cemetery in Great Falls. their be[...]ce and Ina, who was eight months op port uni ties in the Va lier area others of the old, and arrived on a cold March day in Williams. Brophy family came from Nebraska. The oldest There they were met with a team and wagon for son, John, and wife, Alice, came to Valier in the three mile journey to their first temp[...]room shack located one quarter mile Prentice came in the spring of '1 7. That fall his north of the[...]he son, Richard, joined Rollin, Eleanor and Paul in would build a good house to keep his family s[...]he father, Michael Francis ran the elevator in Williams, was a skilled car- Brophy and wife, Cec[...]east of Valier. land and made Valier their home. In September, It was remodeled and modernized in 1928. The 1919, George Landkamer, who was in the service big barn with hay storage was built in 1917. A came to Valier to be married to Alice Brophy. daughter, Bernice, was born in the fall of 1916. Cecilia attended Normal College in Dillon and Dr. Tidyman was the attending p[...]Crawford. The elder Brophy was active in community affairs. He Brophys lived in Valier and the boys farmed. M. was instrumental in starting the Wingina School F. sister and husband[...]Van and served on the school board for many years. Steenis, also came in 1920, but returned to He was Pondera Cou[...]ndera County Democratic Bullhead School and lived in Valier until his chairman, was president of the Williams-Mason death in 1960. They had ten children, two Federal Land Bank Association and served on the preceeding him in death. Surviving are Jean Pondera County Draft Board. He was[...]All of the Brophy children lived in the Valier Leo married Antoinette Sullivan a[...]years. Robert son, Thomas Joseph (Tim). Leo died in 1934. acquired land and farmed near the[...]married Eleanore Johns of Valier in 1941 and had four children. Eleanore died in 1973. Their Walter Brophy children are Dr. Robert, a veterinarian in Walter M. Brophy came to the Valier area in Hamilton; Patrick, a lawyer in Denver; Kathryn, a 1914 on an excursion trip offe[...]married to Guy Miser, a mor- to interest settlers in moving west. He was ac- tician in Fort Benton; and Keith, a graduate companied by his fa'ther-in-law, William H. engineer, who farms his dad's land east of Valier. Holefelder and brother-in-law, Charles E. Moon. Keith is married[...]Water Michael. Bob married Florence Majerus in 1975[...] |
| [...]n- tana Normal College and teaching rural schools in District 18. Ina married Norbert Majerus (see Maj[...]ing from the Univer- sity of Montana and teaching in Conrad. Bernice attended Montana State Normal College in Dillon and married Vernon Steiner in 1938 (see Steiner story). The Brophys retired to California in 1939 spending summers at their Valier farm. After Walter's death in 1952, Lizzie returned and built a new home in Valier. She died in 1974 at the age of 90.[...]ad, Montana; Mrs. Howard Bill Brophy was born in Iowa, April 12, 1894. (Helen) Dupler died in an auto accident Decem- He came to Valier in 1919 where he farmed until ber 24, 1958. Mich[...]928, he married Beatrice Dunham who had been born in Missoula on December 8, 1901. After he was throug[...]8 1888 and died October 17, 1974. He married away in December of 1960 and Beatrice died[...]and died April 14, 1958. The children are Mrs. Donald (Jeanne) They had four children who are Virginia A. Racine, Browning, Montana; Mrs[...] |
| [...]ur earliest recollections were things en- Chicago in 1909 to work on a farm. In 1919 or couraged by our parents. George (o[...]shed or swam and picked chokecherries at our In 1946, they left Valier and moved to Great secr[...]itch-hikP-, ride a horse or bicycle or talk Elsie in- her family until his death in 1974. to taking us with all our[...]or the dike, west of town. We would be in the[...]had pet hawks or The Brown family originated in Scotland and owls which we raised from baby b[...]ted States by way of Montreal, Our success in training them was rather limited Canada. Dave Brown's parents located in Port- for they usually flew away on their[...]on the Great Northern Railroad for back once in a while for something to eat, but a year then too[...]l from the Smith time. Mom caught a hawk in the act of catching River Valley on Deep Creek so[...]his own meal and flying back up to his perch in were married on May 25, 1904. Emma's family[...]k escaped and never re- wagon and had homesteaded in the Smith River turned. country in the early 1880's. We really had a farm in town with ducks, Except for a short period b[...]cow. Between the livestock 1916 when they worked in Portland, Oregon for and the garden, the f[...]retty busy. and Mrs. D. D. Brown lived and worked in the Some of our really memorable sum[...]h to be invited to say at Lenoirs, Sparlings In 1921, they moved to Valier from Great and[...]rad, the end of the line, the crew and There was a constant contest with the Atwood passengers[...]ut we Their youngest child, Vernon, was born in could never really tell whose kite was the highest. Valier in 1922.[...] |
| was to get in the car on Saturday after the train tion held at the Masonic Temple and hosted joint- came in and take the family camping in either ly by Vernon and his wife, Florenc[...]cross the street from Eastern Star. our house in the vacant lot. Many summer Emma was also active in the Methodist evenings the Kingston, Hayes, Durne[...]er. Those Auxiliary, while Dave was active in the family games were memorable because of the[...]Dave passed away at the Conrad Hospital in when there was never any arguing and no one the sp[...]e score was. The games were Polson Hospital in 1965. They are both buried in going until dark, but there were a few who went the Valier Lake View Cemetery. in to listen to "Amos and Andy" on the radio, then[...]uated from Valier High School. During the in the spring of 1937. Harold worked at the summer o[...]r Elmer graduated, Conoco Service Station in Valier in 1943 before he and George were drowned in a Lake Frances moving to the farm that fall where they are living boating accident. The other four went on t[...]rs for about thirty-five years. Elsie taught in several Montana towns in- They have five children, Bonnie Malsor of cluding Valier and spent most summers in Valier Conrad, Betty Klosterboer of Valier,[...]d Brown, who is sales manager at DePratu Ford in with the American Red Cross in England. She Whitefish, Jim and Steve Brown of Valier. Jim retired from teaching in 1972 and lived on served in the U.S. Army in the early 1960's and Flathead Lake until she passed away in July, Steve served in the Army in Vietnam for eighteen 1980. months in 1968 and 1969. Harold and Beulah Raymond served during the war in the Navy, also have fifteen grandchildren a[...]ere he coached and grandchildren. taught in the high school before returning to graduate from the University. He now works for Rockwell International in the space program in Los Angeles, California. Royal served iq the[...]om the University of Montana and taught six years in Montana and twenty-six in Alaska before retiring to live on Flathead Lake near Dayton. Vernon served during the war in the Army and then graduated from the University. He is now employed by the government and lives in the U. S. Virgin Islands.[...], Margaret Bliss holding sister, Laura, Mrs. In 1959, Dave and Emma celebrated their Pan[...]rl Bliss and Alta fifty-fifth wedding anniversary in Valier. A recep- Bliss. 82 |
| [...]They had four children, Mark who lives in[...]In the spring of 1913, R. E. Bruner of Cotton-[...]east of Dupuyer. In early fall of that year he at-[...]caught in a blizzard and had to go back and ship[...]from Spokane to Valier. He arrived in November with his wife and six children and lived in an[...]fruit and when they arrived it had to be stored in a basement of a local business, since there was no Mr. and Mrs. Tom Brown were both born in[...]t at the ranch. When spring came Iowa and married in 1905. They homesteaded and they went after the fruit, there was nothing east of Power and moved to the Valier area in[...]Embody with a steam engine and for many years Their oldest son, Clifford, married Eth[...]s they used horses and ran sheep and Eickleberger in 1930. They moved to Oregon in cattle. about 1940, where Clifford passed away in 1977. Other family members were Lucile, LeRoy, Ha[...]s. Lucile is married to Reno Michelotti and lives in Black Eagle. LeRoy died in 197 5. Harold lives near Va lier. Chester died in 1936 and Francis lives in Great Falls. Mr. Brown farmed here and at Fort Shaw before moving to Great Falls, where he died in 1966. Mrs. Brown passed away in 1976. Theresa Boyd |
| [...]are buried in the Lake View Cemetery at Valier.[...]school ed uca hon in a little school called the[...]Ralph School, which was built in 1914 by Frank[...]from Va lier in 1920. She became a teacher and[...]has passed on. She is now retired and lives in the Horizon Lodge in Conrad, Montana. The Bruner family in 1942. Back row, left to right are The next two boys, Ralph and Harl, after Harl, Ivan, Paul and Duane. Sitting are Dorothy, R. E. finishing school in Valier, went to Livingston, and Mrs Bruner and Ra[...]nty-five years. They One of the biggest jobs in those days was to married and raised their families there. get fuel to burn. They hauled coal from the King[...]The Bruners owned the first horse powered combine in Montana, which they'd brought from Idaho. In the dry years when grain couldn't be cut with a b[...]neigh- bors. Ralph and Mae were very active in church programs in and around the Dupuyer and Valier area. During th[...]ent homes to dance. The old organ, which is still in the Paul Bruner home, was loaded in the back of the hack (a two seated buggy)[...] |
| [...]Paul Bruner married Olive Keeler of Valier in 1929 and they have resided in the Valier- Dupuyer area all of their lives.[...]d Lizzy Raty. They had nine children, all of whom are graduates of Valier School. Duane lived all[...]aul his life on the old homestead until his death in Bruner with chil- 1975. He is buried by his parents in the Valier dren, Eloise and Cemetery.[...]hey lost everything they had. Valier were married in the Keeler home north of Those were the days before stove oil, so in the Valier on December 15, 1929. It was the begin[...]at cost $1.29, a tea set and tablecloth In 1932, Paul walked two miles every morn- and napki[...]four until nine in the evening and earned $30. 00.[...]In the summer of 1935, Paul got a job[...]During the years that they lived in Dupuyer, they had two children. Eloise was born in 1932 and Robert in 1934. They both were born at a maternity home in Valier. The first one cost[...]in advance, they had to stay home. In 1939, they moved to the Valier area where[...]rent farmers. The Paul and Olive Bruner in 1929. years spent in and around Valier between 1939[...] |
| to 1952, they and their children were in 4-H and Eugene Bonnet Family o[...]et when asked to do their history for "the school in Valier. book", but we finally wrung the following infor- In the fall of 1952, Eloise married Arthur m[...]ildren, Debra and Ranae. Art worked as a mechanic in Lucille, 13, Denis, 11 and Genise, 4 c[...]n moved to Ethridge, Cut Bank to Valier in October, 1950, to take over where they bought the[...]the milk plant they had purchased from Don reside there. Hancoc[...]born to the Bonnets. In 1957, they had one daughter and in the same In 1955, Veta Marsh and Hazel, with little year, Robert passed away and is buried in the money and less know-how, purchased a $75.00 Lake View Cemetery beside his[...]began printing a small newspaper. In a name- In 1951, Paul and Olive bought a small farm[...]weekly edition was duly dubbed, "The Spray of there until they retired in 1970. They still reside[...]the Lake," the name submitted by Ed Smith, the in the homestead house of Paul's father which was[...]local Montana Power man. In 1956, the first moved from Dupuyer. They have bui[...]50 machine. Two of family and neighborhood relics there. They years later, Hazel purchased Veta's interest in the were members of the Odd Fellows and Rebekah[...]Dick Geiger in 1966. In 1956 Hazel became the first woman ever[...]Lodge in 1958. Gene sold the milk plant to Lee Offerdahl in 1958 and in 1960 took over the Panther Cafe[...]cafe until his retirement in 1976.[...]pair of shears in his hand. "He's coming to murder[...]when, after much gesticulating and speaking in[...]ne's Paul and Olive Bruner's fiftieth anniversary in 1979. grandfather, who had just arrived in America 86 |
| [...]South Dakota where he obtained employment in sheepman in his own right. He and Tuffy became his aunt and uncle's hardware store. In earlier fast friends in spite of the horrendous haircut Tuf- days, his[...]as a fy administered, that friendship lasted for many young married couple and their first child[...]born here. They started a tin shop in Sioux Falls The Bonnet children are all grown and before returning to Nor[...]ten's Lucille, married to Gary Payton, lives in sister and her husband and this same stor[...]nd Lucille owns the Bride's Shoppe. In 1908, Ole returned to Norway to visit his De[...]ght his sister, Eva, back with Christiaens, lives in Manhattan and is production him. Leaving what is now Oslo, then on to manager-for Summit Engineering in Bozeman. England and they arrived at[...]Va lier boy, Wayne After visiting relatives in Minnesota and South Arnst, lives in Great Falls where he is outdoor Dakota, Ol[...]road Company, working between Colum- burst, lives in Havre where Chuck is manager of bia Falls[...]and Loan. Railroading in those days was much different A year or two[...]streets were deserted, not a human or even a dog in sight, no sign of life except for a few sparrows bobbing about on the sidewalk in front of Joe Brown's Cafe, a lonesome, dreary loo[...]aid Gene and Hazel, "and shall always cherish the many won- derful friends we have here."[...]ay Broten Ole Broten was born April 2, 1879, in Nord Odalen, Norway. As a young boy his mind saw a paradise, a dream world, that of coming to America. There was much reality and hard life between that dream and his life in America, as it was for all immigrants. Leaving th[...]pool by train, then by boat to New York, arriving there July 20, 1900. From New York, he went to M[...] |
| railroading as well as our country. There were white. More land was purchased as they could af- many wrecks in the mountains those days, caused ford to buy it. He served on the school board for by snow slides in the winter and mud slides in many years in his community where the Red other seasons. There was no extra pay for over- Bridge School was located . time work. When there was a wreck you just Ole worked[...]ed milk cows and churned butter those early In 1909, Ole Broten became a citizen of the hom[...]cial price for United States, a joyous, happy day in his life. In her butter at the store, as it was such good[...]ries, taxes and other purposes as far as it In 1911, Ole married Mary Toner from Min- wou[...]e cook and housekeeper at the the creamery in Valier where the butter maker Section House with[...]greeted us, helped unload our cream can, carried there. A year later a daughter, Marie Christine,[...]12, 1913, Ole and Mary Broten sold cream in the can and removed a small sample for their cow,[...]they were paid for their work with the milk cows. in Valier and settled on a piece of irrigated land[...]old time sheepman on the Old Arm- Helga, arrived in Valier to join him. Baby strong Ranch. The cute little lamb grew to be a Christine was pushed in her buggy alternately by big, pushy buck th[...]im. One winter day, Ole was sawing over the grass in its lonely setting. Tish-ah, tish- some wood th[...]the foothills of the mountains in company with The Montana wind must have bee[...]orses the buck behind him. Bimby took aim, there was and a colt at first. Then some cows, chickens[...]er sheep. They built a temporary sprawling in indignation onto the ground. Dad shack and some s[...]e ending, but it must hav.e come peacefully in his neighbors for years. The house as I re[...] |
| [...]best that can be said for anyone. Aid, which met in the various homes. Enter-[...]Clara, Methilda (Mutty) and Thelma, Joe who lived in Washington; the Emorys, the Kerrs and C. W. Halls, who later became Pondera County Assessor and lived in Conrad. Early settlers Oscar and Lora McWilliams[...]rses. Children were Gertie, Evelyn and Buck. Also there was Grandpa McWilliams and Jack, the pet bull dog. After many months, Jack found his way back to Montana, soref[...]d surround- ings very changed and his keepers not there, so Church summer school in front of Methodist Church. he went to the Brotens[...]The Ed Bruce Family There was the Julius Myhre family, who lived on Birch C[...]ma, Harvey and Betty. Bullhead community in 1916. My father went to We would drive there with our Prince and Daisy war k for Mr. F[...]get started. My mother, Nina Bruce, died in 1921. Later Sometimes there were flat tires. In spite of the ob- my father married Helen Baker.[...]to Myhres was a great trip. I can was born in Valier in 1924. Another sister was still see and taste those wonderful meals Bertha born in Conrad in 1937. prepared for us all. We were very happy whe[...]They had a top buggy myself started school in Valier. My father was at first, so we could see them coming over "The very active in the Baptist Church. Strandvold Hill" giving us a[...]radio over ear- ready up for company. I remember many other phones in the office of the Va lier Mere as Mr. Fey neighbo[...]and the big containers of hot The neighbors in those days depended on one another for help in time of need and for their entertainment making a[...]ss now days. Everyone lived with a hope and faith in the future that never faded. Mrs. Broten became ill and passed away in 1942. She was buried in Minnesota. Ole left alone in his sorrow and poor heal th had a sale, selling h[...]cal help. He spent time with his daughter and son-in-law who live in Minnesota. He passed away in 1943. The Ed Bruce family, Mr. and[...] |
| [...]Ralph Bowman was born on May 23, 1902, in Model T, in Valier. We left Valier in 1925. Steptoe, Washington, to John and Lillie Bowman. Ed Bruce died in Spokane in 1948. Gordon He was the youngest of five boys, with four Bruce died in Olympia, Washington in 1975 and younger sisters. Helen Bruce died in Spokane in 1976. On learning that there were better oppor- Ronald Bruce and his wife,[...]tunities for the boys to start out for themselves in in Reno, Nevada. Jean (Mrs. Roy Wolverton) lives a place called Valier, Montana, they decided it in Great Falls. Roy Wolverton died September was the place to go. So, in 1915, they moved to 26, 1977. Nina Bruce Lowder lives in Spokane the Curley Nelson farm northeast of Valier. The and Sharon Bruce Guggenberger lives in Min- children went to th[...] |
| [...]home in Valier. She married Wilmer Keeler, and[...]and Bertha are both deceased. Another sister lives in Cut Bank, a brother and a sister live in Kalispell, and the other brothers and a sister live in Spokane, Washington. John and Lillie are both gone, but will be remembered by many in Valier. The way they used to farm.[...]g a family of nine children. The was instrumental in starting the First Baptist three oldest, Margaret, Howard and Evelyn, were Church in Valier. all born in Valier, the others were born in Conrad Ralph worked at the Kingston coal min[...]ey had time, where he met Eva Baker. She was born in three children. Howard now lives in Spearman, Hope, North Dakota in 1902 and came to Valier Texas. in 1918. After graduating from high school, she[...]have two children and live in Great Falls, Mon- Ralph and Eva where married in Conrad in tana. 1925. They farmed for two years, th[...]with horses and wagons. Then as live in Long Beach, California. business grew, long dista[...]four children and live in Glendive, Montana. As the city grew, so did[...]Edna and her husband, Herb Garman, live in housing, so Ralph built and remodeled houses for Conrad, Montana and have two boys. renting. There is hardly an older house in Valier Joseph (Joe) is still sing le and[...]r worked on at one time or another by Ralph. In 1945, Ralph was elected mayor and remained in office for ten years. During that time, he starte[...]d to get a new fire truck, and was fire chief for many years. His horses pulled the first fire cart and[...]amily, Ralph, Eva, Margaret now plentiful supply. There were also many new (Peggy) Howard, Evelyn, Bonnie, Gregor[...]mother, Lillie, in the middle by Ralph, in 1965.[...] |
| in Valier. life. Harold, too, spent his time in Harlan and Douglas married Debbie Fitzpatrick[...]rs ago. Lois married have one child and also live in Valier. Howard Billips and lived in Dupuyer from 1948 Ralph carried on the work of the Valier Dray to 1962. They now live in Bozeman. Martha Brock and Transfer until his death in 1972. He and Eva returned to Dupuyer to live a[...]The Amon Brock Family in Valier. In the spring of 1918, Amon Brock moved his family from Benham, Kentucky to Valier. Benham was a small town in a major coal producing area The William Loring Bullock Family in eastern Kentucky. Amon had been the agent My family in Valier consisted of my grand- for the Louisville[...]Bullock, my grand- shipped all coal and supplies in and out of the mother, Nellie Ernestine Nelson Bullock and my mountains as there were no roads at that time. He mother, Marjorie[...]followed on Hartsell families. He farmed the land in 1918 and the train from either Stevens Point or Shell Lake, 1919. In 1919, he was sent to be the agent in Wisconsin. I understand my grandmother and Wenatchee, Washington. He returned to Valier in grandfather were engaged for seven years befo[...]el. He packed his family and established in the United States since the l 700's moved back to[...]they came from England. A "Black-sheep" agent job there. He rented a boxcar and took his relative came[...]ver groceries around way. Harlan, Kentucky for many years. William L. Bullock[...]Amon and his wife, Martha, had six children. in the golden west. I understand Valier was a Olga,[...]arold and Lois. Olga planned community with many well educated graduated from Valier High School in 1919. She people. I do not know the exact address of their went to Dupuyer and taught the Ralph School in home, as when I wrote, only the town name was 1919 and 1920. She married Roy Sabins in 1920 necessary in those days. The house was later and they homestea[...]turned to Dupuyer to farm and operate a teen, in 1936, my family and I visited my grand- cafe and[...]view of the water tower and was across from live in Dupuyer. "Quee[...]moved saw each other when we were stationed in to East Glacier Park around 1933 and is still Chicago for five years. One of the Tourtellote there. Zella Brock Doyle resides in Birmingham, boys, Wallace, is now teac[...] |
| There was an extra lot where they grew their dow as she was working in the kitchen. I seldom own vegetables, which Nelli[...]ithout remembering her. winter months. During the many changes of My grandfather died le[...]er his station we experienced while my father was in wife. The family home was then sold by my[...]and buggy. William Loring Bullock born in Wisconsin on My grandfather was a lawyer and[...]on December 14, while may have been the only one in Valier. He 1941 in the Conrad Hospital. He was an attorney, had an o[...]was not a consideration Loring, was born in Wisconsin, December 26, then. He used to take the[...]1940. She was a county seat when he had business there. William homemaker, Sunday school teacher, C[...]tar, virtuous woman and Methodist Church and sang in the choir. He was the mother of Marjorie. a[...], Nellie Bullock, was not Henry, was born in Shell Lake, Wisconsin January gainfully employed[...]974 at women of her time. She was very skilled at many Washington, D. C. She was a homemaker, mem-[...]ee knowledge of native plants. When I visited her in at the Labor Department in Washington, D. C. for 1936, one of the things we[...]n and was a thirty-three year career man in the regular Latin nomenclature. I still have the[...]py times They were married September 4, 1923 in Valier, we spent together.[...]ughter, Joanne. Of the incidents I remember, many of them Joanne Ernestine Binge Winkenhower, Mrs. are quite distant in time and some are second Edward August, was born in Minneapolis, hand. I remember my mother telling m[...]epauw University at Greencastle, Indiana; keep it in the house because it smelled. Also, I Traphag[...]Ed- was the best kind and I would put four pieces in ward August Winkenhower July 8, 1961 at my mo[...]a. Her husband is a One day during the visit in 1936, we went for teacher at Santa Monica High[...]r. 1963 and Lawrence Arther and Nadine Odette, There was much talk and reminiscing about the tw[...]ver at night. I also fondly remember sitting in the after- The Robert P. (Bob) Burgess Fa[...]emember Grandmother son, Don, age 2, arrived in Valier from northern telling me of watching the sun set from the win- Minnesota in 1929, with all their possessions in a[...] |
| [...]. He became a partner, later bought the Jorgenson in- terest, and barely survived the hard times of the 30's. In 1946, the business was sold to the Snort- land family. Hillevi died in 1961. Bob is now living in Minneapolis and Don resides in Pittsburg, California. The Archie Camp[...]l, Chris Banes and |
| In the late 20's or early 30's, the bottom dropped o[...]lling wheat for twenty-six cents per bushel. In 1925, I married Oakle Raines, we con- tinued to live in the small three room house until 1946 when we built our new home. We also bought a ranch on Birch Creek in the l 930's, it was a cattle ranch. I sold this place in 1958. My wife, Oakle, passed away March, 196[...]nsville, New York. After attending public schools there, he took a course at Walton Academy, New York, and then taught school for a time. He went to Iowa in 1876 and in 1880, he bought a farm near Salix, Iowa. There he met Mary Jane Schell, whom he lat-[...]er married. It so happened that she was also born in New York. Her parents had moved with their There was plenty of work, of course on the farm, family to the same community where Dr. Camp- but there was always time for church and Sunday bell had settled. In 1881, they married and school and afte[...]es with lived on his farm until moving to Montana in friends and relatives. There were games, cir- 1915.[...]ildren were born to this union, Edna, In 1915, Father and Mother decided to move Roy, Elsi[...]e. Planning and to Montana, as they thought there were greater working together, they had a good fa[...]opportunities for the children. They arrived in[...]1924, in a home wedding. They lived on his[...]ranch near Valier for many years. Mary and Elsie taught school in Iowa and[...]now lives in a retirement home in Portland,[...]many years. Roy is deceased and Edna still lives there near their only son, Alvin. Lloyd and wife, Ada, are both deceased. They have six living children, many granchildren[...]Campbell When Mother died in June, 1928, Elsie[...] |
| [...]help, everyone pitched in. Once when Mr. Wip-[...]together and cooked for them. There were a lot of horses and men in that field.[...]really sick. Without the modern medicines there are now it was hard to overcome these things. All[...]place then too. Campbell home in Valier. When the Wingina Schoo[...]ed, there needed to be a certain amount of resigned from teaching to be with Father in his people under age 21. The count came up one home in Valier. He passed away December 1, short, so since Ada was in that age group, her 1933. Elsie remained in the home until January, name made it enough to start the beginning of 1935. In the fall of 1934, she was elected Wingina School in 1918. The school was an im- Superintendent of Sch[...]Lloyd and Ada's, they chose to retire. She lives in her home in Conrad, were involved in many of the "extras" that go Montana .[...]the Valier City Council from "Deacon Dubs" in the 1920's. Most everyone had 1919 until 1927. Th[...]part, and needless to say, lots of fun times came there never was a more upright, fair and honest fro[...]checkers, cribbage mornin' ride with our dad in the ol' family and euchre. They also took many trips visiting automobile. relatives and friends in Iowa, Oregon and New "This particular[...]hawin' time 'n we made a loop around the They are buried in the family plot in ol' homestead to chase a bunch o' work horses up Lakeview Cemetery at Valier, Montana, as are to the homestead corral. Just why Pop used[...]n't really know, maybe it was a 1951 and daughter-in-law, Oakle Campbell, who died March 12, 1969.[...]95. He came with his parents and family to Valier in the spring of 1915. He worked with his brothers and put in the crop and built a house to live in, then returned in August to Iowa where he and Ada Van Auken[...] |
| fore-runner o' how the cowboy's chase their herds open on account it was jammed up agin the ice .. now - in a peek-up! f[...]try to take my bath about spring thaw time, but in take a sharp left hand turn 'n head west. Pop[...]ent with the ol' flivver 'n "'N back in those days neighbors were heads across the frozen[...]t thick, to head ol' Pat 'n Bill off from in the mornin' 'n by noon there was an ice cuttin', • I escapm.[...]the ice 'n believe. Just don't remember how many there we're gainin' to beat heck on them ol' ponies, were there at that time that came to help, but when C-R-A-C-K!. .. the ice breaks 'n the hind some that lived in that neighborhood then were quarters o' 01' Model[...]d Earl Crawford, Russel Adams, know Enie swims up in the front seat with Pop 'n I. Herman[...] |
| [...]o the the crew was gone, but Mr. Ford was sittin' in the W.S.C.S. and was president of that orga[...]She was a member of the Eastern Star in Valier "Now this little pond wasn't all bad. It laid and helped many times with the decorations, etc. two, maybe three hundred yards the other side o' Lloyd was on many "boards", among them the cow barn 'n the cows 'n[...]Church, was a member of the first out of, 'nonce in awhile us kids would float a raft ASCS in Pondera County. He served on that for er two in it. An' in the fall flocks o' ducks 'n geese twenty-five y[...]he Production used it to rinse off their bottoms. In fact, there Credit Association board for thirty-five ye[...]. He was a "Everyone milked a bunch 'o cows in those board member of the Farmers Union[...]on. Fact is, the whole pany of Valier for many years. family was in on this operation. Everyone was During this time, Lloyd and Ada's farm had assigned so many cows accordin' to how old you grown to many more acres and they had a family were, I guess. '[...]gle tle ol' bossie, 'n we used one bucket to milk in. She Head. sat on one side 'n me on the other.[...]Lloyd did a lot of planning and war king in as long to milk 01' Yeller as it did the rest o'.[...]ard a lot of squakin' 'n cacklin' milestone in their lifetime. down by the ol' pond. Pop has us[...]tgun blasts - until that time I stayed active in many other interests for some never knew just how many feathers there were on time. He lived at the Horizon Lodge in Conrad for a wild duck. We picked the feathers of[...]e we tackled the Lloyd and Ada had many friends and the ex- cow milkin' operation.[...]you can ap- married Virgil Mumbower. They are retired now preciate the smiles. . .", says Bud.[...]kid programs. The Christmas programs are great grandparents to five more. were always spec[...]ith this. Later, Daryle, Darlene and Cindy are their children. Wingina District joined Valier School District, They each are married and are parents of Harry and the school house was moved t[...]d to several women's and ladies' they live in Missoula, when they're not on the clubs and was P[...]road, as they just retired. Their children are all 98 |
| married and are Ada Jean, with six children; The ch[...]s the report of the Merna Jean, lost her life in a car accident death of H. J. Charlton's father in England, no May 6, 1944, at the age of 19.[...]arers, concluding with the sentence, " .. home is in Missoula where they have a flower .the c[...], with heavy brass shop and Enie teaches home ec. in the high furnishings." school. Their children are John, who is married The account of H.[...]ren; Bob and his wife have three. published in the Valerian, with Mr. Dewar, John and Enie lost their third boy, Dick, in 1970, editor, is a eulogy listing his fine qua[...]g officiating and also a Merna Jean, is a student in Missoula High School, Masonic service, statin[...]n, Danny and remains to their resting place in Lakeview Bobby. They live near Brady and have thr[...]nter with his son, Tom, and taken him to many foreign countries and he had publishing The Shini[...]credentials from the foremost men in Great Wayne, the youngest, and wife, Jo, live near Britain who are rarely given to writing letters of Auburn, Washin[...]Shan community. He was a respected citizen, are each married. Mayoe and Bonnie have one honorable in all his dealings." The quotation is daughter.[...]lton, came to Valier when the His wife died in California and is buried in the town was just beginning. They had 160 acres of family plot in Lakeview Cemetery. farmland one mile east of Vali[...]grandchildren. The Char1tons were both born in Eng land, he at Newcastle, February 3, 1862 and she on December 22, 1867. They arrived in the United The Mervin Chausse Family States in 1906. They had two children, a Mervin Chausse was born in Nokomis, daughter, Frances Victoria, nicknamed Qu[...]from high school, he went to Chicago to try life in She married "Butch" Tourtelotte in Valier and the big city. After one year with General Electric, now lives in Riverdale, Illinois. The son, Wilfred he decided city life was not for him. Frank now living in Los Angeles, Cq.lifornia. In 1927, Mervin came to Montana to visit his H.[...]Liking what a hemorrhage and Mrs. Charlton lived in Valier, he saw of Montana, he came back in 1929 to in a house located where the Ora Lohse home is make his home in Valier. now. She died in Illinois in 1947, and is buried in Mervin's first job was with the Valier Land Valier in the family plot.[...] |
| [...]and Ford Agency until he retired in 1968.[...]married to Joe Jaramilla and they live in Las Mervin Chau[...]their children, Marcy and Thomas, live in Moun-[...]inner" cleaning ditches. man and lives in Great Falls. They have three Mike was proud of hi[...]day Mervin went to work, Mary died in 1970. In 1973, Mervin married Mike gave him a pair of runa[...]He and Chuck Peter St. Denis for his family in the early days of Sparks, Grace Power's brother,[...]Valier. Mervin purchased it from Mr. St. Denis in concrete for that project. He tried farming one[...]. That ended Mervin's farming. Soon after many cottonwoods that Pete had planted all this he sta[...]hen as a salesman. Mervin married Mary Lucke in 1932. In 1941, they moved to Seattle where he worked for[...]ens Family Boeing. Later they moved to Tacoma and there In the year of 1912 the Belgian Colony start- he worked in the shipyards during World War II. ed. Monsignor Victor Day went to Belgium In 1944, they came back to Valier to live. In looking for people to come to Montana and start a 1945, he bought the Valier Garage in partner- new settlement. My dad, Goemare Christiaens ship with Everett Holm. After Holm's death in and three other men were the first to c[...]Finally way off in the distance he saw a light, he[...]neighbor making butter in the middle of the night[...]He told of how he got my mother to come to 100 |
| [...]for them, so they bought themselves a home in her to come and be his wife. She came with the[...]-Marguerite Linn other folks who came in 1913. My mother, Pharilda Sabbe, came with her si[...]be. They were Maurice was born in Waregen, Belgium West married that spring of 1913[...]s on September 28, 1903. His parents married life in the little shack. were Rom[...]an inn. They had heard about pecting a new member in the family the summer of Montana through[...]or fourteen other families to Ellis Island in New came from. They didn't write down the day I w[...]aurice seemed particularly interested in checking his Tack remembers the day I was born, D[...]journey by train, finally arriving at Williams in and he had a new daughter. I have a feeling I'm a[...]nd Barney Miller who took them to Maurice's There were three of us Goemare Christiaens Uncl[...]to school much the first families settled in a 16 foot by 24 foot shack. It year. The next yea[...]evening when they all went to and I was put back in the first grade again, so bed, but in the morning there was a foot of snow. we went thru all the grades t[...]rice's mother took one look and wanted to go rode in the buggy, with one horse. I could write a[...]urice told I had forgotten; we were stayed there for several days and some of the coming home one[...]was hanging on to the reins with all stayed there for five years. his might, all he could say in Belgian to us girls Finally, Roman Chr[...]re wonderful, we never did go to high there. The Christiaens family still refers to it as sch[...]m work. During the first year, in order to make a little· Then of course, we all fell in love and wanted extra money, they worked in the flax factory in to get out on our own. I was the first to get hitched, Conrad. Not too many people were familiar with May 3, 1937. Maurice an[...]machinery and the Belgian immigrants were married in the fall of 1937. That left Mom and[...] |
| [...]proving for the Christia ens family. In about 1941 machine and they did work for some of[...]g. the place was truly his. In the fall of 1925, his dad decided he really[...]as terrible. and later to some silent movies in Valier. He It was rainy, muddy, sloppy weather. Maurice bought a second hand Reo in 1923 for three hun- convinced his dad that he was[...]it from Bill So his dad left for the old country. In about a Tuneburg, who had a service station[...]lders Service. beautiful open winter. They pulled in the yard on Maurice has known good times[...]he managed to hold on winter and be back sometime in April, but in the and make a good life for his family. fir[...]received a phone call from Shelby. His folks were in Shelby and wanted Maurice to come and get them. T[...]ry wasn't the same and Montana had In February 1912, the Roman Christiaens become the h[...]pened for settlement by Monroe. Jeanette was born in 1911 in Omaha, the Montana Land and Canal Company. This Nebraska, but the family had been living in land was opened for settling in 1911. The Michigan. Her mother never did like Mic[...]large Maurice and Jeanette had ten children. They are group of settlers who were brought in to farm the Dorothy, Margie, Don, Ron, Maureen, L[...]0 acres from H. L. enroute. Upon their arrival in New York the Barber in Williams. After he bought the land, the famil[...]turned dry and the crops weren't very good. Then in 1931 and 1932 times really got bad for everybody,[...]sent Maurice notice that his payment was due, but there was no money to pay. Some people think H. L. Barb[...]keep working and Roman Christiaens family in front of Father Carroll's trying to make i[...] |
| [...]and of this union are four sons, Bernard of Great[...]in Valier have two and one child respectively.[...]union there are six children; August Jr., Florence[...]ly and taken thirteen miles Raymond who in turn have five and six children east to the Carro[...]ish and spoke four and Delores has two. There is one grandson in with sign language and through interpreters.[...]and under the Carey Homestead reside in the Valier and Conrad communities and Act was all[...]There were two other brothers who came to Roman a[...]eight years of they also have families who are still in the area. age. Five of those children still survive and live in Goemare Christiaens was married to Pharild[...]ristiaens has been married over the only one in the immediate area, living with fifty years to the former Jeanette Monroe. Of that his family in Helena until his death in 1980. union ten children were born, Dorothy Rideo[...]en carried them through the first years in the states. were born forty-one dependents and se[...]n arriving, none were able to speak English those are now married with an additional eight[...] |
| [...]rg's place. come to the Williams and Valier areas in 1915. Williams had a bank, a store an[...]se of water rights to the settlers or pur- etc. In 1909, people headed across the land to chase publ[...]their destinations as there weren't any roads or Earl first worked for Henry and Margaret fences. Frequent travel made ruts in the sod. Hartman, who had proved up on the homest[...]ed on with his mother and testify after living in one for eleven years. two brothers.[...]s be 87 years young on July 19, 1981 and is in Sioux City, Iowa. Earl and Vera were married remarkable for a woman her age. She is in good in 1921 when Vera came to the Williams area. health and has plenty of vigor. Vera recalled living in a shack on the Hartman place. Some of the re[...]Vera had The Ted R. Crawford Family are as follows: Theodore Roosevelt Crawford was born in Earl's first car was obtained by trading[...]car. He also used to ride a saddle Iowa and in 1917, at the age of 17, he came to horse several miles in the winter to visit with the the Williams area[...]hers, Earl and Lloyd Campbells, whom he had known in Iowa. Harlan, had arrived previously. W[...]getables Elevator for George Sullivan. In 1918, he was a from Mrs. Webster's garden, served in the sod farm hand for Earl Aiken. The sam[...]outh of the Tex Crawford home. went to work in the logging business where Vera remembers the wind blowing frequent- Harlan was, in Eureka. Later, he was back ly. Houses were very s[...]due to their working for Aikens. construction in those days. At meal time, the Cecilia Brophy was born in Iowa on May 17, plates were turned bottom side up[...]blew her hair net off. moving to Valier in 1918. Imagine! A net made of hair. Blizzards were[...]from his which she did for two years in Nebraska. She also place of business and got lost. Finally he saw a taught in Montana at the Buena Vista School from house and[...]ina School from One time, John Roberts was caught in a blizzard 1921 to 1922. and had to stay in town. There were no phones to Ted R. Crawfor[...] |
| [...]Valier in 1970. They are presently helping out on[...]In the year of 1904, Charles M. Cook, at the[...], Theodore Paul, born August 12, In 1912, he married Oline Steen, niece of 1924; John[...]Paul Gorder and cousin of Lena Berger. There James Martin, born July 27, 1929. In 1934, the were six children born of this[...]where their son Ted's home is the ranch or in Valier. Two of these children died now. The house they lived in is the present Harry in childhood, Walden and Esther. Kovatch home. In 1936, Ted built the brick Charle[...]sheep. These homesteaders worked hard. There After his various jobs, Ted was beginning to[...]grasshoppers ruined the crop and there were No. 36, by the Belgian Hill and the George[...]Although these people had many hardships, 1946, Ted and Jack began buying the la[...]ics on the Ted (Theo. P.) went into the Army in the fall[...]d neighborhood rodeos at the of 1943, and got out in 1946. He and Rubye[...]We children had quite a free and fun In the spring of 1945, Jack went to the Army,[...]My brother, Steen and I each had our getting out in the fall of 1946. He and Louise Hancock were marr[...]is nephew Tex's residence. Jack and Louise reside in Valier. The same year Jack and Louise were married I Ted and Ceal retired and in 1951 moved to Great Falls. In 1953, when Jim returned from two years in the Air Force and four years previous at college in Bozeman, he and his dad bought the Ellis Ranch at[...]ch until 1961, when they built their present home in Valier. Jim married Sheilah Smith of Great Falls in November of 1957. They had four children,[...] |
| [...]o a grinding halt, from all of twenty boarded out in Valier, with the Hammer family. miles per[...]best we could and proceeded on our way. weekends in the winter, the weather was so bad Th[...]en I was storms and very little rain, but in spite of that we really homesick for the ranch.[...]some crop. The next year was worse When I was in the third grade, my brother with no rain[...]stay and horseback and several times were caught in bliz- make the best of it. zards, but the ho[...]ad one teacher for all eight grades, I don't There were absolutely no modern conveniences recall there ever being more than twelve stu- except k[...]chores around the school. I had to be carried in and out by hand. Our clothes think those teachers[...]on a homemade stand, a washboard and wringer In 1931, my parents left the ranch. fa[...]they but was for hanging washed clothes on in twenty surely helped shape the American character[...]my husband, Scotty, Almost from the start there was Sunday School and I arrived by train, Montana[...]ty meetings. At about the first meeting we loaded in two immigrant cars consisted of farm atten[...]and was not qualified to speak, I had to look dog in the world, but what he lacked in looks he elsewhere for entertainment. Before[...]r with a porcupine. Massey, who had served in the Navy for many We also owned our first car, a 191 7 Ford,[...]here the fall before we meeting about life in the Navy which was no came and was left at the Ge[...]est wind the At the next meeting he was there complete 106 |
| [...]horse made a sudden stop, but Jean kept going, In the early morning stretches[...]Speaking of horses, one incident stays in my 11 Get up an[...]was a real beauty. Shortly after At least that how it seems we arrived, I[...]dition and how she thrived on good old Montana he's busting u[...]mules must have a donkey father, and in Its mighty near impossible Nebraska horses were always kept in a fence en- For me to sleep at all.[...]arming for myself they do in Montana. Besides no donkeys roamed I'll[...] |
| [...]er bed. After put- these friends I have come in contact with, I praise ting up with that for some[...]est. The boys, Wayne, the oldest, and Bill, spent many hours ska ting on the ditch about a quarter mile[...]r neighborhood children were also How my family arrived in Valier and why, is a there. On one such occasion, Wayne skated full[...]atching where he went, running Valley in Norway came my Grandpa Norsby, right smack into a[...]s able to walk up. They met and married in Juneau County in home and show us the large bump on his head.[...]Alice Culleton. 1941, Wayne left for four man ths in fan try In the front page of a little black "Book of trainin[...]not see him for forty-eight October 20, 1891, in the English Cathedral at months. He arrived home in August, 1945. 5:30 p.m, Denas Culle[...]bout twenty miles Bill, too, spent two years in the Marines at or so from Quebec City. But, Denas was an Irish Iwo Jima and Guam, arriving home in July, 1946. Catholic and Alice an Anglican and very Also in 1946, our youngest son, Don, joined the En[...]so the morning of Oc- at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, tober 20, Denas came by[...]out saying goodbye to her father. They never In closing this article I would like to mention went back to visit either family, though hard the many wonderful neighbors and friends we fee[...]fty-eight years of our lives carried on. I have many cards and letter from in Montana. From the beginning of our arrival at[...]e ferry at Levis and on welcome. They were always there when help was needed. At the sudden death of our[...]n we needed help, friends were always near. Since there was no permanent resident pastor here, the commun[...]Then my third and I hope my last move to Cut Bank in 1972 was no less friendly. Had it not been for al[...]ure would have had a rather bleak outlook. In looking back to our many pleasant ex- periences, they far outweigh the sad times. To all Alice and Denas Culleton in 1923. 108 |
| [...]et about clearing the trees and when they sold it in 1909, a lot of it was cleared and farmed. I remem[...]the doctor was afraid she might get tuberculosis in the damper climate and recommended moving west. They sold their farm and arrived in Valier in 1910. They got a homestead about twelve miles[...]t a relinquishment married on March 28, 1923 in Conrad. Mark was about seven miles southwest of V[...]where Robert Kuka now live. David was born there and I grew aware of the world. I was four when we[...]est of the kids were born at the midwife's, moved there. "The Hill" was only a half mile from Mrs. Go[...]"The Hill" with Mrs. Martin An- What a difference in them! Grandpa Norsby was derson as mid wife and of course Dr. Powell in at- about five feet six inches tall, where Grandp[...]was six feet one inch tall and 250 pounds, In 1934, we moved to the Birch Creek coal topped wit[...]there three winters in two cook cars. When you[...]at once. Fortunately there was plenty of coal. In[...]when we were there. Grandpa Culleton planted all the trees and hedges there and it was always a[...] |
| In 1940, we gave up the Water Company Mom lived until she was 77, but there were farm and bought the Speer place on the opposite many years of suffering. She had arthritis of the side of the road. We lived there ten years, then spine, asthma, each compl[...]Elmer Parr, and we moved the finally in the Pioneer Rest Home, she broke her house to Val[...]owman moved it across the ice on Lake in the hospital. Frances with no problem till he got[...]ly seems separated by the east side and got stuck in the seaweed. At last births and deaths. The[...]tlain, Glenn funeral were as fresh in my mind as when they married Nancy Pulver, Ruth[...]was a bitterly cold winter. moved to St. Paul and there met and married David Groshens, and David is unma[...]roblems and heart- All the families were there, but Grandma had to aches. From these five marriages, nineteen chil- stay in bed. Grandma Culleton sat with her all dren have been born. day in the bedroom and ate dinner there Mark loved to work with horses and we[...]e the stapling up the fences. Horses soon learned how same. to lean on the barbed wire and work out the In February, Grandma Norsby died. She staples. Mark[...]wanted her last journey from home, and so it was. in building the highway west of Valier. With six Her funeral was in the little living room and with kids, cows to mil[...]pallbearer for her After we moved to Valier in 1950, things im-[...]s. Norsby." where Dad worked on Cochran Dam. From there he went to work at the Diamond S Ranchotel at In the many years since that first encounter Boulder. Finally[...]with death, it has grown less shocking. There School and Hospital until retirement. Mom was so have been so many funerals and tears, but all in glad to be back with her family. But, the years o[...]keep and do the things that make a family strong. there weren't kidney machines at that time. The[...]other. Out of the ashes comes another. We are tack and he died at the age of 67.[...] |
| [...]er, Mrs. Clifford Stoltz and help on their ranch. In the spring of 1942, he and his wife, Dorothy, ret[...]yd Hill left the store, Jim was hired as manager. In 1950, he built the building now occupied by Curry[...]it to Curry's Store being built in 1950. the Co-op. The next year the stockholders v[...]. Vanden Bos of Valier and their daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Ken Of- they live on the old Jake Norsby place and farm in ferdahl.[...]ried Cheryl Seifert, returned to Valier af- up in New Jersey and they lived in California un- ter graduation from Montana State University. til they returned to Valier in 1978. They have one They have two daughters and t[...]Helena Vo-Tech and they moved to Repair in Valier at the present time. Valier. They have thr[...]and married Kathleen DeBoo, also of Valier in The Donald Dean Family[...]northeast of Valier. They are the third generation Donald Dean is the son o[...]of Deans to live and farm there. Kathy was the and Freda Fulmer Dean and is a tru[...]l Elevator for a little over as he was born right in Valier in the old nursing[...]who was born May 16, 1980. in the community for almost all of his life. He live[...]Dorwell Dean came to Valier, Montana in an Womans Army Corps in Long Beach, California emigrant car with his Uncle Jim Mains in 1916. while in the service. They were married July 27, He worked as a plow tender and tractor driver for 1949 in Great Falls. They had three children, his Uncle D. F. Mains during his first years in Isola, Debra and Wayne. They continued farming[...]The Frank Fulmer family came to Valier in and moved to Echo Lake near Big Fork, Mont[...] |
| [...]endly man- ner. He was a great favorite among his many nephews. Dorwell Dean and Freda Fulmer were married June 23. 1921. They started farming in 1922 about 2 miles east of Valier. Dorwell farmed with horses until 1928. In 1929, they moved about 8 miles northeast of Valie[...]eft to right Dorwell passed away. Freda is living in an apart- are Raymond, Donald, Dale, Wayne and Richard. ment in Great Falls near two of her sons, Richard and Way[...]ard, The DeBoo Family born in 1922, is now living in Great Falls and Francis X. DeBoo (18[...]em, Belgium as a equipment company. Raymond, born in 1923, is young boy. He married Emma DeMeyer in 1899. now living in Terreton, Idaho and operates an They liv[...]where they aerial spraying business. Donald, born in 1928, owned a dairy. is living at Big Fork and has interest in the family They had four children, Emil ( 1901-1978), farm. Wayne, born in 1931, lives in Great Falls August (Gus, 1903-1963), Mary J. (1905-) and and is a partner in a civil engineering firm. Dale Charles (1907-1972). was born in 1935 and now lives in White Sulphur In 1908, Francis and his family left Illinois on Springs and works as a coach and counselor in an emigrant train to Blythe, California[...]hey lived for nine years. They were unhappy There are fourteen grandchildren and twenty there because of crude living conditions and six great[...]lier, World War I broke out, so they stayed in Blythe. Wayne Dean, Isola VandenBos and Debra In 1917, they heard of a Belgian settlement Reeves.[...]stayed in the Valier-Conrad area.[...]in the Conrad area. Gus had done refrigeration work in the area and is survived by one son, Paul, who lives in San[...]Charles married Mary Nason in 1931. They stayed on at the home place. In 1955, they pur- chased land west of Valier. In 1959, Charles and 112 |
| [...]Frank and Emma DeBoo home place in 1920 Mary started a registered herd of Angus cat[...]Carol Jean. Valier in the spring of 1919, from Nebraska. Mr. |
| [...]named, until 1942. By this time World War II was in progress and merchan- dise was difficult to obtai[...]rom Mrs. Ada Ferguson, where Mr. Derr passed away in 1957. Mrs. Derr continued[...]ried to Iris Embody and they had to make her home in Valier until 1970, when her[...]two sons and two daughters. Roy resides in health failed and she moved to Conrad. She[...]-Thelma Derr Hoover passed away in 1972 . The oldest daughter, Alice, married B[...]Charles and Edna Donovan Alice passed away in 1977 at her home in Cut Charles Donovan was born Augu[...]in Colma, Wisconsin. He came to Helena with his Thelma married Kirk Hoover and they live at brother in 1924. Charlie and Edna King were Conrad. They hav[...]hey have Bynum where she attended school there and also two sons and one daughter. They presently live in in Choteau. She worked in Helena before her Oregon.[...]marriage. They continued to make their home in[...]retirement in 1968. Both he and Edna are deceased.[...]Tom Durnell was born in Ohio in 1891 . He was a cashier in the bank in Williston, North[...]She lived with the Durnells until her death in 1947 in Valier. Tom later moved to Carter, Mon-[...]tana as cashier in the bank there, before coming to Va lier in 1916, working in the Va lier Bank. He became Postmaster in the Valier Post Of- Mr. and[...] |
| [...]Benton in the early 1870's and established a[...]freighting and trading business there. They were[...]very successful, and later built a cattle ranch in[...]one time. In 1916, when I came to Valier there[...]around their holdings and there was a great deal[...]yer Creek and then into Durnell and Grandma Starr in 1936. Lake Frances, north to t[...]Coulee Flat. There were remains of the ditches in started the Durnell Real Estate and Insurance uncultivated places and there still may be a few Agency, which he operated until his death in of these left. 1965. Florence then moved[...]had four children, Cecile, Project was used in Montana and Wyoming and, Tommye, Richard and Jerry, who were all raised perhaps in Colorado. It is a means of developing in the Va lier community.[...]segregated and could not be homesteaded. There[...]there was no restriction on experience or[...]ficulty in building up the project. I think the time[...]of the early contracts was sixteen years, in equal[...]in, break the sod, establish homes, build chu[...] |
| [...]rd to cover ex- Great Northern tracks down in the Dry Fork north penses and it continued until[...]nrad, toward Ledger. It is said that the of- There had been a construction bond put up ficials[...]the project turned Valier was surveyed in 1909. Mr. Atwood over to the settlers at that tim[...]the project went short of water because the dike in Alberta and is said to have brought the first[...]urkey track" from Lethbridge to was oversold in relation to the water supply. Part- Great Falls.[...]Mr. Hahn and his "food will win the war." If there had been suf- son, Carl and later, by Dave Brown. ficient water in 1919, the financial situation of Ford, Baco[...]rom Minnesota, this was Arnold Company had a part in the building of of poor quality and very e[...]irt later moved from Fairfield on the Sun River in wheeled scrapers. Stearn powered shovels[...]Mile Bridge. work. At that time there was talk of having the Lake Frances had been the Conrad hay water rights in Valier adjudicated and since I meadow and in someway, Conrad farmers had had measured water, that was the main reason I established a reservoir there and built a darn. was hired. Mr. Atwood was in charge of the whole[...]department, under P. F. La Valle; and I was in[...]and there was a crew of perhaps seven fresno teams, four in each team and a plow team, when[...]bunk car for the men. In 1916, I imagine, the[...]I stopped in for a meal at one of these camps, I[...] |
| [...]were in use until 1920, I think, when the Montana Power came in.[...]. Prior to that a dragline had been brought in The train was met by a team of gray hor[...]ake the groceries and furnishings up Main benefit in the maintenance program. Floyd Hart- Stre[...]There had been a clause in the lot sales that When I arrived in 1916, Main Street of Valier no liquor establishments could be established was not paved. There had been a lot of rain that south of the railroad track in the main part of year which gave all the farm are[...]street and road leading north out of town. There deep in mud for the few cars that were operating w[...], Floyd Smith and John Lucke mers" came in on the train and represented formed the Va lier F[...]that was wanted by the community. Model "T" was in great demand, and it continued The V[...]ime was under the management of Mr . and Mrs. out in 1929. I had a 1914 Ford Roadster where J. W. McCormick, who had a home out in the the top folded down like a buggy top, the lig[...]Valier from Great Falls. You did not need to there was no starting motor, and all too often, . ask who was running it when she was there, it was starting was quite a problem. very evident that she was in command. There was Valier had sewers and water lines from[...]own managers and small meetings were held in the at that time. The electric light system was fur- lobby. nished by generators that were brought in by the The main meeting place[...] |
| [...]and later, bringing in natural gas, which at first[...]Company. When this work was in progress you[...]The Valier Farm Sales Company was in T. 1 Atkins, ditch rider.[...]$60.00. A great deal of this land had around town in the summertime, usually in the af- to be foreclosed later and was leased[...]d coal and of the Land Company and he brought in Richard household goods too, if they were desired[...]e Great Northern since they wanted the area homes in one quart glass bottles. developed. Not many of the farmers had any The baseball team tha[...]me from around 1912 was unusually good and played in Colorado and Idaho. The Eppe family was[...]ould be imported irrigation before arriving in Va lier. for a single game and considerable money[...]o Valier about November 1, 1916. My wife, pitcher in L. M. (Red) Johnson, who helped them Florence, had gone back to her home to visit at to attain many victories. Niagra, No[...]about December 1, 1916. We bought a small mind are William Bullock, a lawyer, Dr. Powell, hous[...]the Company and made visits to the we left in 1949, it was again enlarged. We had project. W. L[...]moved over to the house owned by Harry Oleson in and he was followed by R. W. Speir, then Willard[...]on had done Our son, Donald, was born in 1917, later son, good work as county agent and ca[...]Keith and daughter, Carra, were born. The be in charge of the western Cargill Company s[...]Later, he farmed on the reservation where ed in 191 7. Valier is to be congratulated on its Arbie[...]William Goff had established an grown there. irrigated farm there earlier. Jim Tidyman grew up I wa[...] |
| [...]. Also, the Order of Odd Fellows were very active in the Schultz Coulee Road was rebuilt. ear[...]and can take lows membership and were very active in their a great deal of pride in its success in this field. work.[...]be said of the grain elevators. I had a part in this. remember Jud Parmalee and Mr. Thompson[...]he early days was among the operators. For a time there was con- known as "Windy" Wheeler, who lived on Birch siderable speculation in grain futures sponsored Creek west of Valier. He had a great deal of in- by the elevators, and in many cases the terest in political affairs and proposed the speculation ended in disaster. The alfalfa mill doubling of the price of gold, which was was brought in by the Cargills and they were ac- somewhere around $17.00 an ounce, and was tive in the grain trade, having considerable revalued by Franklin D. Roosevelt to $35.00 an storage in Valier and Conrad. ounce,[...]. ~muth, Pondera, Glacier and Toole to the north. In "Doc" Simmons was the local veterinarian[...]believe that Gene Another man interested in politics was D. F. Leech was a commissioner, a Mr[...]ong effort, but was out-voted by the Conrad area. There was great joint interest betwt:'en Dupuyer and Va[...]the Dupuyer high school students attended school in Valier. A colorful man of action in the early days was Pete St. Denis, the blacksmith. He was active in many things and took an interest in community affairs and was a devout Roman Catholic[...]n County; his son, Hilly Miller did good work for many years as supervisor George Eb[...] |
| [...]rother, Don, who was just a baby, and also active in many political and business affairs. when they ran out of milk, the men corralled a About 1920, there was a lot of development wild cow and m[...]gh school he went to Western Montana College that there is considerable drilling for natural gas in Dillon. That fall he taught a rural school west and production, too, in this area where oil has not of Glendive. (Note: This was the same school that been found. However, there were many attempts ex-governor Babcock attended[...]roney Dam while it is not a part of town history, there is an in- out of Great Falls. teresting sidelight in the coming of the Belgian In the fall of 1929, he came to Pondera Coun- Colony which was brought in as a group by the ty to teach the Mun[...]very lucky that he Farm families I remember are William had a job, as so many young men his age couldn't Parker, Henry Sill, E.[...]at as he found a farmer, with money in the bank, Lake Frances by Joe Fuller played quite a part in who wanted the interest the warrants drew. This the community when it brought in traveling gave him a chance to sta[...]ller skating was While Gene was in school in Dillon, he met a enjoyed by all and in later years considerable young lady, who was also teaching in Pondera dock work was completed.[...]County. This meeting started a romance which In addition to the First National Bank[...]Grace Brophy. Grace came managed by C.H. Kester, in early days, the town to Valier with her par en ts from Kansas in 1915. had a second bank. I believe it was called[...]and Buena Vista Montana Bank. M. C. Wickware was in charge Schools. and the stockholde[...]The first winter that Gene and Grace were in the vicinity. Among these were Harvey Gookin,[...]-George Ebner and bought 320 acres of land in the Lone Tree[...]rest of the land. This was the beginning of a new in 1910 with his parents, who homesteaded at[...]on the Flathead Indian Reser- In 1936, they purchased eighty acres of vation. They[...]spell, then irrigated land with buildings in the Wingina they left in a caravan of five families in covered Valley. This place was built up by Grace's aunt wagons. There were no roads, only trails, and no and u[...]. Gene served in the State Legislature as a 120 |
| [...]with her daughter Ethel (Mrs. Clifford) Brown in Reservoir Company, they asked Gene if he would[...]ch he did for twelve years. While he lives in Kahlotus, Washington; Frances (Mrs. Bill) was a m[...]board, Swift Dam went out, Croskrey lives in Renton, Washington; and Arthur and for awhile it[...]if they could get it and Anne Eichelberger live in Tacoma, rebuilt, but because it was a natural dis[...]ldren moved from Dupuyer, Montana to Valier. They are retired now and have rented Valier, Montana in the summer of 1923. The their farm to their nephe[...]Pearl and Ethel, came from Daven- enroll in the Valier High School that next fall of port, Washington in October, 1915 to Cut Bank, 1923, along with the other children in elemen- Montana, where they lived until moving to[...]ool, which included Vernie, Stella, Anna Williams in March, 1916 to work on the Bill Spin- Pearl, Joe and Bonnie, under the strict tutorage of ning Ranch in the Bullhead Community. Principal Carrie Larson. In 191 7, they homesteaded in the Bullhead There we rented a five-room house on the Community wher[...]job to drive our two milk cows from Dupuyer In 1923, they moved to Valier where their to[...]back, which took all day to son, Arthur, was born in 1924 and their cover the 18 miles. daughter, Frances, in 1929. Mr. Eichelberger Valier was o[...]e new friends. With not much money cil. He served in that capacity until 1942, when coming in and with our large family we had to the family mo[...]e during the time he was marshall was one in the cows from the lakeshore each evening. I Hallo[...]his bicycle clogging barricaded intersections and in- for me to use in exchange for my horse to ride-a vestigating a num[...]were ap- prehended, he was forced to take his son in with the rest of the group. The Eichelberger's lived in southeast Valier and the house still remains, having been remodeled. Mr. Eichelberger passed away in November of 1968 in Kalispell at the age of 82. He and Bessie celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniver- sary in June of 1960, and they were Montana[...] |
| [...]ted sheriff of Pondera County. She and I got lost in the big building and These were[...]as mother, Anna, to strive to keep all of us in about over. We finally all got situated and settl[...]t down to the routine of our first term of school in for both our mother and father to get us thr[...]ol. Maggie did very well and was declared highest in the school for that year. To name a few stu- dents in the high school: Forrest St. Denis, the Lowe[...]an boys, Wilkies, to Valier by train in 1911 right after Katie and Alphus Gordon, Dorothy[...]have to back up and make drowned with his brother in Lake Frances. another try to get up[...]water which was delivered by Mr. weekends, riding in our Model T Ford touring Worley in a barrel on a stoneboat. There was only automobile. one well in town. All other water used was rain Our uncle, Ray Embody, returned from the water caught in cisterns. service in World War I, and shortly after his[...]feiffer stayed with for dances sometimes. There was a nine-piece or- us for a school term to finish his senior year. Many chestra, and Edna played the piano. of our relatives often visited us from Dupuyer and There were other diversions such as plays, other towns[...]s a busy man musicals, and cantatas given in cooperation with in those days and had many trips to make to the high school. One[...]a, who the cashier of the bank. Edna sang in a quartette nursed us and kept the window blinds down in with Maude Goff, Mr. Rieder and Mr. Bu[...]teen of them went in a lumber wagon the day About a year later, M[...]y. and I learned the switchboard also, and filled in In 1913 Edna took a homestead. A friend at times.[...]d visit back The Ed Welker family, who lived in Dupuyer, and forth to keep from getting too lonesome. Ed- came to live in Valier later, where they operated na's sist[...]ends back one of the first teachers in Valier. She taught the again.[...]ended our respective schools, and on In those days, Mr. Curnett owned a team of six 122 |
| [...]home years ago, moved to the Valier area in 1912 to make their and they hadn't heard from him[...]homestead site. His brother and At that time there were two doctors, a dentist sister, Robert D[...]or the patients. In 1915, he went into the electrical business Bill Emery, who married Edna in 191 7, at in Valier. Shortly after he married Edna Wilke. one[...]into the hardware business. north of the theater. In 1913 he ran the picture In 1922, a partnership was formed between show, his[...]machinery. This partnership was dissolved in[...]as W. D. Emery Company, located in the present In 1907, at the age of 21, Bill Emery left his day Wentworth building. home in Vermont to visit an uncle, Murdo He passed away in 1935 and the store con- MacKenzie, in Lethbridge, Alberta. After a short tinued[...]School. W D. Emery Company in June, 1935. Left to right are Bob Emery, Lloyd Eppe and WD. (Bill) Emery[...] |
| [...]He was active in track, football, and basketball[...]a partner with Willie Rinio in the meat market, and opened a meat shop in Rieder Mere. He later[...]operated Lloyd's Market. In 1955 he sold the[...]purchased by Don and Dorothy Wentworth in[...]After many happy and eventful years on[...]in the Bullhead area. The John Eppe family in 1980.[...]pe, daughter of Tom and Florence Greg, in the great adventure of pioneering to |
| [...]Street was paved. Baker had the theatre in 191 7,[...]office. There was a candy and ice cream parlor,[...]several boarding houses. The Valerian was in the[...]reg Eppe with five of the oldest grand- man. There was a cafe run by a Frenchman who children; loan[...]the chef had many secret and delicious recipes. irrigated, he felt[...]uld also have trees. Some settlers had to live in tents while they built However, the man who sold[...]y these bachelors. Chauen had a stove and winters in Montana, and the Canadian poplars all stove[...]located. There was a long apartment building The nearest ne[...]es to get together. Although this made pigs in her kitchen so they would stay warm, and seventee[...]chiefly. The neighbors took turns helping each many events, including weekly book reviews[...]and warm family and friend relationships built in lovers paid a quarter each week for the expenses[...]. Eppe, Mrs. Wollam, Leo Wollam and Dan Webb were in the quartette. The Abbott Lake ladies formed[...]e meeting was nearly over, so refreshments served in the homes resembled meals at times. Mary Eppe r[...]eg and Mary Eppe with five children, Lloyd Eppe, many choices of shopping stops. They could[...] |
| [...]and Mary Eppe. I for a nickel. came to Valier in 191 7 with my parents and three I finished the eighth grade and high school in brothers and sister Connie. We all attended the Valier. In 1935 I married my schoolgirl Valier School.[...]em- Jr., Cathy and Greg. As of this time, we are grand- ployed by the Gas Company known as the Mon[...]ties Company. twice. In 1934 I married Nellie Castle of Conrad[...]raise peas for the Water Company, and we remained in Valier for a few years. In but the wind did the harvesting for me. T[...]r. Be- transferred to Conrad. I became part owner in tween the two of them, they kept me busy[...]e Co., and remained with them until years. In 1939 I went to work for the Water Com- my retirem[...]We have one daughter, Joan, and two grand- In 1951 I bought a small farm to go with the job chi[...]and stayed there until I retired in 1978 when I I think the highlight of my life in Valier was bought a home in Conrad. Lake Frances, fishing and hunting. It was[...]On one such occasion in 1910 they were in the[...]to the young couple coming in and saying, "This[...]buck." Of course, in later years, they grew to[...]was in the hotel at that time, and Agnes said he[...]live as she As a young boy, I went to school in the coun- had a kidney disorder. They moved in[...]n be near the doctor. She died that summer in 1911 the Marias River, and all the fried chicken and at the age of forty-two. Her funeral was in the old goodies the women would bring. Catholic church and she is buried in the Dupuyer Then there was Chatauqua that came to town cemetery. Cal died in 1946 when he was eighty- for a week. We got twenty-five cents for spending nine and is also buried in Dupuyer. 126 |
| Agnes didn't live in Valier again until 1934 when she and her husband,[...]m Washington with their nine children. They lived in the old Kuka house, across from Jazz Orr's, for o[...]d for the Montana Western and later managed a bar in Dupuyer. Agnes often cooked for haying and lambin[...]d housework, home nursing and assisted Doc Powell in childbirth. The years went by with the children a[...]s ranch. Elmer went back to Washington and worked in a mine at Discovery Bay, Althea worked at the tel[...]Department. Thelma (Corky) worked at Mike's Place in East Glacier for a few years also. The war c[...]ver all together again. Mr. Embody and Elmer were in Washington working on Indian Island for the civil[...]val Air Isabelle Stewart. Station in Seattle. Harvey went in the first draft in 1941 and was a storekeeper aboard an Army 1960. Agnes remained in Valier until moving to transport; he was in New Zealand, Australia, New the Pioneer Home in Conrad in 1977. She passed Guinea, France and Italy. Don joined the away in 1980 at the age of 89 and is buried in the paratroopers and was in the 101st Airborne Dupuyer Cemetery. Division, seeing action in Normandy, Ardennes, Elmer married M[...]ters, Leatha, Jean and Rona. He is now Althea was in the Wacs and served in the United retired after working for Civi[...]arried Roy Derr and was raising a foreman in both Alaska and Washington and en- family in Valier; Lucy and Darleen were still in joys his summers in Babb, Montana and winters in school. Agnes took boarders, many teachers Washington. Althea is living in Conrad. became familiar faces around the family t[...]e a few, Mr. Egan, Mr. Sticht, Mr. Fit- live in Helena. He is a retired engineer from the schen,[...]Highway Department. Noyes Embody passed away in 1946 in Thelma is married to E. D. King and mother Washington, Agnes continued to live in Valier of three, Donna, Richard and Roger. They reside cooking on farms and ranches. In 1954 she in Rogers, Arkansas. married Ben Farrell. Ben did farm work in the Don married Vicki Cagle and ha[...]caping at Crown Zellerbach paper mill in Port Town- jobs. They were employed at Bud Deardo[...]at ranch at the time of his death, he passed away in to Alaska one year. He passed away in 1965 at[...] |
| the age of 44. In 1940, Bruce and Helen Goff were married Iris, now Mrs. Wayne Roseman, lives in An- and they opened a Gambles Store in Colville, chorage, Alaska, where she and her husb[...]n States Navy. After service, three years in both the and operate the Two Travelers Restaurant[...]ars later, he is still art gallery and book store in Port Townsend, occupied with the farm. T[...]Bruce has been active in various community ac- Lucy is married to Don[...]mmunity Club, the Red and operate Miller Printing in Pittsburg, Califor- Cross, American Legion, Po[...]ity of Washington School of Chuck Redd, they live in Valier and have a son, Pharmacy. After seve[...]ing with her father. She enjoys the outdoor life in Shelby and works at the Corner Beauty Shop.[...]c city life and plans to As five generations in my family have lived or take over operation of the farm with added ex- are living in Valier, I must add there is nothing perience. like a small town. Our town is a wonderful place Jim was born in 1948 and attended Valier for raising a family, fo[...]hard war king quality of our ancestors, we in the San Francisco area. can make our town even a[...]The Farrington Family In October 1927, a Model T Ford and a truck Bruce Farrington was born in Iowa Falls, load of furniture pulled up in front of a house on Iowa in 1914, one of five brothers born to John the[...]ive years. Junior College and Iowa State College. In 1938, Blaine had just been hired as th[...]and Water Company St. Paul, Minnesota, Bruce read in the "Lumber- and the family settled into be[...]e Valier community. They moved here from ployment in Valier, Montana at Akofer Lumber Conrad,[...]ious five years. The notified to report for duty. In 1938, he arrived in girls, Virginia and Anita, ages eleven and ten, Valier and for some forty-two years has been in or immediately enrolled in the local school and related to Va lier.[...] |
| [...]gh to have Miss Larson as his teacher when he was in the grades. Miss Larson helped mold the lives of many children who came under her excellent teaching and discipline. As farm manager, Blaine traveled in the rural areas a great deal, so he knew every rancher and farmer around and helped many people hold their slim stakes together during the depression of the 30's. He sat down with many a family and Blaine Ferguson[...]ut no one could tell that he had a weddings in 1937. new one, for he always drove a black one. H[...]driving was and help them get established in work of some always very hazardous because of the[...]take a farm couple from and severe blizzards and many times he spent the Poland. Wally and Katheri[...]me farm house along the way. Western Valier in 1948. Blaine moved them to the farm hospitality c[...]north of Valier and taught them new farming saved many lives in those days when transpor- methods as well as how to speak English. Nina tation and communication were really in their in- taught Katherine how to cook American style and fancy.[...]a very good cook. The Fergusons entered into many of Valier's When the Valier Land and Wa[...]l as and enjoyed farming north of Valier many years. belonging to various civic organizations.[...]of the the ladies. When the club started the park in the area. Those who were willing to try a new ex- center of town, they were right there giving of periment in farming found themselves growing their time and talent in planting the trees, shrubs garden peas, radishe[...]a as a that all might enjoy the beauty. Gardening in haying alternative. During his years as a[...]the himself he promoted malting barley in this area. severe climate, but they proved that m[...]of the stubborn land. perimented with many livestock projects. As a Nina Ferguson's flo[...]me quite young man he had helped his father in the sheep famous all over the area and people came from camps in Idaho so he decided that now was the long distanc[...]ackets he shared her talent for growing them with many sheared his lambs early so pilots[...] |
| first controlled environment facilities for hogs in widow, two daughters, four grandchildren and t[...]ives lagoon type waste disposal. He was a pioneer in in Columbia Falls with her family. many areas because he was always ready to try a Mildred graduated from Conrad High in new thing. 1934 and from Columbus School of Nursing in Blaine and Nina retired in 1960 and moved 1938. She married in 1940. Three children were to Sun City, Arizona where they have lived for born. She worked in nursing for about twenty twenty years. Nina passed away in 1980, but years in the Great Falls area, is now retired and Blaine i[...]ng and is still ready to try new makes her home in Great Falls. One daughter, ideas. -Anita Ferguson Jones Judith, lives in Helena and works for Mountain Bell in marketing; one son is a clinical psychologist in Helena and one son is an engineer for Hulett- The Herb Felting Family Packard in Fort Collins, Colorado. There are Herb Fetting came to the Valier area from eight grandchildren. Ada, Minnesota in the year of 1914. After working as a ranch hand f[...]The Jacob Clemmons Fey Family Valier. In 1916, he married Olive Wold, who was[...]Carl Wold. She had a four year old 1860, in West Leyden, Lewis County, New York, son, Elsworth. A daughter, Mildred, was born in the son of Clemmons and Mary Seifen Fey, b[...]whom were born in Germany and came to this The family home wa[...]with horses, Jacob came to Montana in November, 1881, gradually becoming mechanized. He[...]and enj(?yed fishing on Lake Fran- ended in Dillon. From there they traveled by ces. He served on the Wingina Sc[...]d Wingina They took up homesteads in the Dearborn School during their elementary years. We attend- area and in 1884, Jacob went back to New York ed a community Sunday School in Williams, and he and Mary Jane Noake[...]Clemons, St. Peters Mission and high school in The family moved to Valier about 1930,[...]Anthony married Emma E. Noakes, sister of died in 1930 and the remaining family moved Mary Jane, on July 24, 1890 in Helena and they back to the farm, where Herb cont[...]moved from the Dearborn area to Gold Butte in until about 1942. He made his home with[...]ad a successful sheep ranch, raised life. He died in 1960. cattle, hor[...]master carpenter. His ef- Elsworth excelled in basketball and football forts were also direc[...]s, earning an all- one of which resulted in his holding the office of conference gold footbal[...]the Dearborn Telephone graduated from Valier High in 1931 and was Company, formed in 1909. He was a member of married in 1933. He went to work for Bonneville the Dearborn Lodge No. 21, IOOF in Augusta. Power in Vancouver, Washington in 1939, In September of 1904, Jacob's wife, Mary retiring in 1970. He died in 1974, leaving the Jane, died at ag[...] |
| [...]s, Lillie, Arthur, Jacob, Walter, Mabel, and Lula in about 1914. Clemons and was buried in the cemetery on Flat he, as president, employed his son-in-law, |
| [...]Dry goods side of the Valier Mercantile Company in 1916. Jacob Fey was the owner. years were replac[...]vigorous person, ever ambitious with an op- |
| [...]The home Jacob C. Fey built in Valier. who was project engineer, surveying a di[...]Emery left and opened his own grocery store in |
| [...]His many neighbors and friends tell stories of[...]had been filled, he'd stay in town spending his[...]in the tub or some brew being aged in a corner.[...]than the berries in the wine. This man died in 1965 of exposure about[...]not be forgotten Robert and Dollie Gammon in 1934.[...]his generousi ty. Dupuyer. Bob also had a garage in Dupuyer for one and one-half years in addition to the farm. He The Ge[...]ell place, where they Children born in the l 970's begin the fifth lived until Bob's dea[...]generation of Geiger's to be born on American In 1945, Dollie bought the Brophy house in soil. Family roots have not been traced beyond Valier, south of the Methodist Church and in the early 1800's when George Geiger emigrated 1947, she married "Bud" Deardorff. In 1952, to New York from Southern Germany[...]house to Tom Gibson. born in New York State in 1840. Dollie passed away on November 19, 1959. Wm. H. grew up in Michigan, served with the The three daugMers have lived in and around Seventh Michigan Cavalry under the command of Valier since 1916. They are Mrs. Alex (Irene) Graham, Mrs. Ted (Verna) Orr an[...]Valentine (Dutch) Gartner Dutch was born in Germany May 3, 1882. He was a butcher by trade and homesteaded near Valier in 1909. His home was on the place where Jerry Slezak lives now. In 1929 he became a citizen of the United Sta[...] |
| [...]in 1915. They bought 160 acres adjoining Fred's[...]the home place in 1947 when Bert and Ruth[...]Wisner, San Francisco; Robert, who was killed in a plane accident in 1953; James, married to[...]William H., Jr. and wife, Vera, arrived in General Custer and was with General Grant at[...]rd Theater the night Hazel Hoglund who died in 1978 and Billie Lincoln was shot. He served more[...]andstetter Ruth, now at the Pioneer Home in Conrad, is in 1870. the last of the early Geigers to settle in the area. They raised six sons and one daughter. The She remembers that Brother Van held services in family moved to Nebraska about 1880. It was a community hall on land owned by Virginia Mc- from there that five of the six sons moved to farms Dougal[...]Van would show up without fanfare Interested in stories of the fabulous hunting and the neighb[...]via the and fishing, as well as fertile farmlands in Mon- telephone line installed by Mr. Massey.[...]re further enticed by the Massey lived for many years on land ambitious advertising of the Great[...]Geiger (Ora) and Chet various buildings in the community including the were the first to leave Nebraska. Traveling in large hall at Gundlock, which she says was cold their Studebaker in 1914, they used "The Blue and drafty. Book of Roads" as a guide. Since there were not Most of the family had flu in 1918 and were highways at that time, careful atte[...]sary. Large barns and other land- who lived in the community. marks served as mileposts along th[...]ed with insulin when lodging scarce. At one point in eastern Montana, it was first produced aroun[...]ister, lived for a time on Frances Heights loomed in the distance for days before they with her husband, George, and family during the arrived in Valier. There they awaited the arrival 1930's. of their emi[...]ds including horses, cows and farm school in 1925 at age five. One day a man at- machin[...] |
| [...]east side of Frances Heights and lived in the house that was there. Two years later another[...]Falls in 1957. They are both deceased as is the older[...]is Mrs. Reeves Vera and Bill Geiger's first home in Montana. In the and lives in Loma, Montana. car are Grandma Ammer, Vera, Hazel, Billie and Bill.[...]ger Reeves Bob was subpeonaed, the star witness. In answer |
| [...]Blankenship. I was in third grade in Valier and[...]Valier in 1912. Dad proved up a homestead nine[...]Dad had a horse and buggy he used in the sum- mer and a sleigh in the winter. He drove back[...]ay. That made eighteen miles time she had to stay in a small hotel in town after every day as Dad had a clothing store in Valier arriving from Colorado while my father com[...]There were two barns in Va lier at that time. were born in Valier in October of 1918.[...]located between the two banks that were in his bicycle. I also remember young Ralph Parker,[...]Mother was very active in the Valier Edison phonograph, which we took home[...]High School in 1928 and I graduated in 1930. chokecherries.[...]nd Timothy hay. My mother made butter and sold it in Valier. The H. A . Gookin[...]s on Harvey A. Gookin came to Valier in 1909, and a buttermilk diet. Also, we remember his filed on eighty acres of land in the area known as daughter, Erdine, and his name[...]irrigation project. Harvey was born in Iowa, but My father worked for Hans and Fritz[...]He built a house on the- proper handling of meats in their retail shop on property and also built[...]Street. In 1910, his wife,Anna, joined him along with his[...]nd lived near the town's Sparling place was in the Bullhead area. electric generating pla[...] |
| [...]their old place on Birch Creek. Harve retired in[...]Lake, and owned property, and wintered in[...]where he died in November of 1963. Anna The Birchfield School in 1930 or 1931, Mrs. Mayme celebrated he[...]second, 1980, and lives in Missoula Manor and is in good health. Her daughter, Martha, died in Creek, where they raised cattle, and were more[...]1977 of cancer. She is survived by her successful in raising sheep. da[...]County Attorney. Bob is active in community and People used to test their cars[...]us, as they couldn't get up the hill, especially in the The Goff Family spri[...]Goff and his wife, Mary Jane, were Neighbors in Birchfield were Fred Brown, both b[...]and finally decided to make their home in Kilians, Chris Banes, Stoltz, Tom Nelson, Frank[...]Dillon. came to Montana in 1909. Jack had graduated The school near the farm was the Birchfield School, in about 1930-31, Mayme Riggs was the teacher. (I think she's still alive in Billings.) Soon af- ter Birchfield was closed, al[...]Grandma remembers all the turkeys she raised, in fact, believe you could call it a herd. Remember[...]Mrs. Gookin often in the winter it was by horse and sleigh?[...]. One story that I think was funny. You know how the wind can blow in that area! Well, it was a 138 |
| [...]In the spring, they came from Conrad to[...]There was a small cabin on each. This land cost[...]pay for what we got. Father had farmed in North[...]d attended the graduation selling land in 1913. He sold 160 acres to Mrs. ceremonies in Minneapolis, was riding home with Chas[...]believe they were required to establish residence in Valier, Montana, where they have both[...]loped because she spent the summer of to go, stop in and see him. He will show you 1912,[...]with her mother on the land around and assist you in anyway he can." Taking which was locat[...]od and Point, where she taught school. There were a very helpful.[...]kota people who bought land The Goffs stayed in Conrad that winter and from the Water[...]e University of South Dakota. He was also shipped in from North Dakota, where Jack had acquainted with Maude and her mother, and been born in Drayton, North Dakota in 1886, and would often visit them at the cabin, as his land Em had been born in 1888. was within walking distance. Spring wheat in 1916 yielded fifty-six and one-haH bushels[...] |
| The William P. Golf family, left to right are Lillian, William P., Ern, Della, John L. Mary Jan[...]ttie and Ella. After spending those summers in Montana, spur" within one hundred y[...]tty well acquainted with most lived there from 1915 to 1920, then moved into |
| [...]e Bell. Jack and Bea raised two poisoning set in immediately and as this was the sons, Dr. John Go[...]to Valier and then on to Great Falls, it was too many years, moving to the home near Valier High[...]worked at Swift Dam owned by Ruth Marie Hartsell. In later years, during its construction and[...]d most of his life, as did his father. Bea In 1912, the Gordons lost a baby boy one day Goff passed away in 1975 and Jack in 1977. old. It was during an epidemic[...]he creek for the girls, Lu, Della, and Lil, lived in Valier miles and neighbors having come ac[...]ittle casket out to bury John Telgener, and lived in Valier for many years. the baby on the home place, as there was no way Lillian married Herb Reinelt, and lives in to get to town and the family was too ill. Many Seattle. -Em Go[...]d acreage and Olliver "Ollie" Gordon was born in the Blue raised cattle. Hay was hard to come by and Ollie Ridge Mountains of Virginia in 1879. At a very leased hay land on variou[...]e to seek work the hard way and hauling it many miles by team which he found with the W. G. Conra[...]e. Virginia. He worked for them for several years in The Gordons went from horse and buggy to Virginia and came with them to the Valier area in Model T Ford, which was a most controversial[...]"critter". If it started all was fine, but many times the 7 Block. He returned to Virginia in 1906 to it would refuse to respond to the[...]The Carroll children and Conrad sat there peaceful and undaunted. If the occasion children[...]and rented a house and took in other children The two Gordon children were born in who were also going to school. Lilly Ralph, Wally Helena, Alpheues in 1907 and Kathryne "Katie" Clay and Dorothy Fitzpatrick were some of them. in 1909. While playing in a barn at the Cowel Later Mrs. Go[...] |
| [...]the door is Mrs. Parish and Richie, on the steps are Crawford and Crossen. Mrs. Gordon is on the right with the dog. On many occasions, Mrs. Gordon went on[...]ng as his nurse. family could use. Oh, how his kids hated to have 142 |
| enough, so it could have happened. Ollie in the choir. believed it did.[...]bors, parties The Gordons moved to Kalispell in 1947 due at the country school houses, dan[...]health of Mrs. Gordon. They had sixteen once in awhile. One of their favorite pastimes happy years in their home surrounded by apple was ridin[...]They worked hard and saved their money. and many friends. Mrs. Gordon was active in the They purchased the farm, west of the c[...]had been a member all her which is still in the family, in the year of 1928. life and knew her Bible from cover to cover. They lived there, except for one year when they Mr. and Mrs. Gordon died twelve days apart were in Kalispell, Montana. Faye was ill for quite in May of 1962 and are buried in the Glacier a few years and died in January, 1935. Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. While vis[...]Bartlett's that year I Alpheues Gordon died in Anaconda in July, met Earl for the first time at a dance at the Air- 1968 and is buried in the Memorial Gardens port Inn. We met again in the spring of 1936, the there.[...]he had gone to a church convention. He some time in 191 7, on a tour for land promotion was in Choteau at the time. Our small wedding sponsored[...]snowbanks, we arrived ticket validated and stayed in the big hotel one late and no minister. We then went looking for night. It must have been in the summer time another minister and w[...]he decided on one east of town. He came back in July, 1918, in an emigrant train with his horses, cows and house[...]he rs. Elwin had a pony that would ride home in the back of their Model T Ford. Another time[...]an active member of the Methodist Church, serving in every area as well as singing[...] |
| [...]to Valier. When Nels Swanson opened the bank in Valier, Earl was one of the stockholders. He was[...]ld carry on their regular business. We spent many winters in California and Arizona. One of our memorable trip[...]ithout our lights on, we were picked Lodge in Conrad July 1, 1978. He entered the up. The polic[...]ad Hospital on March 7, 1979, then entered you do in Montana, but we here usually drive the Pi[...]ere going the wrong July 1, 1980. He is buried in the Valier Cemetery. way on a one-way street. We visited friends in Earl's aunt, Hattie Holliday, and husb[...]oo, Iowa and then Lis Holliday, also lived in Valier. When Kelly on to Los Angeles, California,[...]ly's son, wife, Izetta and Earl became ill ·in November of 1966 and son, Billy, also were[...]killed in an accident while working in the[...]Alex Graham was born December 8, 1889 in[...]crews in the early 1900's, staying to work for Dr.[...]World War I, serving in France as a mule skinner.[...]in 1920, and married Irene Gammon of Dupuyer, Montana in 1921. They ranched above Dupuyer[...] |
| [...]I was born March 23, 1901, in Hullsberg,[...]had a farm and orchards in Holland and Dad was[...]mation telling about this new land. So in 1913,[...]board a boat. Our oldest sister The Graham family in 1962. Back row, Aileen Offer- . stayed with our[...]k fourteen days and it took Marie Dykstra. Seated are Mildred Siefke, Irene and four days from New Y[...]I remember that shortly after we came in The first five of these children were born at[...]rather cool marriages and careers have taken them in many that morning. By evening a blizzard had[...]remember being so cold. The next them together on many memorable occasions, morning it was f[...]t's one day I'll adulthood and now Alex and Irene are enjoying never forget. Our first home wa[...]and Leo Habets are still on the original The Gradon (Deke) Gr[...]lived near us, his Valier from Box Elder, Montana in September, name was D. E. Kelet and we[...]cause he had been hired by tle. He took many trips with me to get a doctor to Cenex.[...]eliver the babies at home. The Green children are Brian L., Kerry Ann, Since I had finished grade school in Holland, Erick G., Nelson, Carl and Amanda (Amy)[...]elgian School at the Big C Ranch Aileen. Brian is in the Army and Kerry is now Mrs. Tom Kn ud tzon. Both Tom and Kerry are in the Army in California. "Deke" was originally from Bynum[...]chool. The Greens started a small flower shop in Valier in November, 1979, called "Green's Greenery".[...] |
| In 1937, we bought the land on the Bullhead[...]and built a home there, added to the farmland[...]and had one boy and five girls. Gus lives in[...]Hayes and Roger and Dick Habets live in Valier. Florence is married to Jerry Murray and lives in[...]ty is married to Doug Mavity and they live in[...]id of honor, married to Ted Olson and lives in Sun River. They Rachael Christiaens Lightener, be[...]Robert Stoltz and they live in Missoula, they have for only a short time. It is there that I met Evona three boys and two girls. Chri[...]ses and the plow both of us did the plowing. In 1923, I left home at the age of 22 and went to work for a dairy in Whitefish for $25 a month. In a year I returned to Valier and worked at differe[...]got enough money and with help from the bank, put in a crop on rented[...]land around the area. On a cold November day in 1928, I married In 1947, right after World War II, I made my Evona C[...]been back seven times. We moved off the farm in Rachael, Evona's sister and my brother, Pete, as 1954 and built a home in Valier and I continued attendants. In order to get to the church we drove to manage[...]Evona has been active in the St. Francis Altar[...]and we both are active in the Senior Citizens. I[...] |
| [...]person then to Butte, Montana where he worked in the that arrived in this area in 1913. Presently Evona mines. When he was in Butte, he heard about the and I are both involved in the Senior Citizens. I coal mines on Birch Cr[...]breaks the monotony." north, there was the Blair mine, the Slezak mine[...]tepmother, Mary, two brothers, these places in the summertime, because he did August and Peter,[...]uy several other families, from Hulsberg, Holland in coal until the fall of the year. He had plent[...]oal during the fall and winter months would Ranch in Father Carroll's two story farm house for brin[...]and with and girls when she was fourteen. In Chicago learning the language. The area they lived in is there was a Mother House where they stayed until called[...]f and when they looked for To Gene's parents there were six boys and a different job, they co[...]and church Mother House during unemployment. in the area that the group had built.[...]rade school. He then learned that Anne was in Chicago. On his return went out on his own, working for ranchers and trip to Montana, he stopped in at Chicago and farmers. He was working at the Sle[...]would also visit Anne in Chicago, they also Irene was born to Paul an[...]mine on letters led to their marriage in Pennsylvania and Birch Creek eight miles north of[...]eek mining coal Paul and Anne were both born in Buchavitz, and some farming. Austria, that[...]th a team of horses and a years old. They settled in Pennsylvania. Paul wagon to get a Majestic cookstove and a treadle spent his school years there. When he was a sewing machine that they had ordered. The stove child, he worked in the coal mines there. When he and sewing machine came to Fort Bent[...]of danger, such as, the rats would run tons, in one piece, to a fair for an exhibit. in one direction, squealing, and that would warn One summer, after Paul and Anne were the miners that there was a possible cave-in about married, Paul's mother and three[...] |
| John and Martin came out to visit. Martin and In November, 1927, they returned to New Sam stayed w[...]his family and returned to Valier in February. When the irrigation project came into Irene, her brother, Dan, and mother stayed in operation at Valier, the waste water ran down a[...]er Webb. They raised sheep, hogs, along pathways, in tubs, and different areas in irrigated for other farmers and farmed. th[...]e Sunday rides to To Gene and Irene there were seven children Paul and Anne's to just take[...]ke School. They had box They reside in Florence, Montana where Elmer is socials, dances, Christmas programs and family engaged in construction work. get-togethers at the school.[...]ol Anaconda. They have five daughters, LaVee, in Czechoslovakia and three years in Germany. Noreena (deceased), Vileena, Charleena and Her folks worked in coal mines and whatever Earlee. They r[...]They have one son, Chad. They reside in Great Falls where they are employed. All the children attended schools in Va lier. Gene quite farming in 1956 and worked for[...]ployed in Conrad.[...]Peter Habets, Jr. was born in Hulsberg, Gene and Irene Habet[...] |
| country with his family in 1906. They settled east and Karilee were both excellent trumpet players, of Valier. In 1935, he married Florence Haney of Lynn was t[...]for the Gildea of Shelton, Connecticut now lives in Pen- high school MYF group which sponsored many sacola, Florida.[...]nd Karilee were among California. Larry now lives in Valier and has four about twenty Valier kids wh[...]aturing the United Nations. Chester and now lives in St. George, Utah and Floyd was very active in the Odd Fellows has two daughters and two sons, S[...]preceded three years of visiting all the lodges in Ernie married Shirley Denzer of Conrad and Montana by the time he had served his term as now lives in Shelby. Grand Master in 1968. Peter continued to farm north of Valie[...]hich got start- his illness and death May 5, 1944 in Great Falls, ed in the early '30's, was the focal point of much Mont[...]Meeting monthly in the homes of members, it[...]bride, sent care packages to boys in the service, Floyd was born in Mound City, South Dakota helped bereaved families, held annual picnics in 1913, to Ray and Freda Hall and spent his and Christmas parties and had many hilarious early years in northeastern Washington, and in get-togethers of its members. In 1975, it finally the Broadus area. He has a sister, Idell Moore, of disbanded. Ledger, and a brother, Ray, in California. Floyd A family tradition for thirty-seven years has graduated from high school in Colville, been our Christmas Eve din[...]ern Montana party at Mom Hall's festive home in Ledger. It is College in Dillon. From 136 until 1942, he still a happy reunion each year for any and all the taught in rural schools at Buena Vista, Ledger and Abbott Lake, followed by a year in the Valier school system. Floyd and I were married in 1939, and in 1942, we bought the George Minty farm, located fo[...]use of his machinery, we were able to get a start in farming and gradually purchased our own equipment[...]sed a big garden. Our son, Russell, was born in 1943, followed in the next ten years by three daughters, Lynelle, Karilee and Trudy. In 1952, a dream came true when our old farmhouse was replaced with a large shiny new home, with many modern con- veniences we hadn't had before. Beginning in 1949, we had children attend- The Hall family in March, 1980. Karilee, Floyd, Russ, ing Val[...] |
| [...]can possibly make it, and them so long." many of them do. Another happy memory is Pat's[...]us greatly, and birthday on December 17, when for many years our family is proud to have had a part in the Verne and Hedvig hosted a lutefisk dinner wit[...]d their par- ents as often as possible. They live in San Antonio, The Wint Hale Family[...]n years old, he We had a wonderful family reunion in March, left his home in Jonesboro, Tennessee and went 1980, when all of t[...]he birthdays of Mom Hall and Mom cattle in Colorado and Texas. He went back to Peterson, who[...]Tennessee and married Chloe Mitchell in March, Having a bit of gypsy in us, Floyd and I have 1914. visited most of the big cities in the United States Wint and Chloe had a pl[...]dad. Frances and Lee were born memorable one was in 1957, when we took our there. They sold that place and boarded a train four kids on the train via Chicago, to spend for Valier in February 22, 1917, arriving in Christmas with their Peterson grandparents in St. Valier on March 1 and lived in a granary at the Petersburg, Florida. We also too[...]rcher place north of Valier until they Disneyland in California, to the Seattle World's bought the home place which was near where the Fair, and many other places. Since 1972, Floyd Harold Browns live now. Here Wint farmed and and I have seen many miles of America from the raised a few ca[...]home. chickens. In 1975, the wheels stopped turning on the[...]day and born after they moved from there. In 1945, they disposed of all of our farm machinery,[...]and later sold them our farm home, died in November of 1960. Chloe died in Oc- which is now the home of Don and Linda Monroe. tober of 1970. Floyd and I are happily retired in beautiful Raymond Hale was killed in action in France West Glacier, in the little house where Mom and in the fall of 1944, when only twenty years of age.[...]t village near Mesa, on the family name in Valier. Arizona, where we bought a home about a block Frances Hale married Gordon Shephard in from Selmer and Leola Snortland. With many 1936, they had five children. Barbar[...]y had four children, Brian, enjoy our winter "fun in the sun". Fred, Kim and Tammy. Fred married Becky Prit- We have had sorrow in our lives, too. We chard at Columbia Fal[...]t the loss of Rita Marie Hall, our four years in the Navy. Tammy has been in the first precious grandchild, in a tragic accident Navy for one year. Rober[...]Kathy She_phard married John Black, they Dad in a span of eighteen months, but as my mom[...] |
| [...]John Hughes, Miller, Gordon Shephard died in 1972. Frances H.F. Hughes, Stoltenberg[...]ther" . is married to Bill Guy. The Guys now live in Hughes, as H.F. was called, had a ranch on the Conrad, having sold the farm at Dupuyer in Marias just above the mouth of Schultz[...]He and Fritz Stoltenberg each bought places in Lee Hale married Wanda Younger in 1944. the Lone Tree area when the Carey Land Project Lee died in 1979. opened u[...]n and hay Iva Hale married "Dutch" Vermulm in 1937. for their livesotck. They were among[...]and Judy. the wall." The sodbusters were coming in droves. Jess and Mildred were divorced and late[...]hile others married Mabel. Jess spent some time in the ser- realized that they might as well "join 'em". Hun- vice in 1944. He was in a tank division in Europe. dreds of range stock crowded the fences[...]run the cattle and horses away John. They live in Great Falls. Ken worked at the daily. She and[...]Hitchcock have buggy horse, learned together how to protect four children. Gary and Lana William[...]hes children. Raymond and Gloria Hitchcock live in of range horses from the hills and have a r[...]im B. Nelson. Jim has on the best he could. There was no whistle and been Valier's mayor for twel[...]e rocks. married Tom Green and they reside in Harlem. Young folks turned out for a[...]he river. Ted recalls a "hog drive" from barber in Cut Bank, where the Salois live. They the Hu[...]Lone Tree ranch. Brood sows were turned out in -Mary Guy and Iva Vermulm[...]Hamaker Family Both Ted and Dorothy grew up in the Bullhead Springs country; Dorothy com[...] |
| the brush in the spring to rear their young. Pic- saw that 'yellow streak' coming!" colo Jim Cummings stayed down there to feed Sparlings placed high pri[...]me they had to be and good grades. School in the elementary years taken back to the main ranch. The young pigs was over two miles away. In first grade, Dorothy were as wild as jack rabbits[...]o cattle alone, and felt pretty small out there. In move hogs off the river bottoms.[...], of the Gus Nelson family, Recreation in early days consisted mostly of never missed a rou[...]o be pretty fair riders. They came in buggies and horseback and later Ted Hamaker never did lose his interest in on with the Tin Lizzies. The men played horse- rodeo and took part in amateur bronc riding in shoes and baseball, while the ladies and small the Shelby area for many years. His sympathy kids usually found some sort of berries in season was with the ranchers in the sodbuster-rancher and ready for making[...]e busy river until he started ranching on his own in the picking chokecherries around a brush pile[...]the brush pile liked the outdoors. She worked out in the fields began to hum and everyone retreat[...]home. left the berries to the snakes. That's how you learn She remembers that after plowing all da[...]ugh the picnics because of the muddy hills in the breaks. badger holes to see what the Nelson k[...]trouble getting home. There was an old bridge[...]across the canal north of town that sat high in the[...]A busy decade sped by with everyone busy in[...] |
| [...]earing out fences and roads. It was in Elk Point, South Dakota that Anders It can melt m[...]mile wide. Or, it can turn dry and married in 1906. There they had four children, burn the pastures and fie[...]They came to Williams, Montana, in 1912, The old ranches were put together a s[...]head and calves at with her brother, Ed, in Lewistown until Anders $10 a head. Even three-yea[...]rmental was one of the largest houses out there, many of Fordson. It didn't earn its keep and its fuel[...]e was located six miles east milk cows grazed out in the hills all day, each in of Va lier, and one-fourth mile sou th of the high- her own direction and by four in the afternoon, way. Anna's parents, Eric[...]low Mildred, Irene, who died of the flu in 1920 at the Rounds area reunited into one unit. T[...]going to Lone Tree. Later, Dorothy taught school in Va lier while the girls were in high school. Valier, as always, was the hub around which the lives of the Hamakers revolved. For many years they found time to play for dances at count[...]and Hammer in front of the hardship of the 1964 flood, the achi[...]orced to in 1940. retire in 1968.[...] |
| [...]meetings there; messages for Doc Powell were[...]was there and had to be blown when a fire call came in; emergency phone calls and telegrams[...]Legion Club was in the basement; Helen and Bet-[...]ty Herbold had their beauty parlor there and[...]eepherders who came to town when Anders 0. Hammer in 1946. Seated are Anna, An- they got paid, to entrust their earnings to the hotel ders, and Shirley Mae. Standing are Isabelle, Andy, manager for safe keeping, to be[...]long age of three, and Andy. Shirley Mae was born in their buying power over a longer period of[...]insead of squandering it all in one day. Farming conditions were poor, plagued with The Hammers ran the state liquor store in drought, so after eleven years., they gave up the[...]Valier. That night, which political party was in control in Helena at April 17, 1923, the Valier Bank was rob[...]ts an hour. He invented an high school in Valier, there was always a Ham- irrigation level, had it patented, and it is still mer in attendance in the Valier school system, being used by a few of[...]n, Roger Hammer, would graduate. The yec;us, back in the days when papers were served reason for[...]married, and raised their families in Valier, Don, working at his dad's coal mine, he r[...]nd Mark, Jane, man as being one whose picture was in Detective Glen, Roger, respectively. Their[...]d this ing and Heating Business was started in 1944 to Mr. Hammer, who purchased two beers and in- and was sold in 1981. The daughters married structed Johnny to ta[...]and more, of the Methodist Ladies 1938 to 1945. In those days the big hotel was the Aid and Rebekah Lodge, and also a charter hub of activity in the community. Three meals a member of the Wingina Home Demonstration day were served in the dining room and a com- Club. plete di[...]nts. The hotel was a place Mr. Hammer died in 1954, Ernest in 1959, to go for Sunday dinner after church or to Isabelle in 1968, and Mrs. Hammer in 1977, af- celebrate a special occasion. ter having resided in the Pondera Pioneer Nursing A room at the hotel was considered accept- Home in Conrad for two years. At the time of her a[...] |
| The Hancock Family In 1867, George Bigler "Big" Hancock, a Civil War ve[...]built their homes close by on a section of land, in the general location that was later to become Cra[...]Nebraska as a baby with her family from Illinois, in a covered wagon. Of this union, four children wer[...]The original house Hancocks built in 1917, later lived Dewey and Irma. in by Robert Kuka. George Dewey Hancock was born May 16, 1898 in Craig, Nebraska. When he was nineteen, the[...]became the his father decided to head for Montana in hopes Baptist Church. The building no longer[...]rother, Earl, took a 100 Teri Johnson. It was in this area, precisely the car emigrant train from[...]ing 240 acres and Earl the remaining 97 Snow blew in to their car and the grub got wet. acres. De[...]uka built a new home, they moved the she remained in Nebraska. original hou[...]mily arrived. The first place they lived Creek. in had been a restaurant across the street from[...]spells. Dewey farmed the home place in Craig,[...]one day having enough money to buy land there[...]Lucille Mae Hallberg was born in Oakland,[...]r 29, Minnie Luella Bovee Hancock, Dewey's mother in the 1932. shack that Dewey and Earl batched in before the In 1943, Dewey made his second trip to house[...] |
| [...]clerk for the Vale School and Rick, who is in the[...]Janice Johnson from Nebraska in February, 1944. Dick was killed in action February 7, 1951, in the[...]Aeronautics Board in Washington, D.C. Janice[...]the 1950. When Dewey and Lucille retired in 1972, family left Craig for Valier on March 4, 19[...]trip to Valier twenty- Crawford Farms, Inc. in 1976, keeping the other seven years before. Dick was in the Marines at the 287 acres. This Jack sold t[...]y McCon- and her husband, Monty Johnson in 1979. Jack naha, drove the two cars with Lucille[...]on the train with five is a school teacher in Big Timber, Montana. milk cows. Dewey recalls hav[...]ancy Johnson on the way up around Wyola, Montana. There was nothing he could do with the milk, but throw[...]Edward R. Harrington, Sr., was born in Ver- *""'#""'* □ •%©0°@, what do you think this mont. He grew up and attended schools in the is, the Milky Way?" state, but later came west and lived in Minnesota Lawrence Phipps also came to Valier in for a few years. Before moving to Sou th[...]ofer place, which is Brown. Minnie was born in Fond du Lac, Wiscon- where Joe Boumans now resides. Lawrence was sin. Minnie was instrumental in creating the first homesick almost immediately, so as soon as his public library in Valier. It was first located in furniture arrived in Valier, he packed up again Harrington's Jew[...]home to Nebraska, and got his old a room in the Valier Hotel. She died in 1926 in job back. Eugene, Oregon and is buried in the Valier Dewey and Lucille raised grain a[...]acres and also had cattle. At one time, There were three children born to Minnie and Don used the big barn as a dairy. Don married Edward in Forest City, South Dakota. They were Alvina Hunter from Shelby in September, 1945. Ella, wife of Charles Do[...]m, The Harrington brothers grew up in Get- which Butch Vanden Bos now owns. The house[...]kota. They finished their high Don and Viny lived in had been remodeled with school education there and later attended the lumber out of the Airport Inn. In 1964, Don horological sc~ool in Chicago. Edward and Harry sold the farm to Elwin[...]Vale, later came to Montana and homesteaded in the Oregon, where he owned the Vale Livest[...] |
| [...]In Valier on April 25, 1916, Harry married[...]Wilke. Ella was born in North Dakota, grew up at[...]the five counties were all one. Ella taught in[...]teaching in Valier, school was held in the church.[...]four daughters, Helen, Rachael, Harry Harrington in front of his jewelry store in Valier. Dorothy and Harriet.[...]During World War II, Harry and Ella along In the spring of 1910, they opened their with Harriet, moved to Xenia, Ohio. There Harry jewelry store in Valier, one of the fastest growing worked as a precision instrument specialist on towns in Montana. Looking at their ads in the bomber aircraft. They returned to Montana in early Valerian, one can see that they were out-[...]iamonds", was their slogan. The in 1964 and passed away in 1968. His wife, Ella, Harrington brothers got their diamonds on con- died in 1978. Both are buried in the Valier signment rather than carrying a large[...]chance on a She h~s taught school in Dupuyer, Manson, solid gold watch.[...]sdom and Fort Shaw. After twenty-seven years In Valier, Edward married Ruby Noreen,[...]ade County Superintend- whose father was a farmer in Pondera County. ent of Schools. Th[...]Rae. Ed- Ross and Helen live in Great Falls and have ward died at Sunnyside, Washington in Septem- seven children. They are Becky Heberle of ber of 1926, being at the time a[...]Falls. The Loney boys are active in rodeo. Ross Of the two brothers, Harry P. Ha[...]asurer, for a number of years he was an alderman. In April of 1925, he was elected mayor and was re-el[...]tion and his administration made notable progress in the town by the reconstruc- tion of part of its w[...]the town. He also served as justice of the peace in the local court for a Ella Harrington while teaching in Dupuyer. Edna year.[...] |
| drives for North American Van Lines and travels live in the State of Washington. Last year John to Alaska[...]and Bertha sold their home in Va lier and also Their daughter, Rachael, is[...]a, originally from a pioneer family of in Yakima. Va lier. Rachael attended Hamilton Business College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has been employed in various hospitals in the insurance[...]na Ann, their only daughter, They met in Montana where they was killed in an automobile accident. Rachael homestead[...]e road from one another and "Buzz" (Glenn) reside in Missoula. Buzz and were married in Great Falls November 23, operated the Mint Bar of Valier for many years, 1912. but is now retired. Rachael works in the insurance Obie Harrison, 18, and his sister, Nona, 17, department in St. Patricks Hospital in Missoula. arrived in Great Falls by train from El Dorado Dorothy[...]Springs, Missouri with their widowed mother, live in Polson, Montana. Dorothy is a registered Mar[...]es, better program. Neil was a commercial teacher in the known as H.F. or Frank, Sr., April 9,[...]er husband of her niece, Lily for a stove company in Polson. They have four Periman. They came[...]ut six miles west of Interstate 15. taught school in Great Falls and is presently Here Obie worked for his stepfather and teaching in Spokane where she and her husband learned[...]as Mr. Hughes was a live. Vince was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, but pioneer stockman who owned cattle, sheep and is now retired. He is an accountant in Spokane. horses. Since this country was all[...]n. In spite of this in the fall there was always a big Helen, Dorothy and Rachael[...]. Obie loved good horses and the "Golden Reunion" in Valier. Harriet enjoyed working on[...]hn and Bertha Harris get stuck in the soap holes and die. Bertha (VandenBos) Ha[...]of husband, John, lived just north of Valier for many Valier in 1906, where the Hughes moved in years. They raised their family there. At one time 1910. By this time, Obie had pick[...]Abraham October 15, Later they bought a home in Valier where 1908, and they moved to Col[...]for a number of years. During this time, he was in charge of a commissary. She died June John was em[...]a venturesome Ohio school teacher, decided in ~ nice.[...]world, so traveled to Their sons and daughter are all married and Louisiana where she[...] |
| [...]bronchial trouble lots in winter, so she made an The barn at[...]removed in November. Early that morning, Obie heading west t[...]t supper for Obie and Piccolo Folks were flocking in to file on homesteads, so he Jim Cummings and t[...]o had quinsy after that, but got hay fever in about where he was filing. Mike's homestead was o[...]st. She tried built by a huge boulder and that is how their ranch every medication to relieve this te[...]made painted on the front of their big barn built in that cured her. 1918. In 1919, a son, James, another eleven pound Ellen was the first operator of the first baby, arrived in March at Conrad Hospital. He telephone exchange in Valier, which was located always suffered from hay fever, so could not enjoy in the drugstore managed by Mr. Starbuck and[...]lines were ing student and received his PhD in Chemical run on barbed wire and this was planned by Mr. Engineering at 23, he has enjoyed many good C.H. Drake and F. D. Kingsbury. There were fif- positions. Most recently he has b[...]engineer for the United Nations and a late In Mon tan a, Ellen finished out a term assignment was overseeing the construction of a teaching in Brady and taught the Wilkins School large plant in the Philippines. He and his wife south of Cut Ban[...]married Obie and Ellen Presently they are semi-retired and live in Florida joined their two homestead houses togethe[...]lse, Obie and Ellen had their sized granary built in about 1911 and used straw good times and sad[...]was one of the directors of the Montana Bank in Through the years Obie raised cattle, sheep, Valier that closed in 1922, when one of the em- horses and mules. He op[...]ng outfit ployees made off with funds. Then in July, 1923, and believed in di versified farming, so you their crop was hailed out completely and their always had an "ace in the hole" if one crop was only income for the year was $80. But in spite of off price or production.[...]y was over- to bankruptcy and prospered in the end.[...] |
| [...]1969 at the age of 89 in Long Beach. Obie went[...]in May, 1970; was admitted to the hospital June[...]Asa Hartwell came to Valier in 1919 with his[...]Asa passed away in 1940, his wife, Ros.a, passed away in 1959. Ruth married Louis~Phillips[...]Moe and they had seven children. They lived in Valier until he passed away in 1976, his wife is living in Great Falls.[...]children. She is living in Phoenix, Arizona. Ira[...]ry of Obie and Ellen children. He is living in California. Harrison in August, 1962, When Mary was ready for high school in The Harwood Family |
| [...]on permanently in the Valier area farming and[...]stayed on after her husband passed away in[...]t Bank. This location was known as the Old F post in Fort Benton. Crossing that was used by many of the cattle When they moved to this area, they had five companies in the early days. She lived there for boys, all of w horn were born in the Fort Ben ton several years before selling[...]ing to Valier, she purchased the Doc Sim- Merlin. There were eleven children all total in the mons property on the west end of town. Maud[...]Harwood family. The others passed away in 1969. being Robert, Louis, Jeff, Jewell, Isabelle and The first school in the Badger Fisher or Fisher Cline "Bud". Mr. and Mrs. Harwood were in the Flats area as it is known, was a room donated in ranching business when they first settled in the the Babe Harwood home. Louis Lenoir, Ed[...]Dick Schields were on the school board. Mrs. In 1909, allotments of land were given to the Tom Biggly was clerk. Blackfeet members and in 1918, they started Mr. Biggly worke[...]wo Medicine Tom has been very active in the community, River.[...]erving on the school board for several years, There wasn't much work to be had in this being a 4-H leader for nearly thirty years. Also area for young men, so Tom IV got a job in the being a natural born fiddler, he and h[...]Carma, got the old time fiddlers organized in the outfit that was buying cattle. Working as a[...]ear and a half before a new cook came along. In 1928, Tom Harwood IV married Edna Kennedy, daught[...]arwood, little Graham girl, Edna passed away in February, 1941. Isabelle and[...] |
| [...]He died in Conrad in 1957. Gert was very active in the St. Francis Alter Society until she moved to[...]in 1976. They had eight children and seven are still Ii ving. Ray died in 1961 from complications of diabetes which he had for many years. Margaret[...]now lives in Topeka, Kansas. Kathleen married[...]Carl Miller of Valier, who died in 1966. She is[...]married Dick Theoret and lives in Minoa, New York. John married Eileen Miller and lives in Great Falls. Jim married Sandy Holm and lives in Cut Part of the Harwood family, Mark, Robert, Isa[...]od family members have set- Green and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. tled in the Browning area, farming, ranching and holding[...]- The Stoltz's all moved to Valier in the early vation north of Valier and who resides in Valier. Twenties. We heard what a wonderful country this Bill, an artist, lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming. was. We began to thin[...]ucks, and they own and operate "The Keg", a cafe, in oh, yes, turkeys, too! Ed worked for t[...]At the time we left he was ministrator and lives in Albuquerque, New firing a big steam s[...]. and has announced such rodeos as the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the Pendleton Roundup in Pendleton, Oregon and the big show, the National[...]The George Hayes family in 1947. Standing left to George and Gert Ha yes were married in right are George, Marg Tronson, Jennie Theoret, Minnesota in 1914 and came to central Mon- Kathleen[...]Christiaens, Anne Green and tana and on to Valier in 1937. George was a Gert. Kneeling are John, Ray and Jim. 162 |
| [...]ows, our bragging they had done on how good this country clothes, some food, pans and wh[...]was it has to look better than this. In August, the camp with along the way over 1,000 mi[...]after coming from Minnesota with beautiful trees there were some camp grounds. I won't say every-[...]ght to the back. We thought we had rain in 1928. On September 1, we started our had it, but[...]er stop and get three buffalo grazing in a big coulee, that was some gas, we had driven ninety miles in three wonderful. We did stay in hotels a couple nights hours on three gallons of[...]en all our turkeys just the night before we lunch in Chester, Montana. I said, "Now when do got there. Ed went back to work that winter for you think we will get there?" Ed said, "About four the mines. W[...] |
| [...]We are now retired and tired and live in[...]want to live anyplace else. Farming is still in our blood, so there also lies our heart and prayers, for The H[...]ers of this great land. -Agatha Haynes move. In January, 1929, we had a baby boy join 164 |
| [...]Valier Implement. the University of Montana in 1980. Julie is a He worked for both Bob Burgess a[...]e going to work for Ruth Newby for living in Richardson, Texas, Casper, Wyoming Case Machinery for four years before retiring in and Denver, Colorado. They are now settled in 1973.[...]ug spent seven and one-half years as a they lived in Oregon and Barbara born in pilot in the Air Force, but is now living in Valier Conrad, Montana.[...]ce Wright were married Air National Guard. in 1952. In 1972, they and their four children, Pearl Henneman married Kenneth Duncan in Debbie, Scott, Tom and Julie moved to[...]Arlie. She married Hawesville, Kentucky where all are living now, Frank Bright in 1931. They had two children, except Debbie, who i[...]gren. LeeRoy and Hazel. They made their home in They have one daughter, Miranda, and live in Great Falls, Montana. Baris, Sweden. Pearl died in 1978. Frank still lives in Great Barbara and Dean Swank were married in Falls. 1956 and are Valier residents. They have three Etta[...], Dewey and Traci. Derek is They lived in Michigan for several years. They married to the f[...]Alaska and later to McKinley Park for several are all students at Montana State in Bozeman. years. They are now retired and live five miles Traci is a senior[...]l, have been Valier residents for- They lived in Michigan for ten years. Bob worked ty-seven years[...]Valier Motor for seventeen years, both in Michigan and Land and Water Company in 1926 and 1927. He Ohio. They moved back to Great Falls in 1965. went to Anaconda to work in the smelter in 1928. They had five children, Nancy who died in 1968, He met Mae Couger in Anaconda and they were Denny and his family live in Buffalo, New York. married in April of 1929. They lived in Anaconda Judy and her family live in Shelby, Ohio; Doug until 1940 when they moved to Valier. Henry lives in Norwalk, Ohio; John lives in Bozeman, farmed northwest of Valier until he retired in Montana. Dorothy works for the Montana 19[...]and Faye, Deaconess Skilled Nursing Center in Great Falls, who both live in the Valier area. Lois married Montana. Bob died in January, 1980. Harry Kovatch. They have four chil[...]most of their life in Conrad, Montana. Faye married Dwaine Swanso[...]er Nielsen. two children, Julie and Robert, both are students They have three children, Tom, Janet[...]chool. They all live in Renton, Washington. George Henneman married Olive Hofland in 1932. They lived on the ranch for four years and farmed there. They moved to Va lier in 1937 The Herman (H. J) Heyen Fami[...].) Heyen began working near his They have Ii ved in Va lier for forty-three years. home in Dorchester, Illinois, as a farm laborer at Georg[...]mployed building Boyd married Patricia Bell in 1957. They railroad cars in St. Louis, Missouri for several have thre[...] |
| [...]-mast windjammer as a seaman. This packed in wooden boxes and barrels. Everything freighter wa[...]venteen- Cape Horn, South America was filled with many year-old Sylvia, five-year-old Lois and t[...]ments as terrific storms old Corrine, followed in a 1929 Model A Ford. were encountered and the shi[...]"The most memorable part of our Guard who dressed in fancy regalia and were the journey west was[...]isted of Sylvia request, interceded on his behalf in his discharge preparing sandwiches in the back seat. The odor from his service.[...]of the lunch case still lingers in my memory." In 1906, H.J. worked in Butte, Montana as a Sylvia remembers th[...]e out of the Milwaukee Railroad. H.J. then worked in the Shelby were, "Why did Dad ever decide on Mon- mines near Kellogg, Idaho, moving from there to tana?" Castleford, Idaho, to take up a h[...]930's the hard work of grain married Hilda Littga in 1911 in Paonia, farming, irrigating and making hay, milking Colorado. Sylvia was born in 1912. cows and raising turkeys[...]. asparagus bed in 1930 after saying, "We may be They then spen[...]or only a short time and then we may be threshing in Kansas. Hilda worked in the portable here for a helluva long time." T[...]amily moved to Crivitz, their product to many customers in Valier. Wisconsin. After nine years of clearing l[...]er area by train. He spent Halloween night, 1929, in the Valier Hotel and was witness to the spooks mo[...]Corrine, Lois and Ralph Heyen sacking peas in 1935. In March, 1930, the Heyens shipped from[...] |
| [...]ear, 1942, necessitated the move to Hingham in 1945. Having bought a farm hiring of young American-Japanese internees to there they had just finished payments on the farm work[...]ex- and had built a really beautiful home there in perienced laborers, sixty acres of beets froze th[...]each couple was claimed by death. Fulton in Lois and Corrine rode horseback two and June and Helen in November, five months apart. one-half miles to at[...]help his own kind. planation may be found in one story of how the Davy is a printer and doing well.[...]er. "They snared a gopher and tied wife live in Great Falls, and Betty in Maryland it to the gear shift of the teacher's ca[...]visible from the window by the pencil sharpener. Many pencils were sacrificed that afternoon as admissi[...]father was a freighter who H.J. passed away in 1953. Hilda continues to freighted between Robare and Fort Benton with a reside in the Valier area. Lois Neyenhuis lives in team of oxen. the Valier area. Sylvia Ruehlman lives in He was born in Valier and lived here all his Spokane, Washington and Corrine Rabenau lives in Payette, Idaho. The Herbold Famil[...]wly graduated from the Great Falls Beauty |
| [...]was 78 when he passed away. His funeral was held in the Church of the Little Flower in Browning with Rev. Paul Kingston of- ficiating and burial was in the new cemetery in Browning. Dan was a good friend and liked b[...]The Hofland Family in Iron t of Tom Erick and Sigrid Hofland homesteaded in the Haugen's pool hall. Valier area in the spring of 1912. They with their son, Albert,[...]dren. Five sons and one daughter moved to in 1934. Sigrid moved to Valier to be near her this[...]daughter, Anna Hammer. Sigrid died in 1937. Erick always bragged about his team of[...]at the age of 87. Albert moved to Great Falls, in the entire area. Most people agreed with him.[...]as a familiar sight to see him driving them there. hitched to his top buggy into Valier. If any of[...]and one-quarter mile sou th of Va lier in 1909. He[...]lived in this area for a number of years, but even-[...]died in 1955.[...]Helmer, who lived in the area. Someone directed[...]to just keep walking in that direction and he[...]and lonely road, Martin started whistling in his[...]Martin married Oranchie Burke in 1913. They[...]Kevin, Montana, Donald who died in 1973,[...]Jamestown, California. They moved to Brady in 1935. Oranchie died in 1938 and Martin in[...]Erick and Sigrid Hofland came in the spring of 1912. They homesteaded[...] |
| [...]Julius (Jack). Nine were born in South Dakota and Jack was born in Valier. In February of 1916, Gilbert came to Va lier[...]Valier. There were no buildings, so a tent was our[...]of the children came in July after school was out, The Abbott Lake Ladies Aid in 1918 at Pauline Hrist- as Veda graduated from high school in May. cos. Left to right, back row, Mrs. Squires,[...]rge Minty, Mrs. Adams, When school started in the fall, we attended Mrs. Lowe, Florence Kingsto[...]school in a house that was Gilboes about one and Kurtz, Pau[...]cher, Mildred Hofland, Mrs. Erickson, was built in 1918. It was a long cold walk in the Mrs. Zellar, Mrs. Fisher, Marie Peterson, Mrs[...]d the Baptists and Clara worked on threshing rigs in the area for many years. Jack as separator man and Clara as[...]nity had a large ladies aid. They moved to Valier in 1943 to manage the Randall enlisted in the Army in the fall of Valier Hotel. They retired in Valier. Clara died in 1917, shortly after his seventeenth birthday. We 1958 and Jack in 1972. knitted lo[...]Henneman. They live Money was very scare in those years. Gilbert and[...]his son, Eldon, hauled coal from the Slezak and in Valier.[...]f Va lier to Va lier with four Earl enlisted in the Air Force in January of 1942. He served in the South Pacific. After his discharge in 1945, he returned to Valier and engaged in farming on the reservation. Earl and Anita Schrack were married in Chicago on February 25, 1954. They have two sons,[...]th. They still farm northwest of Valier, but live in Valier. The Gilbert Hofland Family[...]back row, |
| [...]for many years. So there was a lot of improving to[...]In July of 1959, a devastating hailstorm[...]s. For several years Holdens sold and Eva Hofland in 1947. Gregory Eppe, Basil Raines, certified g[...]lian tana Beef Performance Association in 1956, and Kingston, DeRay Jacobson and son, Basil[...]developed performance tested purebred Horned are Roland Hofland, Claude Raines and Kenneth Herefords that have sold in twenty-nine states, Hofland.[...]In 1963, Dean Swank of Valier built a new horses and a sled in the winter to get enough home for the[...]Production Sale in Great Falls. Cooper is a half- When the Montana Bank closed its doors, brother of Les'. In October, 1979, Les and Ethel Gilbert lost his lan[...]e home ranch, and it coal. They moved into Valier in 1934 and Gilbert has drawn buyers from al[...]Mexico. Les has received several number of years. In later years, he worked as a livestock industry honors. In recognition of his night clerk at the Conrad Hote[...]contribution to the Hereford industry he was in- changed hands. He then worked as custodian[...]foot Hotel until it was Hall's Honor Gallery in 1980 at Kansas City, closed. Gilbert Hofland passed away in February Missouri. Ethel was, also, hono[...]her name inscribed on a brass plaque there.[...]of Cascade in 1963 while they were seniors at The Les[...]den, his wife, Ethel, and their two degree in animal science and Marianne in sons, John and Scott, moved to the Valier area education. She then taught one year in Dupuyer. January 1, 1955, as Les and Ethel had pu[...]oining farms from the Valier Distributing in 1966, Jeff in 1967 and the twins, Kelly and Company in October of 1954. They were located Mary in 1975, now live on their own ranch four- nine mile[...]up on the cut-across road. John was then a junior in high Stillwater River. They raise registered Herefords school and Scott in the seventh grade. The and quarter[...]ously lived at Willow Creek tion sale in Billings each April. and Townsend, Montana. They[...]registered Herefords sity with a degree in animal science and a 170 |
| masters degree in agronomy. He and Linda Wenz William T. Holefelder married Antoinette of Plevna were married in December, 1962, Sullivan Brophy in 1936. They moved into Valier while both attended college. John and Linda in 1943 when they sold the Holefelder farm to moved back to Valier in 1965 after he had served Ted Crawford. They had two children, William A. as a lieutenant in the Army at St. Louis, Missouri. and Mary Ann. He died in 1950. In 1966, they purchased the farm known as the Moser[...]75, to Phillip and John and Linda's children are Laura born in Mary Gossard at Blair, Nebraska. She spent the St. Louis in 1964, Jack in 1966, David in 1968, ear1y part of her life in that state. In 1891, she Alexandra in 1969 and Janelle in 1977. was united in marriage to Ulysses M. Holliday. Linda has g[...]Association. She received the "Farm In 1916, they moved to Valier where they Wife of the Month" award in 1976 from the farmed west of town, wh[...]n. She and now. Her husband preceded her in death in John have served as state president of the Pollet[...]rs. Holliday passed away at the Conrad and active in many community programs. Hospital in 1948. Services were held at the Westwind Ran[...]Community Methodist Church. The Valier Chap- sale in the spring held in their sale barn. They, ter Order of Eastern S[...]ross the United with Rev. George A. Cummings in charge of States, Canada and into Chile, South America. graveside services. Interment was in Lake View[...]zie Brophy, came to Montana each summer beginning in 1919. They would arrive by train[...]ad to be Everett Holm came to Valier in 1931 from the validated in Glacier National Park. Walter and Fort Ben[...]. He worked for a while at the Northern each fall in their Reo touring car, taking the Garage a[...]re winding and steep. In 1933, he and Margaret "Marnie" Lucke They finally invested in a farm four and one- were married. They bough[...]d spent the summer Leonard Derr, and spent many hours remodeling there, accompanied by their son, William. They a[...]ment, town After the elder Holefelder's death in 1928, council and school board for many years. He and his son, William, came to Montana t[...]from Elizabeth died the next year while wintering in John Lucke when he retired. Everett died ve[...]suddenly in 1951.[...] |
| [...]ove the old Home Ranch. It absorbed and teacher in the Valier schools. When Va lier blocke[...]'s place to the and served until her retirement in 1970. She was old Sears place. The blocking[...]ree daughters, Judith, Sandra On arrival in Valier, the Holmquist family and Rita, and one[...]ried to Herb Hazen and they live The children, in order of their age were, Robert . in Lewistown where he works for Horning Im-[...]er of Elsa Maria, was born on the farm in 1914. Riverside Floral. He raises show dogs as[...]hildren, except the oldest and the Mark is in the Coast Guard and married an youngest, a[...]ghts School island girl, "Maggie" Terlaje while in Saipan. He on top of the hill, three miles aw[...]Lori married Dennis Mayernik and is living in When World War I involved our country in Lewistown. He works at Buttrey's and she is a[...]the school. They also have a little enlisted in the Navy. Bob went to the Atlantic boy, Aaron.[...]the Pacific zone. Jerry is going to school in Helena. Before enlisting, Bob had worked in the Sandra married Jim Hayes, They live in Cut Golden Rule Store in Valier. Bob made five trips Bank. They have six children. David is a senior at across the Atlantic in convoys and coming back Carroll College in Helena. Suzanne is married to on his sixth, took sick and died in a naval hospital Kenneth Grimm of Cut Bank and has a baby boy, in New York in 1918. His body was shipped back Benjamin. Raymond is going to college in Havre to Valier and lies buried alongside a soldier and Marjie, Julie and Mary Ellen (Molly) are still comrade, Brice Taylor in Lakeview Cemetery. in school in Cut Bank. Gus came back in 1919 after serving a little Terry served in the Air Force for eight years, extra time after the 1918 Armistice. He was in and then went to Reno, Nevada, where he works[...]n into Davey Jones Locker when crossing Juneman in 1964. They have three children, the eq[...]uise to Sou th America. Everett and Kathy still in school and Andrew, two Physically, he never r[...]. died in his early fifties in the Sawtell Veterans Rita married Al Roland, an Oklahoma boy. Hospital in California. They live in Carizzo Springs, Texas where he is in In the meantime, due to the hard times and the Bor[...]family was forced and Daniel. Both go to school there. to give up farming and moved into Valier in the Margaret now lives in Cut Bank. She spends fall of 1918. some time in Texas and Nevada with Rita and Mother Wendla became active in the Terry.[...]hospital during the 1918 flu epidemic. Many The Holmquist family came to the Valier area died and she had to prepare their remains for in 1910 to homestead on Frances Heights. Thei[...] |
| [...]r services were The family has retained many fond memories in demand, especially during threshing season.[...]ght telephone even went back for another stint in 1939, working operator. She was on duty the night[...]for John Lucke, Floyd Smith and John Newell in cut the main telephone cables and robbed the[...]large family are Caesar, Milton and Fred, who Caesar preceeded the family's move to town reside in North Hollywood, California, Burbank, to go to Valier High School. He bunked in the old California and Bellevue, Washington,[...]h as telephone operator and Throughout many years and although so operator of the cream station. He graduated from many old friends have passed on or moved away, high sc[...]he writer has considered Valier as his only "real in the senior play, "Deek and Dubs".[...]ward Hostetter moved to and had a couple of years in the high school Valier in the fall of 1916 with their five children, before[...]s one of the A. (Buzz). One son, Jack, lived in northern formula tors and charter members of the[...]ey lived on a farm just over the city Scout Troop in Valier under the leadership of limits nor[...]ber. Ruth graduated from Normal School in Dillon When he left Valier, he left many school friends, and Eddie graduated from lnte[...]ris. Mable married Ben Parker, both are now These were left in the care of Jack and Virginia deceased. Oliver and Jack are also deceased. Rule. Edward Hostetter, Sr. passed away in 1936 and Lois and Elsa had not finished grade school Maude passed away in 1939. The farm was sold before leaving Valier. after their deaths. In 1922, Father Lewis had gone back to[...]pton of Libby, Fargo, North Dakota to obtain work in his trade. Montana. He passed away in Phoenix, Arizona. Finding none, he went on to the[...]every year at their lake home on Spirit Lake, In August, the rest of the family, except Tage, Idaho and the rest of the year in Spokane or (seven in all), Wendla, Christina, Caesar, Lois traveling. Buzz lives in Valier. and Elsa, climbed into a 1922 Chevrolet touring Many of the family attended the Methodist car, with Mi[...]shipments out to the Pacific Coast. overseas in India.[...] |
| [...]to the who made life rather difficult. There was no United Stated from Holland in 1913. He came plumbing and we carried our water from the Bliss over with the group that settled in the Belgian well, which was only about two[...]d one-half miles south of Valier, just like there was much more snow in those years, one-half mile north of the lower dam[...]was wall of the school was windows and in the 30's we located on the south side of Valier.[...]and then have fit very tight, as the air in the building went back to Holland and brought my[...]see to go home. I think on the average They lived in Valier for a time, and I remember there were about twelve pupils, and the teacher my mother telling how they bought water from a had all eight gr[...]r tank, and they teachers I recall and are still living are Margaret would put it in a barrel by the door. My parents Lucke, Frances Hughes, and Dora King. There spoke no English, so often it was difficult to ma[...]s house to the homestead and By 1934, there were only four children at added two more rooms.[...]r home until home. The oldest three were in different parts of 1928, when a larger house and barn were moved Montana. I married Joe Habets in 1937, and to the home place.[...]d to the Conrad area. My folks and the three In about 1915, a large shelter belt was plant- youngest moved to Eugene, Oregon. ed and there was always a large garden. They Wh[...]erent states with their husbands. At the end In 1916, my Uncle Roman Houben came of[...]rth return to Missoula, where she passed away in of ours. He never married and passed away in 1976. Mary and Leona live in Las Vegas, 1935, the only one of my family buried in the Nevada, Martha in Tucson, Arizona, Josephine· Valier Cemetery. and Joe in Eugene, Oregon. Joe and I spend There were seven children in the family, summers in Montana and go south in the winter. Mary, Anne, Leona, Cecelia, Martha, Josephine My father passed away in 1943. My mother and last but not least, our brother, Joe, who has lived to the age of 87, passing away in 1971. always been "Bud" to the family.[...]ily teacherage. The teacher was also the janitor. In Elmer and Bertie Hotved t came to Valier in one corner stood a huge coal and wood burning[...]es. I still have a After seven years in the original wood frame design on my arm where I touched the jacket one building, built in 1909, Elmer moved the drug time when it was red h[...]just north of the post office. always hot or cold in that building, never just Tom Gibson, as b[...]right. It used to smoke a lot, too. I don't know how remodel the new store and it turned out[...] |
| the Valier Drug and did many extra duties so first worked for the water company and lived in Elmer could take time off now and then. town. Later in 1911, his wife, Jennie, and son, An opportun[...]award. He graduated from Valier were in the area for a while. Hazel married Chris High School in 1974. Ginerich an[...]one son, Stanley (Bud), but Charles was born in 1960 and came with the were later divorced.[...]s graduated from the Shetler and they lived in California. eighth grade in Valier and later played on the Leo was[...]and some milk cows. He later Darin was born in 1966 and was a third remarried a Hazel H[...]Son, Clyde (Bill), stayed with his parents in Bertie was active in the Garden Club, Valier and attended school here. In 1925, he Lutheran Church, Heart Fund chairman and[...]tern Star member. there he was married to Lorraine in Los Angeles. Elmer was active in the ambulance service, Later they were divor[...]d six years on the school board and was In 1938, Arthur Hubbard died with crops in Red Cross chairman for twelve years.[...]ds to be harvested. All the neighbors pitch- There were many hunting and fishing trips ed in to get the work done. Later Jennie had which will[...]1940's, Jen- ing trip, Elmer spotted grouse high in the tree nie traveled back and forth visitin[...]ard Family The Hubbard family has its origins in Vicksburg, Michigan where the family had a 220[...]Arthur Hubbard children. They were Hazel born in 1889, Leo born in 1893 and Clyde Arthur (Bill) born in 1901. Arthur Hubbard came to Valier in 1909 and[...] |
| [...]In 1971, Clyde (Bill) and his wife, Florence,[...]Hazel's son, Stanley, lives in Denver, Colorado[...]from Indiana in 1910. We returned to Indiana in[...]returned to Montana in September 1916, they[...]When we arrived in Valier the only place we[...]Brother Amos started in the dray business,[...]to farming, · Henry and Cassie Hullinger in 1910. probably about 1925. Father worked[...]after Brother Hazel and Bill and their families. In 1951, Jennie Amos went farming. He retired in about 1940. fell and broke her hip and died of complications. My brother died in July, 1941. My parents died in She was 85 years old. Both Jennie and Arthur are 1942. at rest in the Valier Cemetery. My[...]ad from Walt's and one of the Scheel family lived in it and later remodeled the farm house of the Hubbard family. In the 1960's, Leo passed away and left his one-third interest in the farm to brother, Clyde (Bill). Scheels could[...]the lease. When Hazel Hubbard Shetler passed away in 1970, her one- third interest went to her husbnd, Lloyd. Later in Mr. Hullinger with his team. 176 |
| [...]Frank, Sr. settled in Schultz Coulee about[...]named, in the spring of 1889. Lille Hughes died[...]August 8, 1897 and is buried in the Willow[...]e narrow gauge railroad. His The Hullinger family in 1930. Back row, Cassie,[...]s now located. When Robert, is retired, and lives in Portland. Viola[...]pa realized that the railroad had come this lives in Wyoming. The youngest, Amos, Jr., was[...]open prairie, he decided to ship by rail. killed in action in World War II.[...]Frank, Sr. married Callie Stephenson on in Conrad until July, 1942, at which time I went[...]On April 9, 1903, in Great Falls, Frank, Sr. ministration, Portland, O[...]he bar on Tuesday, and was married on Friday, all in the same week. I retired in July, 1964, and my wife and I moved to Missoula,[...]humorous incident, I remember it was 110 degrees in Indiana when we left there and it snowed the first night we got in Valier and we were wearing straw hats and summer clothes in the snow. -Henry Homer Hullinger[...](Frank, Sr.) Hughes came to Montana from Missouri in 1882, and set- H.F. and Mary tled in t_h e Flint Creek Valley near Hall, Montana. Hughes in 1940 He came to Montana because he thought he would find better opportunities and a better life here. In 1885, he and his brother, Jim, went into[...] |
| [...]August 17, 1925. on April 5, 1904. At that point in time they had Frank, Sr. retired in 1929 and Frank, Jr. took moved from Schultz Coule[...]ce and the Clements place, acquired a new partner in his sheep business, H. increasing our farmin[...]for the My most vivid memories as a child are of Marias precinct from 1894 through 1896. He was many runaways where the team of mules or also a Teton County Commissioner from 1908 horses would go in one direction, the wagon box through 1912. Grandma had all of the com- would fly in the air in another direction and my missioners to dinner one day when my father was dad would be caught somewhere in between. about five years old. One of the dishes[...]would be waded across the Marias River if it was in the Lone Tree Comm unity was harvested in the low enough. If the river was too high for the sheep fall of 1906. In 1910, the Hughes family moved to to wade, they would pull wagons across the river the present ranch in the Lone Tree Community, with mules or ho[...]My mother tells a good tale about her ex- in a tent summer and winter until the ranch periences during the bootleg era. In the fall of house, that is still in use today, was completed in 1928, she was helping to cook for the harvest 1916. My father said that they had a stove in the crew at the Obie Harrison ranch. About 10[...]ven though the tem- she started down the road in the old Chevrolet peratures sometimes got down to[...]es car, about one and one-half miles from there, below zero.[...]in 1969. The ranch is still owned by Mother and[...]John Hughes was born in Canton, Meagher County in 1874. John came to the Marias District with his family in 1889. John took up land on the[...] |
| [...]Kalispell-Whitefish area and found work there. In[...]Mamie passed away in 1928, leaving John[...]was just sixteen at the time. John stayed in Valier[...]Frances married John McNamara in 1932.[...]away in 1977 after a long bout with cancer. Frances lives in the family home in Cut Bank.[...]ix grandchildren. John and Mamie Hughes in 1910. Pete married Irene Munden. They also live in[...]They have seven grandchildren. Pete retired In the early 1890's, he mined for gold at the in 1977 from Union Oil after thirty-three years Swee[...]d Irene's brother, Neil Mun- of the first elected in Teton County. den. They had seven children, two of whom died In 1909, John with his brother, Ed, helped in infancy. Neil passed away in 1960. Florence is build the dam at the foot of Lake Frances and now married to Ray Morgan. They live in helped lay the roadbed for the railroad between[...]n, was used to haul grain, stock, June, live in Oxnard, California. Dan and June and supplies to[...], Valier Hotel building and other early buildings in is still working, but plans to retire this comi[...]year. Frances, Florence and Pete are all retired. It was in 1910, that John and Mary Wedelin After[...]Margaret. Later Mamie became Margaret's daughter-in-law and they became close friends. Everyone liked[...], Pete and Dan. Pete and Don Hughes In 1923, because of the hard winter of 1918,[...] |
| It was in 1942, that John returned to Conrad and entered th[...]be amputated. Due to this he was forced to remain in the Conrad Hospital until his death in April, 1948. The Peter Hughes Family |
| In the fall of 1889, Peter moved his family to the M[...]d when he arrived to make his home on the Marias. In 1890, Peter, leaving his family on the ranch, went to Gold Butte in the Sweetgrass Hills. In partnership with Chris Cummings, found a good cla[...]ew years took out forty or fifty thousand dollars in gold . Peter gave up mining in 1894 and returned to the ranch. Peter with the he[...]r and Margaret left the ranch and moved to Valier in 1915. They both hated to leave their old home, but thought it best. They bought a home in the southeast part of Valier. This home was later[...]Daniel Hunter Mrs. Hughes passed away in 1919. Peter followed in 1922. We can remember Peter's beautiful team[...]for hours of the incidents which hap- car in Valier, a Me tz. pened on the trail from Missouri[...]t running and he heirs and at the present time is in the process of didn't appreciate having to cl[...]s ranch. In 1910 Will graduated in Portland, Oregon[...]ey'd live by a lake. She envisioned Portland In 1918, to take advantage of the Carey sc[...]irie and one tree and Lake Frances. The huge born in Scotland, emigrated to Quebec, Canada, ho[...]tasted mighty good in spite of the fresh fish she Of five children[...]iam and Alvin and their dad girls (two born in Mrs. Wooster's Maternity all homesteaded. Dan and Margaret, who was a Home). After living in Great Falls for a time they licensed undertaker, opened a combined fur- moved to Hele na in 1921, where he was elected niture store and funer[...]er Margaret died, til he passed a way in 1942. Dan married Agnes Longemore.[...]to his father for Their business was located in the present the furniture a nd und[...] |
| [...]as many as twenty-four men, baking bread from[...]from rafters in the commissary. There was dried[...]all gone. In the evening she did the dishes and he[...]logs for the Valier sawmill. They lived in one of came to visit her sister Anna and husband Arthur the tarpaper shacks and Vivian cooked in one Erwin, she married Alvin. Arthur ran an elevator and they lived in the other. One night Joe was for many years at Valier. Eugene, their son, goi[...]Indians, cutting firewood, were camped near by in Conrad. They had one daughter, Kay, who[...]appen- dix. They attempted to take him to Conrad in the backseat of the car, on a crib mattress. Unab[...]married Harold Rigg, who had a plumbing business in Valier. They later moved to Shelby and passed away a few years apart. Vivian and daughter, Peggy, in front of Pete's Cafe in Alvin and Lillian had three girls, Vi[...] |
| In 1944 Vivian and her sister Alvina bought Gu[...]ed to a farm be- sold it and Vivian bought a cafe in Shelby. She tween Williams and Manson, lat[...]By this time, the family had become four-my in the Navy. oldest sister, Bernice, having been born in Vivian and John had three girls, Phyllis,[...]moved to Valier, and rented a small house in the Paw Livestock Auction Co.[...]ring those next married to Russ Farrall and lives in Shelby. few months. Dad and Guy Quiggle[...]ed Don Hancock. They farmed the Hi-Line in the spring of 1923 to put in the at Valier for a number of years and now live in crop. They also worked in Shelby helping with Vale, Oregon where they opera[...]The D. F. Hunt Family In 'the fall of 1923, Mother and Dad moved to D[...]-fourth mile south of their married life together in November of 1907. Lloyd Campbell's place in the Wingina Valley, Their first home was a log cabin in the middle of a where we lived for the next tw[...]ears later, My brother Donald was born in Valier in they moved to Kansas City, Missouri. In 1912 1924 and I was born in Conrad in 1926 after Mother and Dad succumbed to the 1ure o[...]Mother often described as a wild night ride land in the West, and they joined many others in in a Model T Ford! My Dad was so excited that he the[...]train for stopped so my mother could go in! Billings, Montana, and there they worked on a ranch until the spring of 1913,[...]asshoppers, and hail, Mother and Dad decided that there had to be a better place to live. During that summer of 1922, Dad worked in Glacier Park, helping with the erection of some of the present park facilities. While there, he heard about Valier and Lake Frances and green[...]decision to move was made and the family arrived in Valier in 1922. Both Mother and Dad worked the harvest[...]on the reser- vation. Mother and Dad were joined in their decision to move from Lothair to Val[...] |
| [...]For many years it was the custom to have a big community picnic in the valley every spring[...]would be there. My most vivid memory is of a[...]Heyen's husband) got hit in the face with a[...]o say, it changed the con- Bernice graduated in 1926 and went to the tour of Ralph's nose[...]. She married George Summers were fun in the community; it was a Orcutt a couple of years[...]and Torn riding Lloyd C. 's year lings, swimming in are Mrs. Robert (Peggy) Boboth of Ledger, and[...]l's to the school house and, of course, now lives in Lincoln, Montana, but still maintains working in our spare time. an apartment in Conrad. The Wi[...]kid to grow up, as I said, but things changed as in 1930 and attended high school in Valier for a the new decade emerged. Donald Hunt year, graduating in the class of 1931. Murel now graduated from Valier High School in 1942, resides in Wenatchee, Washington. In those days, married Edith Brown and enlisted in the Army. it was a big step from a country grade[...], Donald became a plumber and Valier High School. In the case of my sister, followed the construction trade. They had two Sharline, it was accomplished in the right seat of children, Loretta of Denver[...]seemed to her like thousands marriage, lives in Great Falls. Donald died in of miles of riding, Sharline graduated in 1936 Bozeman in April, 1975. and left the valley for Great Falls. She married in Ivan attended grades eight through ten in 1939 and had one daughter, Kathleen Haddad, Valier and then the Hunt family left the farm in who now lives in Seattle. Sharline is now Mrs. 1942 and mov[...], the he was seventeen and then he enlisted in the Leet boys and Jack Eddy, Torn Stokes and Bud[...]been a teacher at Wingina. We had a 4-H club and in spite of since 1952 and at Great Falls High School since what Bud Campbell said recently in "Pucker 1958. Ivan married Janet Smith of Great Falls in Flats", my pig did not look like a goat! Of course, 1953 and their children are Dana, Jeff, Hollie there were the usual school activities. One year a[...]he old song "When You and I were Young in 1954, and Beulah continued to live in Great Maggie" and even though it received "raves"[...]ingstone to bigger stages. Those married in 1957. Beulah is a resident of the Pio- square dan[...]chool were fun things - my neer Nursing Home in Conrad and Guy passed dad, D. F. Hunt, used to be[...]y some time ago. deal of the time. One time in his younger days, Dad had to have his teet[...] |
| [...]f these cattle corn panies, owned by Robare Ranch in the '90s, and raised cattle. My the Conrad brothers, had their camp right there mother went from Fort Ben ton to Helena to make[...]hool, on a stagecoach April cowboys living there to take care of the cattle. 1882. After she was g[...]d tall grass to winter their cattle. Mr. 0. Creek in 1900. There she met rn y father, Joe G. Conrad late[...]s driving Anyway he was instrumental -in starting these stage for Joe Kipp from Blackfoot[...]an from Virginia. they were married May 21, 1903, in Great Falls. They lived on her homestead until Ap[...]e Birch The Jennerjohn family arrived in Montana in Creek from the present bridge on Highway 89. the rnid- l 920s from Missouri and homesteaded in There we located to get our Indian allotrnen ts,[...]seven, when the land was allotted to the Indians in June including four brothers and one sister[...]unknown illness. also have a brother living in Browning. I had a The brothers Ed and Fred ran a garage at sister who passed away in June, 1929. Galata, Montana for[...]their sister, My father, a plantation farmer in Kentucky, Ann, married into the Abrecht family of Cascade, knew how to farm, so that is what he did and Mo[...]Line working for different farmers . parents were in this country before Valier ever The Jennerjohn brothers worked in the Valier was thought of.[...]s below zero. Leech, Stoltzs, and others in the area. There was no city water; all the water had to be Ed often took jobs on contract such as digging hauled in barrels from Lake Frances by horse and pos[...]ort jobs doing the hardest kind of labor, he There were two churches in town, Catholic appreciated the cash paym[...]s of chance more than the security and month- was there, as was the Oakland Hotel down close to the Monkey Western Depot (as it was called in those days). It was a mixed train. It was also ca[...]fteen miles per hour. It left Valier fairly early in the morning, returning about four in the afternoon, if it had good luck. It took three[...]ght it was great. Early day cattle companies in the '80s and '90s had thousands of cattle[...] |
| [...]It was in 1912 that I brought my wife, Emma,[...]This is north of the Marias River. I was born in[...]fat. In 1919, I put in 100 acres of crop, but[...]Work was always available in those days if a long wait for a paycheck from regular farm fellow wanted to work. I did many things in- work. cluding putting up ice. Every business in town Ed was working for Clifford Stoltz in 1954 had an ice house at that time, and b[...]when the rivers didn't freeze, an ice left Valier in the early 60s. He had never stayed house wa[...]etiring, Ed moved to Cascade to live from there. One winter I spent twenty-two days with his wido[...]sed Valier was a whole lot different in 1912. away; he was near eighty. There were five saloons north of the railroad Ed Jennerjohn will be remembered in the tracks, four grocery stores, three[...]community for his interests and idiosyn- in 1918, five lumber yards. The first high school cr[...]ed the winter months playing was built in 1918 and I worked on it. There were games of chance in Valier bars and building fur- also five ba[...]ght from the where the drug store was in 1979, a barber in the Roundup area by Clifford Stoltz. Ed was always hotel , and a barber in one of the saloons. There in attendance at the Uleberg school dances,[...]Falls fair for carpenters wouldn't go out in the country to work, which he had to have $100 sp[...]major interest was berry-picking in town, put it on two wagons and haul it to[...] |
| [...]the first half of the century. It was located for many years in the basement of the Montana State Bank, which was built in 1912. It closed in 1920. Mr. Wickware was the last bank manager.[...]ern Railroad and stayed with them until I retired in 194 7 after twenty-four years, four months and tw[...]gineer around the yard at times. During har- vest there were two runs a day to Conrad, other- Ed Johnson's ranch on Frances Heights. wise there was just one which left Valier at 8:00 a.m. and r[...]son's where they met. They were married in Great passengers and freight. Freight pickup and Falls in 1911. Three daughters, Edna, Esther and delivery[...]veral years. Verna, were born to them. Wages in 1922 after World War I were cut to[...]d again until and moved to Anaheim, California in 1920. Mrs. World War II came along. During the depression, Johnson died in 1921 and Mr. Johnson died in winter layoffs were common. Mr. Atwood was 1953. manager in Valier at that time.[...]ora McCall, roundhouse, which was not truly such. There until her graduation from high school[...]family. All for the smaller one. Tracks were laid in a three girls are currently living in the southern diamond shape for the engine turnaro[...]Hazel Robinson Johnson In 1922, I married Margaret Whipple, In the fall of 1929 Hazel L. Robinson arrived and we lived at the east end of town. She was one in Valier, Montana to teach second grade. With of a[...], only one of several years teaching experience in North whom is still living in Valier, Babe Struss. I have Dakota her last sa[...]month two sons here, Pinky and Bob, two daughters in so the $50. 00 that Valier was offering was very Seattle, Jo and Irene, and a son, John, in Renton. attractive. She taught two years and resigned in John Jennings died in January, 1981. 1931 to marry Mandius C. Johnson in July of that[...]e Edward W. Johnson Family area in 1901 so the newlyweds moved to a ranch Appro[...]lesburg, Illinois and took Dorothy was born in Valier in 1933 and a second a homestead on Frances Heights. At about the daughter, Shirley, was born in Choteau in 1937. same time two sisters, Nora and Mary McCall[...]old out school and Mary to homestead. Nora taught in and bought a home in Valier. They lived in town schools in the Valier area for many years until her one year and then purchased a farm north of town retirement in the 1930's when she moved to from Nic[...]Mandy died in 1950 and Hazel sold the farm Mary's h[...] |
| [...]July Fourth gathering at Frances Heights in 1910. girls graduated from Valier High School.[...]brothers, 188 |
| [...]rom Mrs. Ona Bidwell of Wellman, Iowa. Her father-in-law had homesteaded here and built the house. She[...]death, her children agreed to let us buy the farm in 1968. We have f~ur daughters: Lillian Mathsen, Plainview School in 1924. Left to right are Connie Ep- Fargo, North Dakota; Sylvia Haefer, He[...]ngton; Violet, Mrs. Fred Scott of farm and reside there. We have been blessed with Salem, Oregon;[...]E. Leech of Valier for forty-eight years. He In 1976, we purchased the Kingston home in is now retired. He married Myrtle Nielson Soren- Valier and have resided in town since that time. son in 1935. Myrtle has a son, Erny Sorenson.[...]Reuben married Alta Bliss in 1941. They live in[...]-Mrs. Reuben Johnson Eleven children were in the Herman Johnson |
| [...]Alice married Mike Miller and they live in[...]they live in Great Falls.[...]heir things. He Chris was born in Fosen (Hougesund), Nor- brought a team and wagon load, taking three way in 1891. Magda was born in Fosen days to make the trip. It was in January and was (Hougesund), Norway in 1889. very cold. He stopped one night in Pendroy. The Chris came to the United States in 1910. He people wouldn't ask him to stay in the house, but stayed in Wisconsin for some time before coming he could stay in the barn. He had to stand among to Montan[...]ed to Norway to marry Magda Hanson, then had come in 1915 and wanted to go back to see back[...]During the summer, they were at the summer es and in 1935, he went home for a visit. camp in the foothills northeast of Augusta. Magda, A[...]ier for several years. would catch fish in a near by stream, keeping the John's health began to fail and in 1953, he men well fed. and Agnes' brother, Elvin, built a house in town. Chris and Magda decided to try it on their He passed away in 1954. Agnes continued to live own and rented the farm owned by the Power there until her passing in 1972. Morgan Co., which i[...]on Frances Heights. They lived there until Chris'[...]town where they lived until their deaths, Chris in 1961 and Magda in 1966.[...]Chris and Magda's daughter, Betty, lives in[...]Son, Harold, married Helen J. True in 1946.[...]old Osterman. Christ Johnson at his first home in Valier in 1922. Harold and Helen moved into[...] |
| [...]and fish, and was instrumental in planting pheasants in Pondera County.[...]The Johnson family lived on a farm in the Williams area during the summer, and moved to in town, the same one they lived in when they Valier in the fall so their children, Bud and Helen, were f[...]tend school. work at the Valier Elementary School in 1968. Elsie was a Past Matron of the[...]and took a very active interest in the American Harold and Helen have four chil[...]mistice Day in World War I. She helped to[...]ork train to come into Valier. I believe this was in 1909. The work train probably The C. M Keeler Family brought in supplies for the building of the Swift C. M. Keeler was born in Wisconsin in 1877 Dam and the Valier Land and Water Company.[...]farmed until hearing about the cheap land in Lake Frances, which was stored for use on Montana in 1917. He had met and married Ella, the Great Northern trains in the Great Falls area. who had moved to Steptoe[...]ductor on the passenger train Missouri in 1906. So in November of 1917, C. M. before going to work for[...]s family on a train and put his and Water Company in 1919, where he served as machinery in an emigrant car and came out to water master in the Williams-Manson area for Montana. In those days, if a man rented an im- twenty-four ye[...]was blizzarding and cold. The grain was still in son in the Williams area, during the snowbound the fields in shocks and snow sat all over them. winter· month[...]Red was known as the best "spit ball artist" in harvesting since July.[...] |
| [...]coal for fuel on Birch Creek. In those years, their[...]worked in and around Valier. They both have passed on and are buried there.[...]school at Birchfield, and high school at Va lier. In[...]y ranched. Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Keeler in 1906. They bought a farm four miles north of[...]Valier High School. |
| [...](Butch) and Rober- ta. Bertha preceded Wilmer in death. They are both buried in the Mountain View Cemetery. T[...]ily, Ed and his |
| [...]went to California where he became a captain in The Kessels family was from Kessel in Lim- the Los Angeles Fire Department. He was burg, Holland. We came to America in 1912 and married twice, but had no children . After settled in Shirley, Illinois, with the Eugene Funk r[...]ho were seed corn growers. We came to there in 1973. Valier in 1914 after my father had purchased a Gertrude made her home in California, and farm northeast of town. did considerable traveling in connection with her My father never enjoyed[...]made their home near Wilcox, Arizona. Af- and was in city government in Holland. The move ter the death of her[...]wo of her sisters lived. parents . My mother died in Valier March 18, She died in 1967. 1918 from pneumonia and is buried there. Barney married and lived in Valier for a time. There were eight children in our family, He had one daughter . He[...], Gertrude (Trus), Montana and settled there. He was connected Barney (Bon), Antonia (Toni), Pierre (Pete), Ann with the Indian Service. In 1964, he was hit by a and Henriette (Yetta). Afte[...]h his son, Pete, traveled around hospital in Libby, Montana. Here she married some and finally settled in Newhall, California, Ward (Mike) Shanahan. They had two children. where my father died in 1933. Pete, our favorite Later they moved to Miles City where Mike was brother, stayed in California. He developed employed[...]Land multiple sclerosis, and died of the disease in Bank. He died in 1950. Toni lived on at Miles 1947 at a fairly yo[...]Hardin, Montana. Ward, is a lawyer in Helena and her daughter, They had three sons and[...]Mary, married Bill Haskins, a geologist in Den- in 1960. Dora's second son, Ted, farmed near[...]t sugar Yetta, the youngest in the family, and the one producer for five years o[...]iving this history, became a school is now living in Billings, Montana. teacher. She taught school in Montana Ray was in World War I, and after the war he Wyomin[...]Richan in 1932, whose work with the United[...]Texas in 1948, and still make their home there. They are retired. They lost one son and had no[...]family attended in Valier. -Yetta K. Richan[...]Carlton H. Kester was born in Fairbault I[...]Kester, was born May 25, 1887 at Park On the left are Toni, Ann and Yetta at Leisure World River,[...]of Frank and Seal Beach, California. On the right are Fred and Ye/. Julia Hughes. She grew up there and on May 23, ta Kessels Richan in front of their home in San Marcos 1907, she married Car1ton Kester there. Texas. ' In 1909, my father brought his wife and baby 194 |
| [...]support many churches. However, their efforts[...]While my father was involved in the business[...]My father's two sisters joined the family in[...]managed a small hotel in Valier. I think it was[...]Speir started the first library, so she said, in[...]a very excellent men's glee club. their "Winton" in 1928. The V[...]established way. the First National Bank in a small frame building The Withee's p[...]ilding, later I discoverd that my father-in-law went to which is now the post office. His mother-in-law school with Abner Withee in LaCrosse. Does and father-in-law, Julia and Frank Hughes, anyone[...]e when it was converted to a two story restaurant in the block north of the Valier Hotel. buildi[...]One thing Valier was unique in having so Dupuyer Avenue and the Kester home is now oc- many college men at a time when a college cupied by a[...]nce, but if you add doctors, dentists, only house in Valier to be occupied by members pharma[...]y educated of the same family, since it was built in 1909- Goff men, you have a most interest[...]ng I remember was on a or second child to be born in Va lier. This am- different level. After[...]s from a slight difference of opinion ladies how to play auction, when everyone else among friends[...]preciation was also high thanks to Bob was active in promoting the first Protestant Speir and my mother and all those talented Church . Many of the men wanted this to be non- people[...]Charlton, Fred Palin, John Newell, all those in-[...] |
| [...]cal music Living children of the Kesters are Helen and semi-classical music while the rest of Mon- Hammer, in Valier, Betty Bacon in Stanford, tana was singing "A Bicycle Built For Two". California and Catherine Kalsgod t in Missoula. The Stanford house (now Marsh) fascinated Carlton Kester died in Phoenix, Arizona, while me as a child. Elsie Stan[...]room and let me touch all the mar- died in Missoula on October 12, 1980. They are velous porcelain animals and figurines she had in both buried in Great Falls. a cabinet, a very marvelous gold and glass affair. There are twelve grandchildren, eighteen I was delighted to see that same cabinet in great grandchildren and one great-grea[...]-Betty Bacon, Daughter see Jim, Jr. and his wife. There in the old house were all the things I recognized fr[...]Family illustrious linage until I read about them in the Jesse C. and Vivian Kibbee moved t[...]heir elevator. They Father was a stockholder in the Valier Bank came from Havre, Montana wh[...]him, used Valier High School. to be sitting in the bank talking to my father when Mr. Kibbee retired from Cargill in 1971. I would wander in, and I loved to sit there and They now spend the winter months in Palo Verde, listen to him tell stories about the[...]hat he got! His wife and my grand- home in Alberton, Montana, where they are both mother were ardent members of the W.C.T.U. teachers in the school system. One time my father asked[...]only one with available whisky their home in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Pete is a in those dry days. While the men were sitting and[...]and they have two children. Their home is in rocking and singing, "There's danger in the Tracy and Jesse teaches at Centerv[...]in Valier where Cliff is the road foreman of the[...]Valier High School. Their children are Madelyn who is married to Terry Whitley, who is in the Air Force. They now make their home in Panama[...]Jill. David is in the Seabees and is stationed in[...]have one son, The Kester and Hughes Homes in Valier. Michael David. Car la is[...] |
| [...]es president of Security Bank. and now live in Spokane, Washington. Louis is at- Ruth is now living in Valier in her parent's tending Helena Vo-Tech to become an[...]he King Family Karl Kilian came to Wisconsin in 1908 from Our mother, Mabel Francis Rowl[...]bout the project being with her family in a covered wagon from opened in Montana and was one of the fellows Crawford, Nebraska to Lacombe, Alberta in that came with Peter Valier in 1909. He landed Canada. Later they came to Montana and filed on in Valier with twenty-five cents in his pocket and a homestead south of Pendroy. Here she met and slept in a tent that first winter in the empty lot married Harry King, who had migra[...]towe, Eng land. To this union seven children In 1912, he homesteaded northwest of Valier were[...]y and board. The family came to Vali~r in March of 1929. That was the going rate. He met an[...]Alma married Frank Nader. She died in around Dupuyer and they were married in 1919. 1951. They moved her shack down to h[...]ne daughter, Ruth Marie, was old, passed away in 1949. Two sons, John and born in Valier at Mrs. Wooster's. She attended Charles, are presently farming the home place. school at Birch[...]n. They have two raised turkeys for extra income. In the l 930's children, Richard and Chandra. s[...]they bought it and moved to that to Valier in 1949, where they owned and place where the house[...]hter, Kenadean, and two sons, Brian sell, who was in the service. They had two daughters, Linda Marie[...], Wiscon- sin and graduated with a masters degree in food research. She is married to Glen C. Fischer and they live in Rothbury, Michigan, where they have a nursery and[...]elen Jane received a scholarship from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and is a physical therapist at a nursing home in Billings. She married David W. Jorgenson and they[...]s vice Mable and Gordon King in 1926.[...] |
| Harry and Mae King and family in 1923. Back row, Harry, Dora and Edna. Front row,[...]rry (dad). and Sean. Charley Donovan passed away in 1970. 198 |
| eventually joining his oldest brother, Joe, in his ships in the Atlantic throughout the war. He was quest for[...]ures, both worked on the original ishes. In 1945, he married Mary LeCa use in Swift Dam, hauling building materials by wagon[...]ip. six children. Fred retired from the Navy in 1960 In 191 7, the brothers established the Kingston and lived with his family in Brooklyn until moving coal mine on Birch Creek north of Va lier. to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1971 . He passed Striving to be a most patri[...]away on November 11, 1972. Fred joined the Army in 1918, and became a Tom graduated from Valier High School in citizen of the United States on December 19 of 1941, and in June, 1942, he entered the Navy, that year, while[...]mp Lewis. serving as chief sonarman in the Aleutian Islands It was inevitable that[...]and the South Pacific areas. He enrolled in the sister-in-law's sprightly sister, the lovely Lucille, University of Minnesota in 1946, receiving his and on August 31, 1919, the two were wed, set- degree in electrical engineering in 1950. In June tling on a homestead seven and one-quarter m[...]cille Miller, with their four children, reside in Minneapolis was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Kansas and Innsbruck until recently, when[...]g Geiger place. The buildings and premises there with family living quarters upstairs. The[...]three-year-old daughter, Floren- interested in horticulture, and he now had the ce, had arrived for an extended visit in 1917. time and facilities to maintain an[...]moved the home they had beautiful yard. In 1965, due to failing health, built on the origina[...]they sold the lake property and bought a home in location seven and one-half miles north of Valier, Conrad where they lived until Lucille's death on and there they remained until 1957, when the Chr[...]ere he remained until his death on April 13, In the early days, Fred and Lucille were a 1974. dashing couple in their shiny black Starr touring car, with its vib[...]the entire For us it all beg an in Eng land where, on neighborhood, often being used[...]ital Chambers Kingston welcomed young Joseph in Conrad.[...]t that he one time accidently entered high school in Collier, Kansas; she re- dumped the baby,[...]tried to make year, and spent the final two years in Collier with every effort to see that his thr[...]two her grandmother Miller. She attended college in brothers were effectively guided in the ways of Hayes, Kansas, and then married Ernest Martin the world. When Joe was in his teens, he was on March 5, 1935. Florence and Ernest reside in apprenticed to his uncle Bob, and it was in his Denver, Colorado.[...]fter attending Valier High School, Fred, Jr., in engineering that would serve him well joined the Navy and was in the Pacific when the throughout his life.[...]tacked Pear 1 Harbor. A chief In June, 1910, Joe bade his family adieu to radioman[...]ved on communication seek his fortune in the New World. With his[...] |
| Kingston Coal Mine in 1922. friend, Tom Davis, he landed in Quebec and and in January, 1917, the mine was purchased |
| their home. In the beginning, they were housed in In 1916, the Christensen's young widowed one large b[...]ther to Valier. kitchen with an iron hand. Paddy, in his flour Lillian found the red-headed, moustachioed Joe sack apron, would tap on the horseshoe in the highly amuzing and would retire to[...]use for a meal's first call. Then five in fits of giggles on his sudden, frequent trips to[...]btain their marriage li- by Paul, what Pat lacked in melody, he more than cense at the then county seat, Choteau. They were compensated for in volume. married on November eleventh, 1916 in the par- Joe's brother, Edward, affectionat[...]house on the close of World War I, having served in the British hill" which Joe had built for his bride. armed forces there. He stayed at the mine until Joe had purchased his first automobile in his death in 1944. 1917 t[...]we looked forward with the birth. Before many years had passed, three glee to their monthly tri[...]to Abbott Lake School; among the teachers there find a large paper sack filled with candy bars[...]ofland. Paul entered Valier delving into the bag. There was always enough High School in 1925, riding his horse, "Chalk candy to keep us q[...]Valier, stopping enroute for supper with Montana in a boxcar with his livestock in 1909, Ralph and Eva Bowman, who were residing in the and shared the barn with the cattle while[...]homestead house, "Dad" and "Bop- building a home in anticipation of the arrival of pie" having purchased a neighborhood store in "Boppie". A bricklayer by trade, he designed a Great Falls. The children were fascinated by house in a southern style, using stone siding for th[...]ing water! Joe insulation, with kitchen and study in the had built a small indoor additi[...]ding onto a veranda. Monarch range for many years to come. Thanks to Originally from Kansas C[...]their valiant effort to bring some In those days, pregnancies were not openly be[...] |
| [...]uling coal for residents, school, showhouse, etc. in Valier in 1924. noon. Lillian was attended by "Boppie" and[...]oved to the somehow managed to grow in the parched earth. 202 |
| Valier. Evelyn and Paul Johnson farm near In 1939, Frank worked as a ditch rider until Chester[...]ied Robert Arnst and resided his retirement in 1962. He operated a small grain on their place we[...]His family resided on Birch Creek until the in Great Falls.[...]into the fold. The thirty-one surviving cook in the Valier Elementary School 1unchroom reside throughout the United States, in England in 1956 and resigned in 1959. and Morocco. There are several great grand- Frank and Dor[...]dren, and one great-great grandchild. in Valier and operated it until 1960. She re- Jo[...]turned as a cook to the Valier Elementary School in 18, 1966. In addition to our father and our 1961 and officially retired in 1971. beloved baby sister, other deceased members of Frank and Dorrie lived in the town of Valier the family are Uncle Fred and Aunt Lucille, from 1950[...]ey were the cousin Fred, and two special brothers-in-law, parents of four sons, Dick, born Aug[...]gust birthday on November thirteenth, still lives in the 12, 1937. family home in Valier with Helen and Jacob, surrounded by love f[...]Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kunkel met in Dupuyer. Frank and Dorothy (Dorrie) Kuka He was a barber in Dupuyer, and later Deputy Frank Kuka was born[...]therford and Joe Kuka. He was the born in Dupuyer. eldest of six children. He attended schools in the In 1909, Mr. Kunkel decided to go farming Birch Creek area. Frank enlisted in the Marine and he acquired 640 acres of land near what is Corp, and served in China with Mike Mansfield, known as the Ku[...]nty commissioner for Pondera County teenth, 1906, in Madelia, Minnesota, to Verna four years. In 1927, they moved to California for Keep and Josep[...]f Dupuyer. After their marriage, Frank worked in Butte's mines. In 1931, Frank was hired by the Bureau of Indian Aff[...]and Dorrie lived at the Flume on Blacktail Creek. In 1934, the government gave the water project to th[...]ived at the Badger Fisher Project until 1934. In 1935, the government assumed control of the proje[...]gency where Frank Harry Kunkel worked in the commissary.[...] |
| [...]years, leaving office in January, 1935.[...]and Mrs. Kunkel moved there. He had graduated[...]American Pipe and Construction Company in Los Angeles. He retired from there a few years ago. He met his wife, Helen, in Watsonville, where[...]they are still living. -Mrs. Ernest Reinelt The Kunkel family in Los Angeles.[...]Harry Lamma were married Oc- |
| [...]t two years of Jacob (Jake) Lauffer was born in Glattfedden, hard labor building an irrigation[...]17, 1861 and came to Creek to their land. There was no school in the the United States by sailboat with his parent[...]ad fifty-two days to complete. The family settled in twenty-five pupils. The building still stands[...]ent to the same spot. Washington and in 1892, decided Montana In 1876, when Jake was a boy of fifteen, he sounded[...]came to Leavenworth, Kansas and had gone there to buy Kootenai Falls in Idaho and had to cross to the horses and pr[...]ed a beautiful well-broke railroad had been built in 1891) who told him bay mare and as his fa[...]of ice, so he crept gingerly to the door. In answer couragement, Jake headed across. As he was[...]side he looked up and saw a see the General, in a few minutes the General train approaching. He s[...]raight arrived and strode out on the icy porch in his up on end and he never sweat so hard in his life, heavy boots, his feet flew out from[...]a mighty roar and a wave of When he arrived in Kalispell it was a great his arms, he ordere[...]cks and The frightened boy wasted no time in leaving and no work to be had. He stayed in the Flathead Valley for two years and helped with[...]ed for Dupuyer where he knew a man who lived near there. He spent the winter building log cabins and in the spring he went to work for Gene Leech, who wa[...]f sheep near Dupuyer. Jake had never herded sheep in his life, but one day one of the herders failed t[...]ed to herd the band. He was given instructions on how to talk to the dog and assured he would have no d[...]ok three days to complete. Jake homesteaded in 1895. He broke fifteen acres and seeded wh[...] |
| [...]Jake homesteaded twelve miles west of Valier. In 1896, he took out his naturalization papers at Ch[...]ria, Germany. Fanny was born on February 19, 1876 in Gundelfingin, Germany. She moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1900. In 1901, she came to Dupuyer, Montana. They had fou[...]), Nona Lauffer, Jen Lauffer, Alma who was born in 1903 and died in 1909. Francis[...]n, Judy Lauffer and Marilyn Carl was born in 1913 and died in 1958. He Fabian. had two children, Richard, who was born in 1936 and died in 1969 and Jackie who now lives in 1965 and Janice, who was born June 23,[...]9 and Alma was born April 19, 1909 and lives in lives in Helena, Montana. She married Leland Helena, Monta[...]children, Candi, born July 1944. They both live in Helena. Alma is retired 5, 1966, Kristy, bo[...]also Stephen born January 20, 1976. worked many years as secretary for Frank Murray Ernest (Butch) Lauffer was born on March 27, in the State Department.[...]family farm and ranch until his death father in the flood of June, 1964. He is in the in 1964. Before he got into ranching, Ernie[...]1967 he ran 1000 head of sheep. He sold the sheep in and Hallie, who was born March 11, 1971. 1951 and went into the cattle business with Mac Angell. In 1960, Ernie went into the Black Angus cattle busmess. He had an interest in the The E. E. (Gene) Leech Family[...]and was very Indiana Business Institute in September, 1883, at active in square and round dancing. the a[...]an uncle, Oliver Goldsmith 6, 1936. Jen was born in Lakota, North Dakota. Cooper, on his ranch west of Dupuyer. Gene went She came to Valier in 1934 to begin teaching in back to Indiana five years later to marry[...]sweetheart of business school years. teaching in 1970. She now lives at the Horizon He later purchased the Cooper Ranch and at Lodge in Conrad. one[...], 1940. She is married to Jim of Montana in 1894. Larkin and resides in Havre, Montana. They have He and his wife had two children, Arbie two daughters, Patti Ann, born in November, Eugene, born in 1890 and Florence born in 206 |
| 1892. They both attended grade school in 1930, Gene and Arbie lost their ranch near Dupuyer and high school in Choteau and both Dupuyer, when they lost a large herd of cattle graduated from the University in Missoula. while trying to winter them[...]s named after a brother of his some brought in by wagon from the Dakotas and mother's, who was a[...]asily by At this difficult time in their lives both Gene chaning the final "a" to "i[...]think he was called by his initials "R.B.". Later in in Canada and in California, and sold them to the life he bewailed[...]Dupuyer and acres and stayed with him for many years. Arbie lived with Mary and Gene until the e[...]ce Leech, his sister Gene Leech died in an automobile accident was enrolled at the university when her parents in California (where he was buying horses) in moved to Valier, so she spent part of her vacation 1932. His widow then came back to Valier and in Valier. She was a diligent worker in the cam- lived with Ethel and Arbie until,[...]in elected to Congress, broken hip, she died in the Conrad hospital in and also in the Women's Suffrage Movement. She 1939.[...]spent her adult years Jane Leech lived in Valier with her parents on the east coast.[...]until after graduating from Valier High School in The first marriage license to be issued in 1937, when she entered the University of P[...]and Washington. She married Sid Anderson in 1941 Captain Frederick James Murray on May 29, and they returned to Valier for a year in 1946 af- 1919. A newspaper report on the event st[...]Masonic Lodge and received his fifty-year pin in In the spring of 1919, Ethel and Arbie moved Great Falls before his death. Ethel and Arbie to Valier. In February of the year their only child kept their home in Valier until 1970 but spent was born in Missoula, a sickly daughter, Jane, much time in Great Falls due to illness. Ethel died who weighed less at three months than at birth. in Great Falls in 1969 and Ar bie moved to Walla This was the resul[...]baby were ill. The family moved died in 1976. temporarily into the Valier Hotel with high[...]when the doctor said The Arbie Leechs lived in the Dr. Powell that my mother, Eunice, n[...]s the opportunity for this dream Colonel Stanford in which they spent the rest of to be realized. their life in Va lier. We l[...]1929 or and their seven children left in August 1929 and[...] |
| [...]on August 15 on the Montana State University in Bozeman. They have three Western. My dad rented a[...]ght a farm from the Valier Land and Water Company in the Wingina community east of Valier. This was his home until Richard (Dick) Leet he sold it in 1969 and moved to the Pioneer Richard and Minnie Ethel came to Valier in Home in Conrad. He died in August 1971. My the spring of 1940. Amon[...]erated the Trail Cafe and Minnie She was preceded in death by our youngest sister had a dress shop in Valier, "Leet's Apparel." Dorothy Nell who died in 1931 at the age of three They have two boys, Di[...]f years. Min live in Yuma, Arizona, where they moved to Those Dep[...]val from Conrad where they had operated another in the Valier area were hard as they were for cafe. Minnie Ethel died in 1980. everybody, but we survived. We all attended and Charles lives in Arvada, Colorado with his graduated from Valier H[...]f us attended college, four of think he lives in northern Washington, and last I whom finished.[...]his wife have three sons. tana and taught school in Montana for five years. -Lucy Skemp She married Kenneth Skemp in 1944 and moved to a Chicago suburb, where they li[...]Oliver Lightner retired from teaching in June, 1980. They have The Oliver Lightner family came to Valier in three children and one grandchild.[...]ily came by graduated from Bethel Women's College in Ken- passenger car to Conrad. Logan Moore met us in tucky and taught the Williams school in the late Conrad. We thought we were coming to "no mans 30s and early 40s. She and Harry live in McLean, land'', it was so dry and windy. Virgi[...]Parr engine to break ground ford, Montana, lives in Park City, Montana. He is and seed flax. It was so dry though there wasn't a in construction work. He attended Northern Mon- crop. Dad bought another homestead with a tana College in Havre. They have five daughters larger house[...]hts. Our only way of travel was horse and College in Havre and taught for many years in buggy or horseback. Valier and Conrad. He n[...]Crops were very poor for two years in a row, passed away in June, 1975. and in 1920 we finally had a good crop. We Jane mar[...]acquired more land and livestock and they farmed in the Dupuyer community. They soon got a t[...]We finally had have retired from farming and live in Spokane, 2500 acres to raise hay and to farm[...]Oliver got a job on the section in the winters Jack and his wife, the former Wanda Cronk for three or four years and bulldozing roads in the (Hamaker) of Valier, live in Edmond, summer after the crops were in until he had to Washington, where Jack is a consu[...]neighbors were the Frank after attending college in Havre and Montana Fulmers and Jack[...] |
| [...]Edith married in 1922 to Stanley Russell and[...]Loren married Rachel Christiaens in 1929 and bought a farm and live in Conrad. Lloyd married Wanda Raines in 1927 and[...]Olive married Clarence Salois and lived in[...]. lightner family's first home at Frances Heights in 1918. Our mother, Ada, was burned in an ex- plosion in the home and passed away within[...]ears. After a few Pendroy. They would leave early in the morning years they both had poor[...]ter dark. They usually hauled to house in Hot Springs. This was where Dad passed Valier but[...]-Edith Russell haul wherever there was room. We milked cows and hauled cream to[...]ah Lonnevik Our parents bought a small house in Valier Henry Lonnevik was born in Iola, Wisconsin, and we moved into town where Lor[...]. Henry started high school. Lloyd and Olive were in left Wisconsin at age twenty-one, a[...]ls Lake, North Dakota to help his uncle, Tom In the spring Mom and Dad would move out Lonnevik, on the farm. Lured by the promise of and put in the crop with horses and the children the free, lush land in Montana, and the possibility stayed in until school was out; they they moved of an irrigation project being constructed in the out, too.[...]en to come west. They arrived by train in Valier, Johnson place. "We were in -our Model A Ford, March of 1910. Th[...]s Dupuyer Creek rather than go pany in Valier. around through Dupuyer. It had snowed and[...]er of 1910 Henry went to work on rained (this was in July). We got stuck and both of the Kingsb[...]for those days. Dad told me to tioned many times of sitting on a horse-drawn drive and he go[...]yone on the farms and ranches, we grew in abundance everywhere. There were had a privy out back. Dad always spent some several other mowing machines engaged in this time when he made his visit. Brother Loren[...]something having to replace the tongue in his machine about this. He started yelling "Fire,[...]They came out· like a flash, got all tangled up in his would run into old fence post[...] |
| [...]homesteaders usually built their house in the cor- Sullivan Bridge; his team was the first[...]of their allotted 160 acres. Al Glore, Lena In 1911 Henry took up a homestead fourteen Be[...]to hand dig a water well. Sitting face to face in the "locator", who was Jimmy Shelton from[...]Herds of antelope grazing was a common Brothers." In a few years Ted left the homestead sight. Henry told how you could lie down, wave a and moved to Valier, w[...]would come right up to you. They are a very Sarah Mitchell Lonnevik was born in curious animal. They were a means o[...]Havre when Sarah was a year old. The family lived in Havre six years, and then located in Great Falls. Due to the mother's ill health, Sarah and her two younger sisters were placed in Saint Joseph's Orphanage in Helena. Here Sarah lived until age sixteen. She then went to live with an aunt and uncle in Moore, Montana. At age eighteen Sarah joined her[...]l (better known as Jigaroo). She arrived by train in Valier; her father was cooking for the Valier Land and Water Company. Sarah and her father lived in a cabin in Schultz Coulee. Henry met Sarah and they were married February 25, 1915 in Shelby. Horse and buggy was their means of transp[...]oked the wedding supper for friends and neighbors in the little two-room homestead shack. Henry and Sarah lived in the Valier community many years, moving to the Conrad area in 1957. The children of Henry and Sarah Lonnevik are Hazel and Robert, both born in Valier, and Edwin and Jane, who were born in Conrad. Robert was born in Lena Berger's house in Valier; his bassinet was a dresser drawer from Le[...]ndly and Henry and Sarah Lonnevik married in Shelby helpful to their neighbors. Their m[...] |
| [...]in the Va lier, Montana area.[...]away December 13, 1978. Henry Lonnevik and father-in-law, Jigaroo returning to the homestead from usua[...]The Lohse Family There were many happy days during the Both Ora and Connie were born and raised in homesteading. The dancing in the kitchens, and North Dakota, Ora in Mahal and Connie in Fargo. in the little country schools. Henry provided[...]unger he studied mostly aircraft welding. In 1937 he at- brother, Oscar, accompanied him on th[...]r a banjo, or guitar. Oscar could play any string in- course in aircraft mechanics. strument. Henry and Sarah wer[...]olka, John Deere Company as a field engineer in the or sometimes referred to as the hop-waltz.[...]department on combines. Money was scarce and many times the In World War II, Ora enlisted in the Air Force Christmas tree was a cotton wood fr[...]with strings of war years training Navy cadets in Helena, Mon- popcorn, paper chains, and a few can[...]were watched closely because of fire. In 1946 the Valier Community Club asked Henry would make many of the toys for Christ- Ora to become a f[...]s, doll cupboards, and different toys Airport. There were a number of returned with wheels for his chi[...]ed, usually a Thanksgiving dinner, which was held in the schoolhouse. Cards would be played in the afternoon. The men would return home to do th[...]ses and wagon. The children had walked to school. In the afternoon a terrible blizzard approached the[...]children. The neighbor ''Fly in" at Valier in 1960.[...] |
| Training Program. In 1948, Ora began the first who is now in Helena working for his Flight In- crop spraying by air and has since gone into[...]viation work such as tor's degree in environmental science, and Tim pioneering in weather modification by making Brophy[...]k with the generators. the solutions to be burned in them. In the summer Ora's most recent interest in developing aids of 1960 and 1961 an experimental program in to grain ranchers was not in aviation but in grain hail suppression was carried out in the Valier cleaning. He has put togethe[...]he generators under the wings of that are lightweight and portable. Each year Ora three pow[...]ate barley from the wheat. The harm to the grain. Many ranchers were pleased cleaned grain is[...]teacher of English and Colorado State University in Fort Collins by the drama coach for three[...]griculture scientists and at spend a year in New York City working a slum the South Dakota Sch[...]h Dakota. This appealed to her. While in New York, Connie testing was financed by the Nati[...]ed at the New York Lighthouse for the Foundation. In Rapid City, Ora came to know Blind. She then spent a year in Two Rivers, well some of the top knowledgeable scientists in Wisconsin, in recreational work until the great the world.[...]put she was principal of a high school in the western through flight training and sponsored[...]r a time; Rick Geiger, Company, Ora was in the same town working for Pict[...] |
| [...]Ford Garage in Kremlin. After a few years of drought and grasshoppers there, the business[...]Valier so they spent their first winter in Valier in the Weismantle apartments. In the spring, they[...]death in 1965. It is now owned by Mike Sirok- G[...]ohn Newell bought the an uncle. They were married in Wolf Point in garage from Power Wilson in 1922. 1935. When they came to Valier after the wa[...]and then as a teacher of English. She con- but in his later years preferred watching them and tinue[...]. spent many hours doing that. We were both happy that Or[...]Margaret enjoyed raising flowers and a gar- in Helena during the war as we grew to know and[...]who really liked Mon- love Montana while we lived there. We deter- tana's wind and missed it when she was away mined to remain in Montana and we find Valier a from it. fine[...]John died very suddenly in March 1950 at[...]long illness in 1965. The Lucke Family[...]uist, a local boy who came to Valier from Kremlin in the fall of 1920. was just out of the Navy after serving in World John was born in Denmark and came to the War I. They lived in Anaconda for a while and United States with his p[...]nia. They had two sons, years old. They pioneered in North Dakota before John and David. John and[...]te. His father was a member of the still live in California. David was accidentally first state legislature there. John and a younger killed. Gus died in 1950 and Ruth in 1972. brother helped survey the first county line[...]boy. They farmed near Valier until his death in Ireland to be with her brother and family. She[...]a to work, and she and John da. Grace died in 1971. were married there in 1898. Margaret and Everett Holm were married in In 1910 John and his family, his parents, and 1933. He died in 1951. They have three a sister, homesteaded in Montana near the Milk daughters, Judith, S[...]rls Mary married Mervin Chausse in 1932. They finished "proving up" on the homestead[...]ns. Mary died in 1970.[...] |
| [...]Norbert and Ina (Brophy) had met in Conrad James Mains came to Valier in 1915 to visit where both had taught in the high school. He two brothers and see the new country. He liked joined the extension service in 1943 and served what he saw well enough to return to Wisconsin as agent in Sidney, served in the Navy, and then and sell the farm and most of the livestock. The was an agent in Chinook before coming to Valier, spring of 1916 s[...]amily, wife Fannie, where they had been married in 1941. Two sons, sons Ernest, Roy and Cleo, and da[...]nk far~ they built a new home north and east In 1924 he gave up farming and turned it of Valier in 1955. Two daughters, Marjean and over to his sons[...], with an engineering Mrs. Mains passed away in 1927, James in degree from Gonzaga University, has been em- 1945. One son, Ernest, died while in the Armed ployed by Boeing in the Seattle area. He has two Forces in 1918. children, David and Jenny. Larry lives in Helena Roy and the former Eunice Malone were[...]wife Jan and two daughters Jill and Julie united in marriage in Oregon, and returned to and is an administrator in the Department of Valier where he was engaged in farming. He Justice. He has a degree in business from Carroll later worked at various thi[...]They moved to the east shore College, farms in the Valier area. He is married to of Flathead Lake and now reside in Anaconda. Mary Nelson, a former Valier mus[...]Winifred passed have a son, Doug las. away in 1927. John, who has a degree in mathematics from Jim lives in Arizona and has three children Montana State U[...]home farm after teaching two years in Roundup. Laura (Mrs. Floyd Johnston) lives in Anacon- Marjean attended St. Patrick's School o[...]. They have five children, three daughters and in Missoula and is a registered nurse at Sacred two[...]Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon, and is also Cleo is married[...]nsin he farmed and received her degree in business finance from worked for the county. In Sparta, Wisconsin, he Montana State University in 1980. worked for Pet Milk Company. They are now retired and live in Greenwood, Wisconsin. They[...]l, Wisconsin. Pete and Martha arrived in the Valier area in Carol and Harold Henneman were united in 1917, at which time Pete cooked for a short[...], and Mrs. Dean Pete opened a lunch counter in McCormick's Pool (Barbara) Swank, seven grandchil[...]The Valerian Building was now (and for many Norbert Majerus[...]ank closed its doors and the building Valier area in 1948, farming for Vernon Steiner was s[...] |
| [...]lerian to another problem with someone in the pool hall next door building across the stree[...]meone coming comoda te a business to remain below in the into the cafe and asking Mother wh[...]and a daughter, Dolores (better known as "Tiny"). In 1928 they Lyle and Veta Mars[...]ce, Agnes Olson. Valier in 1952 after purchasing the Sandwich In 1932 the Marcus family moved to Ft. Ben- Sh[...]alier Post Office on the to again make their home in Valier, and Fred retirement of Tom Durnell and in 1955 received Arnst ran the theatre for Pete, and[...]held until his retirement in 1977. In 1945 Pete and Martha sold Pete's Cafe In 1955, Veta and her good friend, Hazel and in 1948 they sold the Capitol Theatre. They Bonnet, perceived the need for a newspaper in moved to California that year where Tiny lived. Valier, so with approximately $15.00 in cash, a Later Jig gs moved to the same area. Pete[...]partially broken down mimeograph and much away in 1952, and Martha is living with Tiny at optimism, began publication of "The Spray of the the beach in Venice, California. Lake" o[...]ccessful editors, the present ones to stand guard in Pete's Cafe as a bouncer when being Joan and Norman Ballantyne. there was a rodeo in town. The cowboys would The Marshs[...]he tables and dance and really who lives in Kalispell with her husband, Walter P. raise "hell[...]d also. Lyle and Veta, in their retirement, continue Another time when I was selling tickets at the to live in Va lier. Their thinking is that it is theatre on[...]probably one of the most desirable places in the packed with people, Colonel Weisman came to[...]sidents and that it is ance. Colonel was dressed in only "long johns", probably more economical[...]The Roy Matthaes Family There was also the time my father had put a In 1917, the August Westerhaus family new concrete sidewalk in front of the Capitol moved from Maryland[...]came to town, and Dad had to hire thaes in 1934. He had come from New York. guards or bounce[...]mother will never forget the time Charlie In 1936, Roy began work for the Montana Wellington came running into the kitchen of Power Company. In 1945, they were transferred[...] |
| [...], Lois, a graduate of working at that time in the livery stable and Columbus High School marrie[...]ried June 18, 1912. Mom and Tom served five years in the Navy. After his Dad lived in the Valier and Dupuyer areas until discharge, he[...]ier to run a service they sold their ranch in 1946. They spent some station for several years.[...]After that time, he was manager for the Pon- in 1952. Dad worked for an electrical company dera C[...]our children. maintained their home there until after Dad's Ruth, the second child, a 1946 graduate of death. Presently Mother is in a convalescent Valier High School, worked in Valier for several home there. years, then moved to Shelby, where she married[...]John Vernon, who is Walter Hayes, who had served in the Air Corps residing in Reno. He is retired from radio an- during the Korean War. He passed away in 1978. nouncing, advertising and other adver[...]s a teacher Valier High School, served four years in the Ar- in the Reno school system. Vern has one my. He then[...]I am married to Bob McDonald, who is an in- and live in Missoula, Montana. structor[...]e of Montana. We have one son who is a to Valier. In 1969, he passed away. His wife, mining engineer for ASARCO in Arizona. Louise, remained in Valier until Ruth's husband One incident that I remember Dad telling about died in 1978, then she moved to Shelby to make was[...]purchased the first automobile that was in Valier[...]Gahan and so he asked Dad to show him how to start the car Mary Elizabeth Fortman McGahan,[...]elled to Lewiston area of Idaho when they stopped in Dad, "How do you stop this thing?" Dad pre- Valier. At that[...]kept coming by Swift Dam and create Lake Frances. There was the door yelling every time he went by, "How do plenty of work available and also homesteads[...]now The Catholic Church that was in Valier in the owned by Bob Fields and as we termed it when[...]s the church that my uncle, Bert Fort- was living there, it was six miles east and one man and Alice Culleton were married in. When I mile north of Dupuyer. Crocker homesteaded was in high school, that church was moved to west of there on Dupuyer Creek. Dupuyer fo[...]ame to the Montana area from Kan- to dances there during my teens. It was then sas. Her brother, Albert Fortman homesteaded in moved to Pendroy for Community Church there the Ledger area and Mother came out to prove up and in May of 1945, I was married in that church. on a homestead adjoining her[...] |
| [...]what was beyond our horizon. We had many[...]We swam in a clear, fresh creek. We had snow[...]town. In Valier, we moved into what had[...]taking in washing. She had a washtub-size 3-,[...]toys were in the window of a small, home-owned[...]me there is no fairyland. I know better. I have seen[...]against the window many times. I had the chance Clarence and Pearl Mcgrew in 1956. to see the window more often as[...]fts at Christmas time. That was simply Valier in 1912. Opal and Donnie McGrew were the way things were, wasn't it? We always had, born in Iowa, Opal in 1904 and Donnie in 1906. we always would. Our reality was that each of us 1 Mary McGrew Whealy was born in Valier in would get one gift. 1916.[...]- reaction would be on Christmas morning. There toria Vanden Bos place. They lived in Dead Horse would be no tree aglow with light[...]n it Coulee which is now owned by Harry King. In and with no gifts beneath it. What woul[...]ing, we rushed to the kitch- Pearl died in Choteau September 29, 1974, en to see the lighted tree and gifts. They were Clarence died in Choteau July 17, 1976. Opal there. A group of Campfire girls had come in late died in Choteau February 16, 1979, and Donnie Christmas Eve after all except my mother were in died in Great Fallls February 28, 1979. Mary is bed[...]They had brought a tree, a gift still living in Choteau. for each of[...]Family wrapped gifts. In the summer of 1926, my mother and her[...]was a child's broom .. six children, ranging in ages from 15 months to I liked it, I used i[...]the only life we knew. Until then, we had lived in It is inscribed "To the Mendenhalls fro[...] |
| [...]nd to see our faces or to hear what we would say. There was no embarrassment for us, no painful awkwardne[...]e memory and the little book. My mother died in 1972 at the age of 81. She was a tiny woman with a reservoir of strength. Carl Miller family in 1965. Left to right Joe Doug[...]er and Kathleen Hayes were My sister Jane is in Illinois, unmarried. My married in 1939 and lived on a farm northeast of brother, Jake, changed his name to Richard Valier. many years ago, and lives in Vancouver Washington. He left Illinois in the Thirties and[...]named for his father, had never returned. He was in Montana for some time remained in Illinois, is married, has no children In before going further. He has two sons and four or[...]a licensed barber. Bill (William Jesse) died in Peoria, Illinois in[...]ven years. 1917. Married, no children, he served in the ar-[...]children-in-law, and a grandaughter. Our Jim (George James) lived for many years in children are Myra and Hugh. My education, a California. He served in the Navy during World[...]Getalt Institute of St. Louis. I am in private prac- George Ebner for whom my parents ha[...]unselor worki~g with respect and affection. After many months of[...]teach in areas of assertiveness training, com- Guadalcanal[...]joy- worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for many enjoyment, and in developing an awareness of years. He died in 1978, married, no children.[...]place in nature. My life is full and good. I love[...]I know they were farming in Merrill,[...]farms. Grandma Monroe read an ad in the paper 1 B. (Barney) Miller family in 1939. Back row, Carl, advertising the opening of farm land in Colorado Marg (nee Monroe), Barney. Front[...] |
| [...]o come. They arrived by hard job. train in early spring time in 1911. I remember Eventually, Hilly got a job with the county. Mom telling me about how deep the mud was as First, he worked run[...]illy says you really remember the winters married in 1913 in Valier. -Marie McCarthey where you are the road supervisor. He recalls that[...]They started plowing snow in September and Hilly Miller plowed for fifty days and many nights. Hilly Dupuyer, Montana was the birthplace of retired in 1962 after serving the people of Pon- Hilly Mille[...]years, ten months He spent most of his childhood in Dupuyer, but and three days. came to Valier in 1910 when Valier was hardly a Hilly married Maude Bush in 1913 and they town at all. His family moved here[...]sold horses now. Hilly and Maude were divorced in about and had a freight string. He also ran the s[...]r with Charlie that, but later remarried in 1931 to Minnie O'Dell as the regular driver. On occasion, Hilly Ferguson. She passed away in February of 1965. filled in as stagecoach driver, driving all alone Since 1953, Hilly has lived in the house that even though he was only a teenager[...]. After he got off Jud Marks had homesteaded in 1913. Hilly work at nights, Hilly would h[...]Hilly has left Valier a couple of times in the a series of bad years made him go broke. There past; he would get disgusted because it would be had been two dry years, then in 1919, a very so dry and seemed like ever[...]ke this, he would go over to being extremely cold in September and lasted Spokane, or maybe t[...]ho, but he until May. He lost a lot of cattle and there was no always came back to Valier. After being away for feed. There had been some cattails shipped in, a while, he had to come back because, goo[...]ard times. His dad traded the ranch for some land in Oregon in 1920 and Hilly moved to Valier.[...]r, he worked for the Herb Moon was born in New Munick, Min- Canal Company, various construct[...]. He did it, too, even year old. He grew up there; he moved to Dupuyer though jobs were not too steady and didn't pay in about 1938, when he and his dad purchased very mu[...]helped make money to pay off the He fell in love with a neighbor girl up the debt, too. Most[...]dirt. It was 11, 1920 at Dupuyer. They lived there until about six feet long and had a long handle o[...]this was an especially Valier, where they were in the dairy business.[...] |
| [...]in 1901. They went to Omaha, Nebraska and[...]later to Michigan and in 1911, they moved to[...]Paul was born in Valier two years later.[...]Mabel King in 1935 and operated the farm until[...]etired and Glen operates the same The Moon family in 1975. Back row, Roger, Ken, Rick, farm. Ron, an[...]; Helen married Joe Suta and Herb passed away in April 1960. They had had one daughter that passed away in infancy. twelve children. Roger of Conrad is married to Carl Monroe and Dora King were married in Marlene McIntyre of Conrad, they have a[...]daughters Ross "Buck" Buchanan of Fromburg, lives in and a son. Carl was a barber in Valier for many Valier. They have two boys, Justin and Jonathan, years. Dora taught in the local schools. They and a daughter, Katie. Yvonne lives in Great moved to Sunburst in 1963 and Dora taught Falls and is married to Jack Eades from Illinois. school there also. Ken lives in Helena and is married to the former Carl passed away in October, 1971. Dora Joleen Johnson from Dillon. T[...]of Jim and Marge Geiger of Valier, and they Ii ve in Helena. They have a daughter, Lindsay Jo, and a[...]rad, has three boys, Bobby, Ryan America in 1913 from Belgium, with their family and Brad and is now living in Dillon. of six children. Roman's[...]was seven have a son, Dustin and make their home in years of age at the time, and there were three Conrad.[...]was nine months old. Collinsville, Illinois, live in Helena. The crossing of the Atlantic took just fourteen Rod is working in Wyoming on an oil rig. days, but a viol[...]. The waves were Bernadette and daughter, Amanda, are living in huge, tossing the ship, and everyone was[...]e scared. They came through it fine and landed in Great Falls Vo-Tech. And another daughter,[...]g on to Conrad by train. The Cecilia, passed away in Boulder in 1970 after a group was accompanied on thei[...]to Belgium to "Al" and family moved to Conrad in August, help them on the trip, as[...] |
| When they arrived in Conrad, they boarded family, had a coal s[...]e Water and Land Company. This until late in the l 940's. was home until they had someplace el[...]to Cut Bank to see the oil wells and Land Company in plots of about forty acres. have a pic[...]t Jerome Monroe. They were married a year later in of Va lier and became known as the Belgian[...]e Dick, Vern and Alice. Jerome passed away in Roman Christiaens family, were the Peter Habets[...]family and Mr. and bors getting the crop in and harvested. Mrs. Remi Christiaens who were mar[...]r were the Once Maggie had left the children in the house Leon DeSmet family, the Vande Popelier family, while she went to work in the garden, which was (Marie stayed, but a brothe[...]across the fields to the Swier farm, settled here in 1911. pulling Dick in the wagon. No spankings or The Helena Diocese built a Catholic Church scoldings followed, just many tears of happiness for the community in about 1914. It is still stand- and relief to f[...]e seen Electricity came to the farm in 1946, and a just north of the Habets' farm. A school was also telephone was the new thing in 1952. Things built, as there were so many children who had taken for granted today[...]sing. The first teacher was known country in the last twenty-five to thirty years. as "Tone".[...]not speak and settled around here. They are Maurice, English.[...]-Taken From The Spray everyone went there to shop for groceries and supplies·. The summer[...]re, and some of the Vera was born in Knox, North Dakota. She families did not stay, moving east to settle in attended school there and grew up in that area. Chicago. Those who did stay, su[...] |
| [...]They operated a drug He homesteaded in South Dakota, living in a store in North Dakota and later moved to sod house. Poor crops forced him to leave there Lewistown, Montana, to work in a drug store. and he then worked in the western part of Mon- Later on they moved to W[...]ng was around the Valier area and the men working in Williams. She also worked for west to the Ro[...]settle seven miles west of Valier in 1909 or 1910. She raised three children, Ervi[...]he said that the grass was belly high to a horse in ran the elevator at Williams for a number of year[...]went to Moccasin, Montana where they In 1916, he sent to Norway for his fiancee, had a farm. They had three sons all of whom are Bertha Holen. She was born in Nord Odalen, Sep- married and have good jobs. Erv[...]tember 20, 1891 and grew to womanhood there. deceased.[...]the long boat ride, leaving family Lois lives in California and works in a depart- and friends, never to see her homelan[...]Chris a hobby and business of raising and selling many Johnson and John Johnson on the boat and in later kinds of birds.[...], School. She married Earl Steffani and they live in marrying and raising a family in Luverne, Min- Great Falls. Donneatta teaches in the Great Falls nesota. school system. Recent[...]have three daughters, all of whom was met in Valier by Julius, May Broten and her are teachers. At present one of the daughters,[...]all went by horse and Mrs. Dan Fargo, is teaching in Valier. buggy to Conrad, where Ber[...]n April 17, 1916, with May as the wit- their home in Valier. Jude worked for the Water ness. They stayed all night in Conrad, coming Company for a number of years. Jud[...]eymoon was over. passed away and Vera still lives in her own home here. Vera has a "green thumb". Her home is adorned with many beautiful plants. She has a plant room with many shelves full of African Violets and all kinds of[...]e wears her years very well and is admired by her many friends. Bertha and Julius Myhre |
| [...]ay home, but luckily Taffy kisses were sold in boxes like we get pop- Pop found them. Harvey started school in Va lier, corn in now at the circus and a nice prize was in- but went to Mountain View, on Arnst's corner, af- side with the candy, or at least there was a prize ter it was built, riding a horse. He went to Valier in the box Betty got. High School. Betty went to gra[...]ol The Myhre family was deeply saddened in Valier.[...]enly passed away at the age of Life was hard in the early days with no fifty from a hear[...]ears old and carrying bucketfuls of water to heat in the boiler spent a lot of time with Kate and B[...]y died May 19, 1949 at the age of thirty- sawdust in the "ice house" built down in the two. Pop passed away in 1966 at the age of ground like a root cellar.[...]Selma is married to Bus Swarts and lives in got a wind charger and were wiring the house in Lind, Washington. She has one boy and one g[...]len live on the home place "Why do we need lights in the bedrooms!" And and have two boys and one girl and five grand- so, there were no lights there, and Betty wore her children. blouse inside ou[...]Betty is married to Art Hulbert and lives in It wasn't all drudgery and hard work, they Kate Ryan's house in Valier. She has three boys had good times too, li[...]s area after boat. His bunk was the last one in the bow of the their schooling.)[...]an crosswise making it extremely Also living in the area was the Bortvedts, the uncomfor[...] |
| [...]the country in those early days.[...]The Bullhead School was built in 1912 across · The Nelson children in 1918. Seated in the car are the road from the Nelson home. The first teac[...]le Hinge, boarded with the Nelsons. Church board are Dorothy, Lawrence, Anne, Marie and ser[...]ed to Chicago, where he worked as In 1914, Mr. Nelson and Dr. H. H. Nichols a meat cut[...]attle from the former Conrad Columbian Exposition in 1893. Gus helped with Cattle Company herd. In later years, they the building and also with the[...]r. for himself. The Nelsons lived in the Bullhead From Chicago Gus moved to the W[...]ommunity until 1944, when they moved to Community in Illinois. Here he met Sara Stanley. Valie[...]21, 1873. home place and Lawrence lived there until he They were married in 1897 and lived on a farm in retired in 1976 and moved to Valier. The original the area,[...]e house was destroyed by a butane explosion in born, Ethel (Seifert), Carlton and Vernon. The 1946. Nelsons then moved to Dows, Iowa and farmed in Ethel, the eldest daughter married[...]d), (Chausse), Ann (Barrett) and Ronald were born in Eleanor (Conrad) of Minnesota and Helen I[...](Neyenhuis) now of Arizona. Joe died in 1980. In 1909, Mr. Nelson purchased eighty acres Ethel lives in Conrad. She has nine grandchildren of land in what is now known as the Bullhead and thirteen great grandchildren. Community. Then in 1910, Gus and a neighbor, Carlton was killed by lightning in 1928. Ed Jones came to Montana to look over the land Vernon married Ethel McClelland in 1931. that Gus had bought the previous year. Afte[...]ked, "It looks grandchildren. Vernon died in 1968, Karen in too much like Kansas, let's get out of here." Mr. 1974 and Ethel in 1977. Nelson evidently did not agree with Mr. Jon[...]children, Dennis and Kathy, both live in Mrs. Nelson was a member of the Valier Arlington, Washington. Jerry died in 1957. Marie Methodist Church and a charter member of the lives in a nursing home in Arlington. She has Home Demonstration Club. Early in the summer seventeen grandchildren an[...]s one of the several children. women in the neighborhood that formed the Dorothy married Leo Wollam in 1926. They 224 |
| [...]In 1919, Lawrence began his formal[...]and many memorable moments like the[...]center on Valier's first football team in 1930; he Gus and Sara Nelson in 1952. played guard on the basketbal[...]he senior class. Maybe his had one son, Owen, now in Tempe, Arizona. nicknamed "Squirt" was the incentive to work hard. Owen has two sons. Leo died in 1968 and September 5, 1942, Lawrence and Esta Mc- Dorothy remarried in 1973 to Mervin Chausse Millin, the daughter of Eily and William Mc- and they live in Valier. Millin, were married in Valier. They mov~~l-- to Anne was co-owner o[...]-son, Don Phillips of Columbia Falls and In 1944, Frank and Sara Nelson retired and four step[...]rs, Lawrence and they have three children. Laurie in Hardin, James Ronald. Ronald lived at Williams[...]dy struck Lawrence and Esta Mrs. Nelson died in April 1953, a few days during harvest in September, 1946. A propane after her eightieth bi[...]ignited by a spark from a light switch, Kalispell in 1957 and lived in the Immanuel causing a huge explosion. Esta was badly burned, Lutheran Home until his death in November of but Lawrence 1uckil y arrived[...]painful months, Lawrence's love and Esta's In the thirty-five below zero spring storm of str[...]n horseback to get now sits beside their home in Valier . Dr. Tidyman for his wife, Sara. Later th[...]eir support for the community slowed. Early in their only native Montana Nelson, was born[...] |
| [...]I was born in Dows, Iowa and had my first[...]panied my dad to Valier in a lumber wagon. We[...]ble stones. There were no culverts in those days[...]that bumpy ride. Lawrence Nelson family in 1973.[...]rides. Also, with soda fountain that was in the Starbuck Drug Ronald Nelson, Frank Seifert an[...]he entered tance of education certainly is shown in his town, he started whipping them on the tails. family. Laurie and his wife, Judy, are teachers; When asked why he was pushing the[...]r five years and his wife, he was already in town he replied, "The sign says Diana, attended t[...]her husband, The days of the Chau ta uquas in Va lier were an Max Klopcich, is a teacher.[...]tion for my family to go to town. We all at- In 1976, Lawrence and Esta retired from te[...]ad and Williams farm. For Lawrence the years in Valier have left many fond memories. Two of the more exciting ones were[...]the Dempsey-Gibbons heavyweight championship bout in Shelby, July 4, 1923, and also in 1923, traveling through Glacier Park for the first time in a 1917 Paige on dirt roads. With reti[...] |
| [...]ded up. join him in the venture. I received my grade school educ[...]ed to the corner where the was used for many social gatherings, mostly danc- Dale Arnst home i[...]days, it was used for church services. taught me in grades six, seven and eight. In 1935, the social interest faded so the I went to high school in Valier, but didn't do building was sold to my brother, Vernon Nelson, anything spectacular. I enrolled in the first class who tore it down and used part[...]cows, raising pigs and chickens; and Kuka. there was no place in this area for beef cattle! When I was[...]partnership in farming which lasted for forty-four My answe[...]ears. When I went back to school and told my in- In 1935, I bought land from H. L. Barber and structo[...]f cattle, his answer was, moved to Williams. In 1975, I retired and sold my "No, no, there's no place in this area for beef cat- part of the land to my[...]ne looks around today and sees all the In 1959, I married Freda Phillips, who had beef cattle in the Valier area, I wonder who was lived at[...]tructor. the time teaching in Conrad Elementary School. When I was a sopho[...]Williams and Freda continued teaching in Valier In about the winters of 1923 and 1924, after fo[...]sted that our traveling, spending winters in Arizona. We also[...]Geiger and I took in the first turkey huntin_g season in the State of Montana. We hunted in the[...]home with a turkey, we made the front page in Ron Nelson's dog.[...] |
| I never hauled many things to the "dump", so I have acquired many antiques and have always enjoyed history. Therefo[...]ad for several years. An experience that not many people have was working for a carnival for a week while in Arizona one winter in the late 1940's. The pay wasn't anything special, but I met many in- teresting carnival people. When the carnival cam[...]its rewarding to think back and know you've lived in the time of two real "boom" towns, Shelby and Val[...]il wells and Valier with the irrigation. The boom in Valier soon brought sidewalks, power plants for lights and a busy town in general. I am proud to have been part of the[...]hat summer ca used the sod shack to crumble trade in Kampen, Holland. In the spring of 1910, and they were forced to m[...]the country on the Albert Neyenhuis was born there in January, Canadian Pacific Railroad and entered th[...]States through Sweetgrass, Montana. In March, 1913, a group of Belgian settlers Wander knew Ray Verrnulurn, who lived in the arrived by train at Williams. With a[...]lph and John Adolph worked for other farmers in the area Wagner were employed as carpenters t[...]rn and granary on this ranch. and north of Valier in 1910. Adolph bought and dismantled a log cabin Gerritje Huisman worked in an enameling located near Swift Darn and with the help of Chris factory in Kampen. She and Adolph had been Raernak[...]engaged for six years before •his immigration. In log cabin he built still stands. 1911, she cam[...]were Andrew N eyenhuis was born in 1913. married east of Conrad. The family occupied their homestead in the Adolph put up a temporary sod shack west[...]a walking plow and three C. H. Drake. They lived there through the sum- head of horses. mer. Every[...]je and Adolph Henry Neyenhuis was born in 1915, Gertie in traveled to Valier to get supplies, it would rain 191 7, Jennie in 1923 and Chris in 1924. and they would come home wet. All th[...] |
| [...]7 The Adolph Neyenhuis family in 1928. Back row, Gertie, Henry, Andy and Albert. F[...]ritje that |
| [...]feed for the horses, Pop would plow with one team in the morning and a second team in the afternoon. The Neyenhuis homestead generated little more than a subsistence living for many years. Often the only money coming was the cream[...]y stored the daily collection of cream on a ledge in the cool well reservoir and Neyenhuis' stacking hay in 1946 on the Duke Place[...]Gerritje and Adolph celebrated their twenty- in 1924, it was not set properly the first time and fifth wedding anniversary in 1936. She died in he was hospitalized for eight weeks in Conrad. Conrad a short time later. In the fall of 1936 , The weekly hospital bill amoun[...]his family raised ten acres of They came back in July of 1938. potatoes during the depression year[...]continued farming bartered the meat and potatoes in Shelby for and ranching until the main farm was sold in the groceries or peddled them for cash in the oil early 1970's. Albert and Lois hav[...]in Teton County. Adolph died in Los Angeles at age ninety- three in 1979.[...]born in Denmark, his father's name was Jens[...]Nebraska, October 24, 1886, the eighth child in[...]both born in Denmark. Her father's name was[...]e was born at Adolph and Gerritje Neyenhuis in 1924. Avoka, Iowa on March 20, 18[...] |
| second child in a family of six, and the only girl. How about that, another boy! One infant brother died[...]and his youngest only one of these offspring born in Denmark was brother, Harel J. Nielsen, were dissatisfied in rent- Minnie's oldest brother, George.[...]took a trip out to see for them- Point, Nebraska in 1905. On April 21, 1906, I selves. Th[...]so born at Wisner, needed to start farming in Montana, loaded it in Nebraska, on March 12, 1908, I don't remember[...]ildren went to Council though she has always been there. Bluffs, Iowa to stay wit[...]t Kennard, Clausen until school was out in May. Then we Nebraska on February 15, 1911. It wa[...]years. We then moved Dad met us in Conrad and had gotten hotel to Washington, Nebras[...]rooms for us, as it was night, but someone in Christine was born on January 13, 1913, which is[...]ial train had come one year that will always stay in my memory for to Conrad to get the doctor and was going right two reasons. Why the one stays in my mind to this back and we could go on t[...]y Valier. To make it real exciting, there was about school paper. The other reason was we l[...]Johnson owned and sold just a couple of remember how still it was and dark and even how years ago. the air smelled.[...]That was the first house we lived in when we Another thing I remember about that[...]about we girls were deathly afraid of Gypsies and in ready to turn around and go back to Iowa that those days there were quite a number of them on night. H[...]everything looked better, and and even I remember how proud Dad was. He she stayed for[...]boy! After four girls, I will admit, he There were no buildings on the land Dad had was a cutie[...]l Andrew was also born bought, we lived in town for several years. at Washington, Nebraksa o[...]Brother Glenn Arthur was born in Valier in[...]they received from the good people in Valier.[...]as the bad farm year. The Nielsen boys in about 1935. The one wa[...] |
| was that Christmas was rather skimpy. But there was always the roast goose or ducks and everythin[...]to eat. The winter of 1919 Mom spent a month in bed with rheumatism. I shall never forget that wi[...]but all things passed and spring came. Then in 1921, two at a time, Brother Richie Andrew an[...]other Rollie Charlie, born July 18, niversary in July of 1955. 1921, early in the morning. They were in a hurry and wouldn't wait for the doctor, Mrs. Ep[...]rtle taught Sister Myrtle and I were married in 1925 I them how to swim by throwing them in the Irene was married in 1930 and died from burns in irrigation ditch and when they would climb ou[...]she would throw them in again. She says it is not 1931.[...]ey shout her down. Sister Elivia was married in 1933 and died in[...]1934. Brothers Larry, Richie and Rollie were in the children, never had more patient, understan[...]ve. Sometimes Mom showed hers with the razor Army in World War II. Brothers Earl and Glenn were in the Air Force, Earl in ground crew and strap, but Dad would only need to say, "Here, Glenn, a pilot. Brother Roger was in the Navy sub here," very quietly and we heard that far better service. Brother Glenn was killed in the service than the strap. September 22, 194[...]and I am so The folks finally bought a home in Valier and thankful they were my parents. moved to town for good in 1940, where they Brother Harel die[...]easier. Dad had Earl had open heart surgery in December and is worked so hard at farming for so many years with getting along well. not too much s[...]bout it and living on the Anton was born in Minor, Wisconsin in 1903. farm as we did, we always had all we[...] |
| [...]ty's dreams have always been to be in the He attended the first school on Frances[...]d, Leland Knutson, Mary and now lives in Great Falls. Harold Cha tlain.[...]this time, all this brothers took an interest in farm- carry water from below the hill and also do the ing, and at one time they farmed a good many janitor work for two dollars a month. Anton[...]d and enjoyed doing those jobs as a In 1933 Anton married Dena VandeKop. young boy. Mr.[...]ome bought out the Bob Wilson dairy also. There were along the fence lines instead of across the[...]m. Lawrence Crabtree and so he would not get lost in the blizzards. As luck his family worked for Anton and lived in the south would have it, he never did get lost go[...]It burned down from unknown causes and miles home in the bad storms. a child burned in that fire. In 1920 he went to work for his brother Mar-[...]by his Water Company place. When his father-in-law mother to give up farming and go to the coast to passed away, he farmed there and then moved to go to barber school. Anton deci[...]eek to get to Tacoma Station from Harry King. in a Model T. They had a tent and stopped along[...]eived help for eczema. Their children Olga, lived in Tacoma, and they lived with her attended Va[...]Tronsons were at Libby, Montana, so Anton worked there one year in the lumber business. Upan returning to Valie[...]icipated. It was not long until he became engaged in farming once again. He rented what was known as t[...]row, Robert da Marie. Monica is in Oregon. She was married[...]Russel Norsby. Martin Lee, now in the United States Army. Mary[...] |
| [...]His surviving children are: Jean Tiede of[...]boys. Jean is a medical secretary specializing in[...]Steir lives in Fruitland, Washington. Mary and[...]engineer. Kenny lives in Tacoma, Washington.[...]Russel and his wife, Dixie, and their two seated in wheel chair is Severt, Jake Norsby and An-[...]children live in Anaheim, California. Russ is a tap ton Norsby in front. and die operator. Ross lives in San Jose, Califor- nia and is a postal clerk there. -Margaret Parr a broken ankle when he fell of[...]tanks. It never did heal properly. For a good many years, Jake, Anton, and B[...]med together. After their mother In July 1931, Bob Norsby and his two passed away and[...]destroyed their crop in North Dakota. The men Jake sold his place to[...]ntil harvest was where they lived until his death in 1974. finished. Because of poor[...]that job very farm while Chatlains stayed in Valier for the win- much because he saw so many new faces and he ter. Bob felt fortunat[...]hen they returned to Valier, they bought many worked just for their room and board. the Jim Fit[...]ence is now. the farm in North Dakota. Bob continued to work Dena suff[...]ly, then he went back to problems and passed away in 1964. Anton North Dakota for harve[...]lp harvest. Bob worked moved to the Horizon Lodge in Conrad in 1975. for Chris Johnson shocking grain behind a binder. In 1979 he moved back to Valier and into the[...]and Leon). When he completed that he was preceded in death by two children. job, h[...] |
| [...]son, Billy Jay, was born in March, 1944. Then Bob worked for his brother-in-law, Ben Grilley,[...]In the spring of 1945, Bob, Ann, and Bill[...]lived in the "red" granary. When the snow and[...]was habitable. They moved onto the main floor in[...]daughter, Bonnie Julie, who was born in March of Bob and Ann Norsby July 6, 1938. 1949. In 1950, the farm grew with purchase of[...]the birth of their third child, David Robert, in Clarence Swanson farm. He trapped muskrat,[...]nd continued doing so until Agriculture in Miles City, Montana. David is em- 1939.[...]ployed by Lockheed Aircraft in Sunnyvale, In April 1938, Ann Mix and three friends Cali[...]aught elementary school four decided to find work in Montana. The driver, Ar- nold Peterson, was a gra[...]Norsby. His parents were friends of Ann's parents in Min- nesota, and they encouraged her to travel to[...]nd Ann were married at the First Methodist Church in Great Falls on July 6, 1938. The marriage ceremon[...]cade County. Two years after their marriage, in 1940, Bob and Ann. were hired by W. J. (Bu[...] |
| [...]hauling water there, so when the same held true Bob and Ann conti[...]to Valier. Sam had a horse and buggy Harm Toren. In 1975, Bob suffered a heart at- and took p[...]unding fussy and knew exactly what he wanted in land. the home place. Ann and Bob continue to liv[...]was only God that knew how much land you had. The Jacob Norsby Fa[...]Montana, but was Norstebo not a true farmer in our sense, but he did enjoy while he was yet in Norway and in Wisconsin. It haying, fencing, shocking grain and picking had a special meaning in Norwegian. The "Nors" rock. We are told how he could make a perfect meant the north part and[...]to the court- My Uncle Jake, tells of in 1909, which was house in Choteau to settle his claim for the the[...]change his feet deep and it was so wet in March, that name which he was very reluctant to d[...]to him; and drop the "o". All the o's remained in Conrad until the house was com- in Norwegian had a difficult pronunciation in pleted. They came up on a freighter stage[...]the east end of the lake. Anton said they ate there it look American, and that was how the family with the construction crew for the dam project as became the "Norsby" known to many of you. they waited for Adolph Tronso[...]tates and settled with their respective and there, as he layed eyes upon Aunt Olga. families at Nec[...]er a short court- During the family's stay in Conrad, Grandpa ship, they were married and lived[...]ch was close by. Homesteading was advertised in all the papers at that time. The family, consisti[...]ght feather ticks from Norway, some bureaus which are now called dressers, and more personal belongings. Sam Sollid, the locator, met them in Shelby. It is recalled to our memory that[...] |
| [...]as on the first school board and was instrumental in beginning the first school on Frances Heights. He[...]ty years old at the time. Grandma was active in all the church ac- tivities. She was a very hospitable lady and had company day in and day out. People always gathered at her house[...]Norsby and Dennis Culleton for the younger folks. There were many games of horseshoes and soft ball played in her yard. There until he moved to Polson, and later died in was always enough cookies, molasses and raisin Tacoma, Washington; Martin farmed in the filled flatbread and Norwegian dishes of all[...]ff, then on the Joe Oster- to go around no matter how many mouths there man place and then the Hancock place, wh[...]Robert Kuka farms now. He died in 1947 from a The younger children had a lot o[...]he rest. She died of cancer of the liver in 1933, after milking even when she did not have to[...]realizing her problem. been called a Saturn Yenta in Norway, which Grandpa died in 1943 at the age of ninety-two. meant that she was a mountain girl that took her animals high into the hills in the summer time. These girls would milk, and make[...]r the winter months. The streams were so In 1909, Severt Norsby, born September 27, cold that[...]dren of Jacob and Marie brought down to the homes in the fall. She never Norsby, moved to Valier[...]farmed with his brothers, Jacob and Anton, in ence Peterson, who homesteaded the farm Don[...]d to Min- everyone knew when he arrived in town, his car nesota. Olga married Adolph[...] |
| came from Kalispell to work for Severt in 1939. Pine Bush, where Jerry has a backhoe construc- They were married in September of that year. tion business. Se[...]as born July 22, 1942 and worked lived and farmed there until 1944. Having pur- for Western Life Insurance in Helena after chased the Charlie Geiger place, the[...]graduating. When their office moved to St. Paul, there to live. Severt sold the McGrew place to Joanne moved. There she met and married Brent Hank VandenBos (Junior VandenBos now owns it) Gaylord in 1962. They lived in Wisconsin until and the Charlie Geiger palce to O[...]to Valier. Joanne and (Tom Peterson owns it now) in 1945, due to ill Brent now own the family f[...]hey have four sons, into a house moved from a lot in town. Severt Doug las born in 1966, Eric born in 1969 and built, owned and operated the Lake Frances Joseph born in 1974 and all attend school in cabins, later known as the Lighthouse, from 1948 Valier. Benjamin born in 1978 is at home. until 1952, when he traded the cabins for a farm Prior to joining the Army in 1969, Jim, born twelve miles west of Valier, on Birch Creek, from June 7, 1944, worked in the Va lier area. He ser- Al and Kay Boeck. ved in the Vietnam War in 1969. Upon returning The Severt Norsby family sold their home in he worked throughout Montana. In 1972, he Valier to Gene and Hazel Bonnet in 1953, and married Donna Drake from Pony, Montana. They moved to a farm in Polson where they resided un- lived in Valier during their marriage. Jim was til June of[...]k and also, and lived on the farm by Birch Creek. In 1963, worked for Brent Gaylord on the family farm. In they leased the farm to Gil Eng land, moved to th[...]ere divorced. Jim drove produce D. D. Brown house in Valier, where Alice now truck from Canada to California. In November of lives, and where Severt lived until his death in 1974, Jim was killed in an automobile accident in June of 1980.[...]Ellen) was born June 24, 1946 and Joanne Gaylord, are living in the Valier area. worked at the Valier Bank[...]married Del Welker graduating from high school in Valier. She from Shelby in 1959. They lived in Shelby, Babb moved to Helena the fall of 1967 to work for the and Conrad before returning to Valier in 1972, Office of Superintendent of Public In[...]ey farmed for several years, but now married in the spring of 1968, and have lived in lease their land to Jack Johnson. They presently Helena since. They have two daughters, Heidi live in Valier where Del is the town marshal, previously[...]eriff. They have six children, Rodney (Spud) born in 1959 and married to Brenda Briden. They have one-son, Ronnie, born in 1979. Lisa was born in 1961 and is working in Valier; Robbie was born in 1965, Jami was born in 1968 and Jon was born in 1970, all are attending school in Valier. Keri who was born in 1977 is at home. Jerry was born June 28, 1942 was in the Ar- my in 1963 and 1964. He returned to Valier after the flood of 1964 to work the family farm on Birch Creek. While in the Army, he married Suzy Ban- ford from New York. They have two children, Tracey born in 1965 and Greg born in 1969, at- Severt and tending school in New York. They moved back to Alice Norsby New York in the spring of 1974 and now reside in 238 |
| born in 1970 and Heather born in 1972. They at- Carl and Gertrude Orr tend Four Georgian's School in Helena. Carl Orr was born at[...]July 4, 1905, to J. W. and Jessie Orr. The living in Townsend and is married to Andy Han- family moved to the State of Washington in 1914. sen. They have two sons from her previous marriage In 1917, they moved to Conrad, Montana where to Terry Newman, Tim born in 1966 and Chris Carl received his education. born in 1968 who attend school in Townsend, On February 26, 1928, Ca[...]Gauld were married in Conrad. Gertrude was[...]graduated from Conrad High School with the in 1930 from a homestead north of Zurich, Mon-[...]lived and farmed east of married, and Anges came in 1928 to live with her Conrad for a couple o[...]le, Pete Marcus, while attending Valier in the spring of 1930. At this time, Carl high schoo[...]ar for Blaine Ferguson. They moved presently live there. into Valier in the spring of 1942, when Carl Roy later purc[...]this Wilson place (Alta's parents) and is engaged in cattle and farming operations. Betty graduated from Valier High School in 1943. She was employed as a secretary by the Coun[...], Loren, and Karen. Evelyn, after graduating in 1937, worked as a telephone operator at the Valie[...]ars. After marriage she moved to Washington State in 1947. She recently retired from the State of Wash[...]en, James, Russell, Leanna and Edward. James died in a car accident in 1969 and Evelyn died in 1981. Her husband, Vernon Schrantz, lives in Washington. Agnes attended high school in Valier, married Lloyd Eppe and they have one daughter, Beverly Marshall. After operating several businesses in Valier, they purchased a ranch northeast of town in 1964, where they presently live.[...] |
| [...]Force his career and they now make their home in still does a little custodial work at the Methodi[...]he Valier Bank of Montana. In 1978, Carl and Gertie celebrated their Car1 and Gertie are both members of the Golden Wedding An[...]e for the occasion. taken an active part, serving in many capacities Several other family members[...]h a host of friends to honor them. The Orrs are also both members of Va lier Some t[...]thy Matron. Carl has served as Past Worthy Patron many times. Carl is also a Past Master of the[...]has Russell. played an important part in her life. It has On November 20, 1939, Jazz and Marjorie enabled her to make many saleable articles, were married in Shelby. They made their home in therefore, she is widely known for her beautiful the Dupuyer area for many years. Jazz worked as crochet and other handiwork[...]nd, then was Deputy Sheriff Carl and Gertie are the parents of four grown in the Dupuyer area. children. The oldest is Donald,[...]ans born June 2, 1946; and graduated from college in Bozeman. He Ida Ora VandenBos bor[...]8; Viola married Alecia Shular of Whitehall. They are the Orr Anderson born November 20, 1949;[...], 1951; Ted Orr born ceased. They make their home in San Jose, Cal- June 21, 1953; Jim Orr[...]ard. They have three children and make their home in Wa ukasha, Wisconsin where Ralph works for the Fo[...]rs and then married Richard Gould of Boston. They are the parents of three children. Helen's husband recently retired from several years in the Air Force and they plan to make their home in Colorado. Beverly, the youngest, was born S[...]rce, where she met and married Glen Hug hes. They are the paren ts of four children. Her husband[...] |
| In 1954, we moved to East Glacier Park, Montana, where Jazz owned and operated the N Corrals there; he also acted as Deputy Sheriff of Glacier County for two years. In 1957, we moved to Valier for the school man ths a[...]months, so Jazz could operate his N Corrals. In 1959, the family moved to Valier where they still[...]ork as cattle foreman for the Pugsley Ranch, Inc. in 1965, where they still reside four miles southwes[...]hen she was twelve years Ted entered the Army in September of 1917, of age. They moved to Dupuyer in 1917. Verna he was a machine gunner in the 91st Division in attended school in a country school near Gar- World War I. On April 13, 1919, he landed in field, Washington, then in Valier and graduated New York and got his honorab[...]Ted and Verna Gammon were married at the Dupuyer in May, 1919. Gammon h[...]years. In 1926, he moved the jail from Dupuyer to[...]Frank Orr, Jr. assisted Ted in the moving. In 1927, Ted, Bob Gammon and Alex[...]house. The Ted Orr family in 1944. Back row Daisey Elmer In 1945, Ted and Verna took the Choteau Madge[...] |
| from the Muddy west of Bynum in the spring and she worked at a Norwegian Colony for three years back to the Muddy in the fall. There were any before coming on to Montana, whe[...]lf years pickup, which ever they had at the time. Many old, the family moved and settled fourtee[...]a's outfit with sad- north of Valier. Earl was in partnership with Sam dle horses and pull her thro[...]er Sam moved to Great Falls, where he started In the fall of 1958, they purchased the Bill the Great Falls Tent and Awning Factory, many Bohm Bar and Cafe in Valier, which was later farmers had thei[...]d Mom's Cafe, they sold it made or repaired there. When Sam left, Earl in 1973 to Harold Gable.[...]f this their little mountain home at Dog Gun Lake in the was given to the school district and the[...]was named the "Uleberg School", after Sam Valier in the winter. Uleberg and was built by Ed Carroll. Ed Carroll In January of 1980, they both fell within wa[...]n, Earl (Bud) Eugene was born to the Or- They are now living at their home southwest vis' Mar[...]the children attended the Uleberg School. Earl L. in August of 1980.[...]fered when their house burned down. In the[...]na Earl Lester Ovris was born June 11, 1892, in graduated from high school in 1936. Late that Colorado to John and Adeline Orvi[...]Orvis worked at Boorman's Tailor Lewiston, Idaho. There were several children in Shop. Mrs. Orvis was a tailor by trade in Norway, the family. Earl homesteaded two and one-[...]Jona was married to Ronald G. Nelson on business in Shelby. On April 8, 1916, he married September 12, 1936 in Valier and lived in Magnhild (Margaret) Alexandrea Karlsen. Williams. Buddy attended grade school in Shelby Margaret was born June 13, 1896 in Beiarn, and then returned to live with his sister in Boda , Norway, to Laerer (teacher) Johan L. and Williams and attended high school in Valier. Mrs. Anne (Pederson) Karlsen. Johan was a teacher for Orvis marreid Joe Zagotta August 31, 1941 in forty-six years and in the summer months spent Shelby. Mr. Zagott[...]eman on the his time preaching to the Laplanders. There were railroad in and around Shelby and retired in seven children.[...]ecialty was racing downhill Buddy lived in Williams until his marriage. while using only one[...]e was eighteen years old, can were married in Valier. Buddy's mother made during World War I. S[...]ister ship to the born March 12, 1950 in Comad, as well as Shelly Luisitania. She landed in Montreal, Canada and Jean on August[...] |
| [...]to Valier. Michael Earl was born February 3, 1953 in Conrad, Montana, as was Brian Duncan Orvis on Apr[...]years when she resigned and moved to Great Falls. In 1958, Jona and William L. Munyon were married in Lewistown, Montana. They lived in many states when Bill was on a seismograph crew (oil exploration) but managed to return to Mon- tana in twenty years in 1978, where they still live in Lewistown, Montana. Michael graduated from high school in Idaho where his mother lived, Brian graduated in Shelby where his father lived, and Grandma made s[...]in-law), Kathleen Osterwyk Jacob, Joseph Osterwyk,[...]23, 1977 at Randi Osterwyk (daughter-in-law, wile of Steve) and Shelby, Montana. Michael[...]b, Bill Osterwyk holding skiing. Brian also lives in Shelby. Brian married Matthew Osterwyk (son of Randi and Steve). Barbara Jane Hemmer in 1979 at Lincoln, Mon- tana but she lived in Shelby where she was a nurse's General Motors (Buick) in Flint for thirty-three aid. On January 20, 1980,[...]ph, a student at the University of Michigan. away in 1980. -Jona Munyon Rikka died in Conrad, Montana, November[...]Edgeley, North Dakota. He is in fine health and The Henry Osterwyk Fami[...]ung. Henry and Rikka Osterwyk came to Valier in Bill and Mary Osterwyk like to recal[...]because Henry's brother, Barney, and family lived in Dupuyer. Henry and Rikka settled in Valier on the Conrad- Valier road, about one-half[...]work for the Montana Western Railroad, and worked there un- til his retirement around 1950. Three sons we[...]ier. Bill married Mary Zeh, January 18, 1947 in Flint, Michigan. He has been employed by[...] |
| [...]ur four-year-old) has let the steers out and they are on their way to town!"[...]Hazel Otthouse We were both born and grew up in Oklahoma, where we met and married in 1935. Ed F. Otthouse at Going To Sun Highway in 1957. After living our first year in Oklahoma, we moved to Hutchinson, Kansas. Ed worked in the drilling department of the the world, we didn't want to buy, as our intentions oilfields, in many parts of the state. In 1948, the were to complete the drilling program[...]tana to do some contract trailer houses in the trailer lot behind the Lyle drilling. It was[...]ecided to make the move. One rig We lived in the large house of Ralph Bowmans was to stop over in Wyoming, to drill two then until we bought the Fred Palin home in locations, so on our route up, Ed had to stop off[...]added another daughter in 1949. Our daughter, We had planned on living in Cut Bank, as the Carol, was in the sixth grade, so she was supply stores were there. When we arrived, there educated in the Valier schools, graduating as was no suitable housing available without buying salutatorian in 1955. She attended the University a home. Feeling[...]completely out of of Montana, graduating in 1959. She is married[...]to Bob Palin, and they have three sons, and live in[...]Western Montana and there met Dennis Fisher.[...]They have a son and daughter and live in[...]Business College in Spokane. She works and lives there. In 1951, Ed went into business, forming a[...]Bank. They did much drilling and exploring in many areas of Montana. Ed's health began to fail in 1965. Being[...]ol, Marsha production holdings. Ed passed away in January and Pamela in 1949. 1972. I continue to live in our home in Valier, en- 244 |
| [...]amily My father, Edwin Harry Palin, was born in England, April 3, 1865, and landed in New York, April 1884 at the age of nineteen. My mother was born in England on November 26, 1870 and came to the Unit[...]he was thirteen years old. Their families settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were married there October 14, 1889.[...]Frank. Edith, the only brother, Arthur, in May after my mother, Frank, daughter, died as a s[...]arrived, coming on a box car with our fur- Frank are living in 1981; Harry in Valier, and niture. My brother, Edwin, came in 1914. He and Frank in Pueblo, Colorado. brothers Edwin and Fred were in the Army during My father worked for Cudahay Packing World War One, serving in France, where Ed Company in Milwaukee. In 1911, he had surgery married a French girl and brought her home. Ar- in Milwaukee and came to Montana to[...]nk married Ina Wells, a Grieve, whom he had known in Wisconsin. They classmate, at the Univers[...]ne half mile east of the present John In 1914, I went to work for Tom Parrish. My Roberts[...]job was to drive Mrs. Parrish to town in a horse My father bought two hundred acres o[...]from home. My brother, Fred, came to Valier in In 1915, the Water Company hired me to February, 191[...]tana Land and Water Com- to prepare our meals, as there were quite a few pany turned the project ove[...]on that train. Capt. James Stanford met In 1926, on Thanksgiving Day, Pete La Valle us at th[...]working at the dam. Chris Beck and Ben English There was no roof on the house yet, so we would we[...]Dam by dark. It began My brother, Fred, came in February, and my to storm after we le[...] |
| [...]Valier. We made the and the horses would get down in the snow, we return trip in two hours. would have to get out and shovel snow so that the In the late Teens and early Twenties, I had oc- hors[...]bout three casion to go to Great Falls once in awhile, and it miles from the dam and it was getting dark and was there that I saw Charles Russell, who was a we lost the[...]n daybreak came, we hooked up the horses many antiques. and started to pick a trail, trying to pick a path In 1929, I went to work for Tod Fuller in the where the snow as not so deep, not knowing[...]. They were standing so that they worked for. In 1933, Bill Emery left the store and could just ke[...]two crews came down to the lake, cut In 1929, I married Laura Mary Starbuck and leather and broke the ice to shore to get the in 1935, we had a son, Harry Richard (Dick). That ho[...]. We stayed at the dam for tile. We stayed there two and one-half years, then[...]moved back to Valier, where I started a store in[...]15, 1937. In 1939, we had a daughter, Patricia[...]father died in January, 1939 and my mother in[...]Swank's parents). In 1948, I started another store in the building now known as Dick's Grocery. It[...]In 1967, we bought the Valier Car Wash[...]Frank and Harry Palin Monaco in Anaconda in 1960. They live in 246 |
| [...]. Herb Campbell, conductor daughter, Angela, born in 1967. Our daughter, of the railroad lived there. Dad Hines lived in Pat, married Loren Ekhoff in 1958. They live in one of the basement rooms. He earned his[...]Michael. Brad was married Several ladies in the town used a room off the the summer of 1980 and lives in Durango. Loren lobby for a library and t[...]the library one afternoon each week. In later years, Durango Police Department.[...]ter. Sometime later a fine new library was built in niversary in 1979 with our family and Laura town. Mary's ninety-one year old mother, Floss Goff, in When I first came to Valier the town h[...]Mrs. Fred Palin there. Some of the girls who worked for Mrs. M. in I came to Valier the fall of 1928, to teach[...]I taught for seven years in the Valier Grade I had a room at the Valier[...]alary was $145 a month before all salaries rather in awe of her as she had a temper no one beg[...]floor next to Dad Wesley's year before there was money to pay us. room. It was a front room at the north end of the In May of 1935, after school ended for the hall, qui[...]olis. The school board didn't hire any my room as there was a storage room near by and married tea[...]ed that rule from necessity. I often sub- safety. There was no fire escape. stituted in the grades. We, Fred and I, lived at the Dad[...]nd I raised our children, Bob and Lynn everything in smooth running order. Mrs. M really (Morrison) in Valier. Both graduated from the kept him on the j[...]. Bob has three sons and making him earn his home there. The woman who Lynn has two daughters. did most of the cooking for the meals served in When the Valier Company was liquidat[...]m was known to us as Mother Spen- we moved in 1955 to Wayzata, Minnesota. Fred cer. Her assista[...]good we thought. The regulars Cargills. In 1960, he resigned to move to Great had meal tickets, but many others came there also. Falls to go in to the real estate business with two The hotel had a fine reputation and salesmen friends. In 1961, Fred died. I have continued on made a point of staying there overnight on their in my home in Great Falls. I have many fond weekly trips from Great Falls. memories of my years in Valier and many friends I remember Ed Townsent, Mr. Qualey, Mr. there. Glenn and Loder for F.O.K. who took order[...] |
| teaching days are Francis Tidyman, Emma Morud, Ermine Hennessy, Ann[...]Virginia and Dorothy to the Valier area in 191 7. Doc Parchen, as he was known, was a chirop[...]n riding horseback, picnics and camping in enlarged heart due to having rheumatic fever[...]ts. We grew different house each month. up there attending Plainview School until[...]read and rolls. One time I want- the eighth grade in town. It was during this year ed to go to Campfire Camp, so in order to get the that my father's heart condition[...]and get orders for worse and he spent a long time in the Great Falls cakes, bread and rolls. She made cakes and Columbus Hospital. He was able to come home in pecan rolls for the Valier Hotel until th[...]was near planting time, sell the farm in 1935 to John Roberts. My father, however, he was not able get out in the fields. knowing that he didn't have lo[...], Michigan, where her the equipment needed to put in the crop. They folks lived, he died on T[...]It was a very My mother worked as an L.P.N. in Ann Arbor, special occasion.[...]sister and I spent our time milking cows, me in Great Falls. She passed away in 1973. Virginia went to school in Detroit, Michigan[...]farm north of Cut Bank. Orin was killed in an[...]and they had two children. She died in 1969 in[...]five children. We spent ten years in Michigan and ten years in Ohio, then came back to Montana in 1965. I have been in the nursing profession since[...]away in January of 1980. I have worked at DSNC[...]for eleven years. I plan to retire from there in a[...] |
| [...]Russell and Harry Yeager, On June 18, 1929, in a simple ceremony of and other area farmers[...]and Bertha LaBelle, as his II and served in France, Eygpt, and Italy before wife. The marriage took place in Great Falls, being discharged in 1945. Montana, but the couple began their married[...]6, they were married. He always families' history in the Valier area. William and told his children[...]h them and Don, soon after their marriage. In June, 1947, to Valier at about the turn of the ce[...]home site and farm acreage about Kathleen in January, 1949, John in March, 1956 one and one-half miles north of Valier, which at and Trudy in September, 1957. present is owned by Jack and Est[...]Valier and bought a dairy farm in Sun River[...]land and raise their children in this area. Even- chased land around Valier, raisi[...]more farm acreage and in 1962 purchased 640 (Bell). Mattie married Ralph "[...]ran sheep and, later, cattle. In 1973, an ad- family. Ralph married a girl named E[...]In December of 197 3, Elmer suffered a Ben and M[...]izing stroke which left him a semi-invalid farmed in the Valier area for a time, but even- until his death in March of 1976. Shortly before tually all, except Benny, moved to California and Elmer's stroke in 1973, Ron and his wife, Becky Missouri. The Parke[...]ms moved back to Valier from Twin Bridges. Ron in the Valier area, one of which is the present[...]e, Ben and Midge (Mildred) Parker rent- so. In 1978, Midge sold the farm to Ron and his ed this[...]er wife, and lived with them until later in that year, purhcased the home site and surroundin[...]and Trudy. Their first child, Karen, was born in Decem- Karen Speer graduated from Valier[...]brother, School, then attended college in Havre and Dillon Donald, in April of 1943. The following year Ben before teaching at several schools in the surround- contracted viral pneumonia and later died of an ing area. Karen quit teaching in 1973 and in infection in May, 1944. July of t[...]Midge's parents, Henry and present living in Santa Rita in the Cut Bank area. Bertha LaBelle owned some land[...]Speer ran a janitorial business for several years in with the help of her father and Ben's family, con[...]k the farm until October, 1946, MacDonald in 1967. Their only son was born in when she married Elmer Speer.[...]he Valier area from times, eventually ending up in Billings. Their Indiana in 1937, when he was seventeen. He marriage ended in divorce in 1976 and Don[...] |
| remarried in 1980 to a local Billings gir 1. hens. He[...]for when we Ron attended college for a time in Bozeman moved to Va lier. before moving to Butte. While living in Butte, he Dad's dream was to have some ve[...]ctive land so that when he passed away he married in April, 1971. Ron and Becky moved could leave each of his seven children 100 acres back to Valier in 1973. of land. He ha[...]boys, Alberta, Kathy Speer attended college in Denver, myself, Rossie, May, Ben, Ralph and Marvin. Colorado, then lived in the Puget Sound area of Dad, Elmer and[...]nt back to Washington State until moving to Butte in 1970. Missouri, but only Dad decided to move to Mon- She married Phillip Sage in November of that tana. He had a public sale and disposed of year and they made their home in Butte until everything that he did not ne[...]n Phil moved his family to Valier. They pened in March, 1911. live on the Speer farm with their th[...]ted two railroad emigrant cars, placed Jason born in May, 1973, Brandy born in June, all his machinery, household goods, 300 laying 1977 and Jessica born in September, 1978. hens, one cat and one dog in them and was ready John Speer met Goldie Ada[...]vestock, so as to care for worked as a nurses aid in Shelby and they them. Mother and the children rode in the married in November, 1973. They lived in Valier passenger train. for a time, then moved to Great Falls in 1976. It was a chilly day when we got into Valier, Their only child, Jeremy, was born in September, but a Chinook wind was blowing. We had known 1974. In 1980, John and Goldie divorced, John nothing of a Chinook, so were surprised to see the remaining in Great Falls and Goldie moving to snow melt[...]gh altitude Trudy married Albert "Chug" Gray in 1974. made us sleepy. Despite all, it wasn't long before Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born in January, we were all settled in a house in Valier that Dad 1975, and son, Timmy, in the fall of 1976. They rented for us to live in until we could move out to lived in Valier for a short time before moving the land. back to Great Falls in 1975. Before we move[...]you." My brother, Ben, told Ralph on the Back in the State of Missouri is where we sly, "Don't tell anyone we are from Missouri, lived. One day in March, 1911, Dad got a brain because they w[...]at Dad brought were move away. He began to search in different farm used to pull the machinery. T[...]lp and began to build a Elmer Parker, and brother-in-law, Henry Mills, all barn. He was about half d[...]ent to Oregon, then came on to had a visitor in the night. Thieves backed up to the Valier, where[...]icken house door, cut all the chickens heads them many acres of land. Elmer Parker and off, a[...]Dad never pressed charges. miles north of Valier. There were no buildings, From then on, he and Moth[...]the land fenced, a well slept on the hay up in the hayloft. They wanted to dug, and a chi[...] |
| [...]J.M. and his wife ran a grocery store in moved it close to the well, for we needed to be there Michigan until sometime in the early l 900's. In during the day to cook for Dad and the boys,[...]a, Canada, while they put the crop and the garden in. The where they raised a few cows and some hay and soil was great. In fact, Valier and the surrounding crops. Dad[...]said the cows would Elmer and family, his brother-in-law, George · stay in the smoke until the fire died out. What lit- Robe[...]such as it was. have a church supper. It was held in the Dad and his brother, Ju[...]reakfast. never refused. A cook stove was located in the They had what they called a circuit riding Odd Fellows Hall on the first floor in the back of preacher, who came by occasion[...]the biscuits on. When the preacher was there. biscuits were done, someone would carry them[...]ning room, open them up, and lived in a radius of ten miles from them. They pour the cr[...]he pleas- walked over for a visit once in a while, and they ure of everyone there. I baked many biscuits for were always glad to see the[...]from Browning. It is moving to Montana in the spring. My father said good to still see it a[...]till being he had never heard such good news in all his life. taken care of.[...]ed up in Conrad.[...]Their Clarence J. Parmalee or C. J. as he was in- neighbors were the Gaffs, parents of E[...]on December 10, Jack. They farmed there and ran some stock. 1895, in Muscatine, Iowa. He was the son of Mr.[...]couple of and Mrs. Marian James Parmalee, who was in- miles northwest of Williams[...] |
| [...]building them a home in Conrad. He worked for My father, CJ., started farming just a half Frank De Vore while in Conrad. At that time, they mile south of Earl Cra[...]w cows as he was always more interested In 1952, the Marc Culleton farm came up for in livestock than farming. After a few years he[...]one VandenBos' and Tom Boucher's houses in the night and what little money came from the in- early l 950's. He also worked for Ralph B[...]eady had a tentative deal for the ranch which I many houses around this area and built quite a now own[...]hy's, Ted Crawford's, Sr., Les Holden's, Hot- for many years. He died on October 14, 1978. vedt's, the Border Patrol Station in Shelby and -Harvey 1 Parmalee the Husky Restaurant in Shelby.[...]potted Eagle, Floy and Memori Boy Chief. The In 1939, Elmer brought his sister, Alice, to fami[...]ema, Forrest and the twins that were She had been in Kalispell with their Uncle Ray nicknamed, S[...]by boy were someone to cook for the crew that put in the crop also with the Parrs for a short time.[...]r, they had made Their son, Alan, was in a fatal motorcycle ac- the decision to get married, so she went back to cident in 1967, while serving in the United States Mondovi, Wisconsin, on the train to get her Navy in Alemeda, California. belongings and Elmer brought her back to Valier Don has been in the Army. He worked as in his car. He went back to Wisconsin for that[...]ty of Cut Bank and next winter and then came back in the following also as a truck driver. Don wa[...]m Linda Smith. They have two stay here. Back East there were cows to be milked daughters, Amy and Lori[...]chores to be done and then you started your in Phoenix, Arizona. day in the field. The chores were awaiting you Janet married Merlin Running Crane the year again in the evening. He thought farming around here was very easy in comparison to back East and besides, he got one-third more wages. In 1942, he was drafted into the Army and never did get a furlough. He was overseas thirty- three months in Hawaii, Guadalcanal and New Guinea. In 1944, he and Margaret Allen were married in Santa Barbara, California. He was then stationed in Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, until the war ended in 1945. During that time they made their home in Muskogee. Severt had moved to town, so rente[...]to California for the winter and had passed away there from a lifetime heart con- dition.[...]Parr family. Alan, Donnie, Margaret, Janet, In 1949, Elmer began carpenter work by[...] |
| [...]and growing conditions in the various parts of the[...]of the Marias River, in what was to become Pon-[...]on the new project. He was then instrumental in[...]education, including a degree in accounting, and[...]various places during our stay in the Valier area. Memori, Floy, Leigh Ann, Mary Ly[...]s was formed as a storage she graduated and lives in Heart Butte. They reservoir for irrigati[...]knowledge of making hay, so he got the job of there. h[...]ay on the site of Lake Leigh Ann is a senior in high school and Frances. plans to major in music in Missoula next fall. She It has been a mys[...]ng Floy is married to Tom Crawford and lives in such long lasting friends and partners in every Heart Butte. They have two little girls, Cr[...]was very religious and frowned on Memori is in the United State Army and has liquor and to[...]ry other vice, but at just finished boot training in Missouri. profanity, he was a master. Marty is also in the service. Mary Lynn is After working about eighteen months in the married to Homer Giard and lives in Conrad. area, my father, having a sweetheart in Terre Their two girls are Mandy and Patti. Haute, Indiana,[...]rubstake, headed Forrest attends high school in Flandeau, back home to get married. In the spring of 1910, Sou th Dakota.[...]Harry Parsons and his new bride arrived back in The twins are in a group home in Browning. the Valier area. Not yet having a[...]e over farming operations finished to live in, they took up housekeeping on next fall for his d[...]Corn" place. Dad place and Don will make his home in his trailer rode back and forth to his own[...]hunting and fishing. "proving up" procedure in order to hold the[...]was born on the Bert Corn place. I have the In May, 1908, my father, Harry R. Parsons, distinction of being the first baby boy born in the accompanied by Peter F. La Valle, arrived in Cut area. I have been told that at the time, there were Bank, Montana, in quest of a homestead in the very few neighbors, but some o[...] |
| losing his wife and young son in the sinking of the At that celebration, I saw and rode in my first "Lusitania". Others in the area were the Obie aeroplane. There was a fellow with a plane Harrison family; coming[...]ian, persuaded my father to run for the available in forty acre tracts that were located legislat[...]g to training name of Carey, who was instrumental in passing camp for a week before the war was[...]emed like a week getting it moved held class in her home located about two miles to the new locat[...]two districts making Lone Tree School the first in After moving the house, building different District 56. Some of the teachers at the school in- out buildings, and breaking considerable land[...]. Parsons, was born at Little Rock, always around in time of need, went East and Illinois, on[...]ashington Carey Land. He was very much interested in where he and his wife had lived their last twenty politics and was quite instrumental in the for- years. Mrs. Parsons died October 1[...]vel with the transportation Valier from Conrad in 1928. They had originally that we had, to do any county business. homesteaded east of Conrad in 191 7 and then I remember the celebrations t[...]e a county seat of Water Company at Conrad in 1925, moving to each new county. Conrad wanted to be county Valier in 1928 to be with the company's home of- sea[...] |
| [...]and Rebecca. They now reside in Tenton,[...]married in September of 1947 and they have five[...]children. They are Bill, Mickey, Patrick, Gene,[...]might see them in Va lier visiting friends. They reside part time in Missoula and Lake Havasue[...]Logsdon from Seattle, Washing ton in 1944. They The William Pauli, Sr. Family. Back ro[...]both resided there until Marjorie passed away in Marjorie, Kathleen, Helen and Valera. Sitting are William Sr. and Gwen.[...]in 1950. They had three children who are Jeff carrier north of Valier until retirement in 1962. Briden of Valier, Colette Briden of Missoula, and During his living in Valier he was active in city Gwenna Widhalm of Valier. Helen remarried in government and social activities, one in par- 1970 and resided in Valier until 1975, when she ticular was working w[...]and other Great Falls. Helen lived there until 1980 at prominent men in Valier in raising funds and which time she passed away. building the Valier Civic Center. While in Valier Kathleen, the youngest child[...]William's, married Herb Kuka from Valier in the Valier area has and during his retirement in 1962. They have two children named Shaw[...]id the same until passing Randa, who are still in high school. Kathleen and away in 1976. her girls now live in Great Falls where she is em- Gwen while living in Valier was active in the ployed. Valier Alter Society, Legion[...]raising a family of six children. She passed away in 1958.[...]ak. About four remain living today. Marjorie died in 1954 1907 in Birmingham, England, there lived John and Helen in 1980. W.[...]really the he married Zeri ta Pitner from Valier in June of beginning of an eventful few ye[...]Valier, Montana, United States of America. The are Roger, who is the oldest, followed by Jerry,[...]resided, and he some interest as to how they came to land in opened up the Pauli Garage, which was located[...]le and the Conoco A depression in England had rendered John Bulk Plant. He later mo[...]rried a Valierian by the began a saga of many changes in the philosophy name of Richie Nielsen in November of 1941. that if things are not going well try something Richie's father was[...]hildren, Dennis, Karen, Alan tunities in America was widespread and this[...] |
| 1919. There seemed no future on the homestead.[...]for a few more years, hoping, but finally in 1924,[...]yard master. For the eight years in Valier, life was good. The Perrins bought a house. There was The Perrins family in the Twenties. lack, Francis, the thrill of owni[...]. Robert attended seemed the place to go. Landing in Canada in- grade school. From the Water company, Jac[...]ka, to San Franciso, Chrysler sedan and money in the bank. This is to Oregon, to New York and back[...]Tom Ed- quite a few because of the odds in favor of there monds, a friend of a friend in England. Arriving being a few jugs of moonshine in the basement at Claresholm, they found that Jessi[...]oved to Montana near Valier. some, but how else was there to be any volunteers Arriving in Valier on a cold blustery day was at all? not r[...]welcome, Valier looked were mighty rare in those days and so were the brighter.[...]elen) Perrins. 1910-their time was spent house in the morning cross legged and go back to between w[...]s having a call of nature at midnight just before how they started out on the homestead. 1911-a[...]t was born. mention. Someone's toilet appeared in the middle There came the work, the sweat, the tears and[...] |
| [...]worked at what you could find and there was[...]es with few The Perrins homestead south of Valier in about 1910. worries and everything to be thankf[...]red on the toilet. It seemed rather fitting to in Renton, Washinton. Jack, Jr., retired as lead some, but the Women's Temperance Society man in quality production, Boeing Aircraft Co. didn't th[...]ersity of Washington, mostly they were oneholers. There were a few two holers, but they weren't very popu[...]ng Jackie Perrins and Bob Whipple. Luckily it was in the leg and luckier still the bullets went clear[...]the holes and everyone went back to "work". In 1930 the depression struck. The bank closed. The lease on the cafe could not be renewed. There was not work. WPA furnished a meager living for the jobless and there seemed little to look forward to. It was m[...] |
| Seattle, tried a stint at ranching in Big Timber, He was a charter member of the Conrad Montana and worked for the Army Engineers in Mission Church, served in 1952 as chairman of Seattle, Washington.[...]- Mother, the cornerstone of the family death in May, 1954, was a director of the Conrad through a[...]small, position he had held since 1948. there was no discouragement she could not meet.[...]nd thin of all the years, she cordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and had guided the family so expertly. How we missed the honor of being the first w[...]of recognition, when the band visited Conrad in the illness. Husband, father, and provider, in no way Spring of 1972. She had "earned first[...]these. Through all the years he coronet in 1905" according to an item in weathered the discouragements. To him there "Dateline: Concordia" of March of that[...]s a better tomorrow. In March, 1928, the family suffered the loss So[...]tself. We have never forgotten the time, and in June, 1937, the only daughter and people, places and events in Valier. It still seems sister, Mildred Lorraine, passed away. natural to say we are "from Valier". We grew up Gerald Peterson and Ardis Anderson of Flax- there, how could we forget her. -Francis Perrins ville, Montana were married in 1943 and have one son, Roger. They reside in Mercer Island, Washington, where Gerald is employed in the The Nicholas Peterson Family[...]adys Russell became Lein, came to the Valier area in 1909 with his man and wife in 1951, have no children and live wife, Martha, and[...]Ranch. and purchased several pieces of land and, in Stanley and Mildred Johnson were married in time, built the house on what became the Peter-[...]Mildred arrived Alice (Mrs. Mike Miller) lives in Earlsville, Illinois. here in July, 1916. They drove from Hunter, North Sue, (Mrs. Bill Merriman) of Great Falls and John Dakota in their Model T Ford and after a year who lives at home. or so moved south of the Lein place. Again, in Grandma Mathilde Peterson is a reside[...]ota to Peter and Martha (Strandwold) Peterson and in October 1910, he married Mathilde Mortenson of Fa[...]e coming to Montana. Here he was elected to serve in the 1937 session of the Montana House of Representatives and in 1941 and 1943, he served his county in the State Senate, and was returned to the House in 1949. Martin[...] |
| [...]was a story by itself, but they finally arrived in[...]in 1953. Two more children, Doris and[...]Hugo and Oscar were always on call for each in North Dakota in front of Mathilda's parents' house other when a[...]old that when Mathilde's father, when he got there. Mrs. Huebner, a neighboring Paul Mortenson, as a[...]Wenzel , Sr., was nineteen years of age, arrived in New York City usually in attendance. When I asked her once from Norway in the late 1800's, he could speak where th[...]d to have a shave, hair- said she found her in a coulee. Kids today miss a cut and shoeshine. He[...]ot! when the colored "shoeshine boy" spoke to him in Those early days of farming are hard to con- Norwegian. He asked, "How does it come that template for anyone[...]d was still virgin sod which had to you have been in this country as long as I have have the r[...]built around fields to keep livestock in, or to keep[...]The Oscar Peterson Family Oscar was born in 1887 in Craig, Nebraska, where he grew up, to six feet four and one-half inches. He attended Boyle Business College in Omaha, where he met a pretty Swedish lass, Marie Nelson, who was five feet two inches. They were married in 1910 and lived on Oscar's farm near Craig for fou[...]eking wider horizons, they sold their place early in 1914 and in March that year, Oscar and his good friend, Hugo[...]a wagon, This family picture was taken in 1938. Doris and Ver- and a St. Bernard dog. That journey on the rails ne are standing, with Oscar, Pat and Marie seated[...] |
| The Oscar Peterson homestead in the summer of 1917, taken by an itinerant photographer. Marie, Verne, and Doris are standing in the yard, along with chickens, cats and a cantank[...]oom came later. The two buildings by the haystack are still standing. The house was sold a few years ag[...]lights, and collided headon with had to be set up in shocks by hand to dry out by Gilbert Hofland in a similar rig. the time the harvest crew came. Th[...]he "Farmer Burns' Correspondence Course in bundle wagons, feed the horses, visit the cook car Wrestling" in twelve easy lessons. Our bunkhouse for a handout,[...]ws would scoop shovel it into Petersons in 1920 packed some food and the bin. The huge straw[...]caught their first animals, milk the cows, bring in the coal and trout. They were "hooked[...]the car up the hills, we fixed flat tires, and at In the winter several neighbors would go to Lake[...]er that time we never missed a summer trip packed in straw and stored in ·a n ice house for to Glacier. summer u[...]sed to center of the community. Many romances got off leave early in the morning with a four-horse team to a f[...]urn to "speak a piece". maybe one of the churches in Valier and get back Church services were held spasmodically. In long after dark. Mom would open the door and[...]school. Neighbors would gather in the evenings One summer evening Oscar and Ma[...]or's house a couple to hear news event. There was much static, howls, miles away. They chugged along in their open and squeaks, and sometime[...]miles per hour One day Mom was in the yard hanging up 260 |
| [...]scar and Marie Ladies Aid were highly anticipated in those days. celebrated their sixty-fifth weddi[...]r perhaps made a new love and affection of many friends and neighbors. quilt for the minister's f[...]he too passed away at the age of 88. For many years and for many people, Mom stayed on at Horizon[...]where she still resides at this writing. She is in a families found the money to attend this week of[...]ograms. It. was high well, and enjoys the many activities and the class entertainment, even by t[...]ecturers, Oscar and the · boys, but has many happy symphony orchestras, and drama.[...]-Doris Peterson HaJJ- During the depression in the early 30's, Ab- bott Lakers did lots of do-it[...]The Henry Elmer Pond Family a mill in Conrad to grind their own flour, even Henry Elmer Pond was born at Randolph, trucked crude oil in barrels from the Sunburst- Vermont March 15,[...]line and fuel oil. the Mayflower, and he had many of the virtues of Time flew by, with seasons[...]on to Dupuyer, where he worked in the Hirshburg We kids finally grew up and settled in the Store and later the Harris Brothers Store. He Valier area with families of our own. In 1953, married Ellen Nelson in Great Falls, Montana in Mom and Dad retired from the farm and bought a[...]believe. She was from Sweden, and had small home in West Glacier, where for the next been a teacher there. He worked for the Cooper twenty-one summers, they enjoyed the three F's, and Leech Sheep Company for many years. Fishing, Family and Friends. Each year, in the In 1904, we lived at what had been the Town fall, they migrated to their winter home in St. of Robare. It was deserted, and only a few Petersburg, Florida, where they were very in- buildings were still there. In 1905, we started for volved with church activities, shuffleboard, pic- the Peace River Country in Canada. We traveled nics, visiting shut-ins, etc. When he was eighty, in a covered wagon drawn by a pair of wild Mon- Osca[...]orses, who had never seen a car or a train years. In September, 1974, they gave up their and we[...]through the most beautiful country without Lodge in Conrad, where many of their old friends seeing a house or anothe[...]slowly and camped along the rivers. There were[...] |
| [...]r the large rivers. We kids cut the property in two with the big garden on the had a great time,[...]d Dad north and the home on the south. There were no enjoyed it too, in spite of having six kids and a modern conve[...]boiler and tubs were Dad stopped to harvest in eastern used for washing, plus a[...]t fall, and then started north carried in from an outside pump. again, but got to Loon Lake[...]nd Earle, to play. The next door neigh- He stayed there ten years, and Dad worked in the bors, McCormicks, had goats which loved to woods. There was big timber everywhere then, show o[...]tance to school on foot to the other side of In 1915, he returned to Montana, as there town. Often farmers taking their own children to was sickness in the sheep and Gene Leech want- school in bobsleds would tuck the Pond children ed him to help. He filed a homestead, now in and take them along. owned by the Hutterites, built a house, and in Christmas gifts included a wheelbar[...]y father for the children. At this Mama died in 1933, and after a few years, time, he wa[...]e, Selma Myhres, Elevator which sold seeds in the spring and to Washington, where he had a happy home with bought grain and stored it in the fall. The kids them for ten years. He returned to Montana to used to love to play in the empty grain cars, they visit Walter and me in 1933 and died there. also made rafts which they floated in the standing Henry and Ellen had seven child[...]n April 3, 1893 and died September In 1924, they purchased the Jacob Fey home 1, 1972;[...]March 16, 1895 and lives on Main Street. There was an apartment con- in Kettle Falls, Washington; Nellie born May 24,[...]e garage. Bonnie and Indoor Nelson 1897 and lives in Spokane, Washington; Mabel began their married life in that apartment. There born February 6, 1900, lives in Spokane, was a barn in back of the garage where Henry Washington; Walter[...]milked a cow every night, when he came home lives in California; Robert born January 25, 1905 fr[...]return home, the house was packed and there The Henry William Pond Family[...]nry W. Pond came to the Valier area via In spite of the very cold weather and heavy snow, Io[...]r a Carey Land Act weather. Homestead in 1914 three miles north and four A[...]he 20's, a number of miles east of town. He lived in a little shack on the Pond relatives came to live in the Valier-Dupuyer property for a year and spent many back area. These included Inez an[...]Cady Pond, Hazel and Paul Jolley and At one time there was a flume across the property their families, also Bert Adler, a cousin. All are carrying irrigation water. It has since disap- now deceased except Inez Campbell in Waterloo, peared and is now all dry land. Among those who Iowa and Bert Adler in Maramec, Oklahoma. have farmed the land are Ben Parker and at The family was in regular attendance, twice present, the Majerus fa[...]each Sunday, and members of the Methodist In 1915, he was married to Florence Heiple Church. The church bell always managed to ring in Waterloo, Iowa. They lived on the "five-acre[...]t east of Valier. The big irrigation ditch was there, behind the horse shed, Santa's rein- 262 |
| [...]and Henry were ac- seven children. Five are still living. They lived in tive in church work.[...]elby. Henry was also on the school board for many He passed away in 1958. years and was a member of the Masonic Order. Ruth is living in Shelby. Their daughter, Florence was an Eastern S[...]married Pat Wheeler. They had four Worthy Matron in 1928. children and are living in Vaughn, Montana. Ed- Henry died in 1928 in Great Falls following ward married Betty Fowler of Shelby. They had stomach surgery. He was buried in Waterloo, three children and live in Jerome, Idaho. Lyle Iowa. Florence and the children remained in married Jean Golden from Glendale, A[...]9, when they they had one child and are living in Glendale. moved to Water loo to be nearer their f[...]Emmett married Rita LaRance from Dupuyer, In 1957, Florence moved to Longmont, they had two children and live in Cut Bank. Colorado, to be near her daughter. She[...]rried Bobbie McCall from Glendale, going and made many new friends before she Arizona, they had six children and live in passed away in 1975. She, also, is buried in Oregon. Waterloo. Earle is married, lives in Seattle, father of two sons and grandfather of fi[...]y Powell, M.D. married to a retired CPA and lives in Longmont, Clarence Day Powell, one of Valier's first Colorado. They are the parents of two, grand- citizens, 1909, was a doctor in the town for over parents of four.[...]into the world" as he liked to say, many of Valier's Lawrence Perry[...]present residents for $35 or $45 if they lived in Lawrence Perry came to Valier in 1928 and the country. was a barber in the same location were Lloyd He[...]h him to Valier, his young Wentworth had his shop in the Mint Bar. He lived wife, Mayme, an ac[...]tice in North Dakota. They had one daughter,[...]The Powells divorced and in 1928, the doc- tor married a first grade teacher in town, Mildred[...]and lived in the Powell house until the 1970's. Eager to be in on things, as he always was,[...]of the Permanente shipyard hospital in Van- Janet Mae, Alfred, Melba Jean, Hazel and Lawrence couver, Washington during World War II, and it in 1938. was there he died on Thanksgiving Day, 1943.[...]born there in 1957. The Louis Phillips Family[...]l was noted for Louis Phillips came to Valier in 1911. He being a fine diagnosti[...] |
| [...]Valier baseball team in 1909 or 1910. Senators Walsh and Murray were amon[...]n now retirement age will remember the see Gynell in her crib. Leading the Democratic[...]stcards he sent with messages like, "Valier fight in Pondera County, he made up parodies to[...]kept their confidences and was interested in them put on rousing political rallies while worki[...]as kids, just as he was always interested in what his candidates. went on in the world. He was colorful and a As a promot[...]then back to Williams in the fall, where I was em-[...]In the spring of 1928, we again moved to the[...]farm for the summer and back to Williams in the[...]The L. F. Powers family in 1942. 264 |
| [...]nd May Broten with daughter, Christine, with In the spring of 1929, we moved back to the their horses on the homestead in 1916. farm and lived there until 1937, when we bought the Floyd Srni th home and moved in to Va lier so Berg, Ole Broten and Nick Peter[...]ntil a teacherage was built onto the Heights, but in 1941, we bought more land, so schoolhouse. moved back to the farm in April, 1942, to live as She met and marr[...]passed away in his first year. Lewis and Elvina In December of 1942, we added one more wer[...]Creek School. She also taught the Heart Butte In- home in Valier the winter of 1948 and 1949, dian School for several years. moving in to it February 7, 1949, living there ever She and George Cowan were married. si[...]moved to Hamilton, Montana where they lived in Elvina Quisley Larson Cowan[...]became Elvina Ouisley came to Pondera County in ill and passed away on August 6, 1948. t[...]Frances Heights. Carrie dent for two years in Pondera County. She traveled to Alaska, Norway and many places in[...]moving to Albert Lea to live. She lived there at[...]had failing health and in 1979, she had a severe[...]John's Nursing Horne in Albert Lea since then .[...] |
| [...]born on June 15, 1926. Raines and moved in to Valier. Eula Eileen only lived nineteen hours,[...]Galata to work for Our son, Claude, lives in Valier and our the Land and Water Company in 1919. They daughter, Mildred (Peggy) Jacobson, lives in used mules and slips to work on the ditches and[...]oyce Hennmen. They playing for dances. got there just in time. Basil played the drums and often donated his playing to help out to buy a piano. In those days The Reinelt Family[...]h We worked for the Gaffs on the reservation in Dakota, was sent in March, 1910, to establish the winter of 1922 and we moved to the George their branch in Valier, and be manager. At that Minty place in the spring of 1923. In the spring of time the yard was one block east[...]s east of Valier. Our crops were through in North Dakota, and in June, 1910, his either hailed out or no rain in 1932. We moved to wife, Eva, and children, He[...]of Bullhead Creek hauled what we had to Williams in a grain tank, and the Marias River. After a[...]a long ways to town. We bought a winter lived there, and commuted to school in Valier. supply of clothes and food only to lose it all when In December of 1911 our dad left us, and our our hou[...]ber 2, 1932. sister, Dolores, was born in January, 1912. We moved to various places until w[...]determined to keep the family Mike Chessman place in 1936. together, and to do this baked bread, cakes and There were only eighty acres, so Basil worked cookie[...]County on the roads and later for the brought in two milk cows from the homestead and Pondera Cana[...]l health were able to sell milk to folks in Valier. The family forced him to retire. Basil Raines passed away in grew, and all attended and graduated from the[...]attend the University of Washington. In 1923, he[...]University of Montana in 1923. She taught in the Hamilton, Montana High School in 1923, while Herb continued his studies in Seattle. After graduation in 1925, he was employed by the[...]retiring from there as a vice president for mort- L[...] |
| [...]originally from Maine, but he came to Montana in[...]when Earl Aiken was there. Later he worked for[...]homestead in the north bench area between[...]Sanderson, who was born in Wisconsin and had[...]l. She taught at the Our first car in 1916. Belgian School and in many other rural schools[...]children, Don, Janet and Lorraine. Harry died in their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary. They[...]th Washington, and a son, Herbert, Jr., who lives in bench. His mother was assisted in birth by a mid- Stockton, California. They have s[...]old enough to operate the farm himself, he school in Montana until she married Edgar Hay,[...]while he would have been in the service, he could she left Valier in 1929, to study nursing at the[...]m. For the next Portland Hospital and Sanitarium. In 1931, she[...]here. General Hospital for over thirty-two years. In 1933, she married Jack Hubbs, who also served Don was back in Valier operating the family as administrator of the hospital. In 1965, they farm when he met Dorothy Christiaens. They moved to Seattle, where they have been active in were married on October 22, 1951. They later health education in the anti-drugs field. They bought the Nesland place in 1953 and Don had have celebrated their forty-seve[...]e farm until 1963, when they sold it to the Walla in 1930, where Dolores attended Walla Chri[...]lla Walla General after they moved to town in 1966), moved to Hospital as medical records administrator, retir- Valier in September of 1964 and made their ing after thirty-two years. She was married to home in the former Fuller-Tidyman house which Fulton Esteb over forty years, passing away in they later bought. 1978. They had two chil[...]employed by the Pondera Vernon, Ohio and Richard in Australia. County Canal and Reservoir Company, but later Mother Reinelt passed away in 1966 in in May of 1967, went to work for the Town of Walla W[...]st Reinelt years before returning to the PCC&RC in 1971.[...] |
| [...]r of the project, the job he held until his death in April, 1979, at the age of 55. The children b[...]our years old. Dennis has a construction business in Valier. Deanna, mother of three year old Shan[...]Randall, em- ployed at Glacier Memorial Hospital in Cut Bank, Montana. Maury, employed at the Pondera Coun- ty Canal and Reservoir Company in Valier. This makes three generations of Hideouts[...]is a dental assistant employed by Dr. Mark Haemig in Cut Bank, Montana. Anne is employed at the Glacier County Hospital in Cut Bank, Montana. Russell is employed by Chatlai[...]. Florence and Roy Rieder in 1936 at a Masonic affair In May of 1976, the Hideouts sold their home in Great Falls. and purchased the former Ebnef-Marsh[...]Two of my brothers were born in Valier, delivered by Dr. Tidyman, Mac in 1918 and Gay in 1920. The Rieder Family[...]in 1921, but returned in 1925 with two more Daniel Rieder, son, LeRoy[...]y, 1922 and Doni, 1925. Roy was Florence, arrived in Valier in 1916 from Dunkirk,[...]Trading Company. in what was referred to as the "Garden Home"[...]Powell's wife. Brother David was born in 1929. We all left Valier in 1932, but again returned in 1935. Roy returned in 1933. Roy owned and[...]and Ray all graduated from Valier High School in[...]precipitated our final move from Valier in 1946.[...]ally worthy to note that Valier has Rieder family in the last picture taken together in provided more t~an a fair share of military combat 1940 in front of the "Wooster" house. lack, L.R.,[...] |
| [...]y and David, served as com- bat military officers in World War II and Korea. Jack, and Army Air Force fighter pilot, was killed in action over Germany. Gay, an Army Air Force bombe[...]ng the first group of B-29 pilots to enter combat in the China-Burma- India area. Ray, Marine Corps fighter-attack pilot, served two tours in Korea flying 110 com- On the left is Hans[...]Louis Morgan. Right in the doorway is Harry Harring- bat missions. David[...]who owned the jewelry store. served eleven months in Korea. The five boys were awarded a total of thirty- three medals for individual recognition, in- grade in Germany and Willie had two years high cluding Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying school in Germany and some business college. Crosses, Purpl[...]who was a phar- Roy, Florence, Jack, and Mac are now dead. macist at the drug store. He and Willie started a Gay, Ray, Doni and David all live in California dance orchestra. Willie was an[...]parents, Willie and I moved to Anaconda. In Willie and I, Elsie, came to Valier in May, 1925, December of 1929, my uncle died. Later in 1930, from Germany. My dad used to say he did not[...]back to Valier and want to go through another war in Germany. ran the meat market again.[...]en He had a brother, Fritz (Gotlieb), living in and lived in Butte. Va lier and he met us in Shelby and brought us to From the fall[...]we moved into a house he had bought. My in the meat business. Then we moved to the State uncle was in the meat business, wholesale and of Was[...]name. My dad worked for them, mostly in the Something humorous came to[...]team of horses. My asked Willie his name in German he said "Villie". brother, Willie, started helping Hans in the butch- She said, "No, its William, Willie[...]nsisted, "My name is not studied it for two years in Germany. William, its Willie".[...]fourteen. We incident after we had been there a while, as she both started school when it opened in September. had probably been in the same class as Willie. I started fifth grade a[...]grateful to my some time before he settled in the United States. parents now that they i[...] |
| [...]did marry. Hans Christopherson, his partner in Valier, was a bachelor, too. They were in business during the First World War. People took[...]e let it be that way. I remem- ber him telling us there were some Norwegians in Valier and they really hated the Germans.[...]T. both filed claims for homesteads west of away in 1972 in Great Falls, Montana.[...]in Valier to his friends, relinquished his claim[...]their second child in 1918 and then he was She married Dr. Powell and a[...]ce of his married Al Rohrig. They remained living in the country. He served in the infantry and was to go Dr. Powell home until[...]Ted became a transient then. In 1919, while Pioneer party in 1971. Mildred Rohrig says, "In working on a ranch in South Dakota, he got lock- the Twenties, Mrs. Man[...]him a shot or sedative and left him lying there in responsible for building the Airport Inn. We en-[...]s planted. "Valier housewives were liberated, in a small way, when the gas line was put in our town. Kin- dling a fire and carting out ashes[...]Andrew T. Russell was born at Ironton, Ohio in the year of 1894 on the 20th of February. Mr. Rus[...]L. Russell family migrated to Dupuyer from Kansas in 1915. John L. and An-[...] |
| [...]llott, being a kid told Ted of his sister working in Woolworths 5 & 10 Store. One Saturday night, they came to town and Loren brought Ted in the dime store and in- troduced him to his sister, Ora Mellott. Ted ask[...]0, we became engaged. Stanley and Ted worked in the woods in Min- Ted Russell and nesota that winter and T[...]ut oldest child, next spring Ted was back in Minot and Ted and Valma, known as[...]ott were married on her twentieth birth- now, in 1922. day. We lived in Minot a few years, but came to Valier in 1923 to visit and for Ora to meet the family. Ted[...]Ora Russell was away from Valier thirty lived in a house in the area where the Joe years, but in April, 1980, returned to make her Kingstons lived in Valier and of course the other home near a dau[...]Ted occasionally told people when we were In 1927, the Ted Russell family came to firs[...]uyer to help out his father, as he was getting in a 5 and 10 cent store. up in years. But we didn't get to living in Valier Ted and Ora had four children, Valm[...]forty-eight years here in Valier and plans on trans- In 1940, after the sale, we rented a ranch ferr[...]ebekah forty-four owned by Cargill, Inc., we were there until 1949 years, but transferred from Valier[...]tion sixteen years ago after retiring. sale in October and moved to Helena to he near her husband in Fort Harrison. He died in 1956 and is buried in the Valier Cemetery.[...]begins in 1920, when their son, Robert and I[...]We lived in our home a mile or so away, until[...]businessman. In the eighteen years I knew him, I Daddy and children, Valma and Charles in 1928. never knew him to do anything th[...] |
| [...]Medicine River. In 1901, she attended Fort Shaw[...]the violin and mandolin. In 1904, she went to[...]years. She played in the orchestra and was a seamstress. She returned in 1907 and was em-[...]She married Chester Pepion in 1908 and Kat[...]children. Mr. Pepion died in 1943. She worked as and fair. He passed away in 1939. He was a good a cook at the Browning School. For several years father-in-law and kept my wood box full of kin- she worked for Beckman's in Great Falls. She also dling and the reservoir on[...], when Mable married Robert Salois in 1959. He neighbors came in the evening to play cards. died in 1973. They lived in Valier and Mabel still Margaret Ryan was a v[...]he summer here where she owns her She passed away in June, 1938, on the very date home. During t[...]d wedding anniversary. We Horizon Lodge in Conrad. shared the same home for thirty-three yea[...]-From an interview done by Wayne Arnst which in itself tells a lot. and from a story in By Gone Days, Modern Ways Bob lost his heari[...]o used the graduated from Valier High School in 1959 and sign method of the deaf. persued a career in flying. He had a private He was a good busin[...]pilot and flight instructor licenses, I live in Great Falls now, but Valier still is which helped him get through college at Mon- "home" in my heart, and I see my good friends tana State University. from there often. -Kate Ryan[...]flight program in 1966. In 1967 he was named Mabel Pepion Saloi[...]a via tor of the year, Mabel Salois was born in 1884 or 1885 in a first among some 2,000 pilots then in training. teepee north of Birch Creek near Robare[...]ervation. Her heritage is half Black- carriers in the South China Sea flying eighty feet Indian from the Blood Camp and half white. combat missions in a jet, all-weather attack plane Her father was Ge[...]over Vietnam. He completed his active duty in Leavenworth, Kansas. He became one of the first 1970 and returned to continue his education in sheepmen to start on the Blackfeet Reserva[...] |
| [...]with the Campbells, started a Sunday School in Richard Sauer[...]came to Valier from Sunday School." There was an occasional visiting Sheboygan, Wisconsin a[...]om Valier or Dupuyer. Drusilla Farm Sales Company in 1913 when about thir- remembers her cla[...]irst National Bank house. Betty was born here in 1928. located where the post office is now. He le[...]both the house the Federal Land Bank, going from there to and acreage. Emma died August 15, 1[...]Wesley J. Schneider came to Montana in Sauer passed away at age 82 in California. 1938 from Scotland, Sou th Dako[...]He married Ruth Barth, who had come to In 1910, Willis Angell came to Valier with Valier in 1939. She had been working for his family hoping[...]y W .A. Parker and their seven daughters was born in Valier and was John L. Goff farms and in 1944 he leased farm named Valiera.[...]ed the third girl, Em- ma. They were married in Choteau on Valentine's Day in 1917. That night the livery stable caught fire an[...]left the place overnight it would be ransacked by In- dians. Several years later due to dr[...] |
| [...]certain place in mind to settle, but a trek from the[...]reason enough to stop there. The Franks family made their home on a farm in North Dakota[...]victim to his charms. They were married in 1895.[...]United States in 1899 in Langdon, Cavalier County, North Dakota. While living in North[...]Barbara, Frank, George and Mildred. In 1913 Schneider Service Station while staying with relatives in Edmonton, Alber- ta, Canada, Agnes was born. In 1915 the Schuler[...]ip for J.I. Case farm machinery and smaller im- in Valier, but Anna says it was probably because plements in 1952 and continued in this business the car would not go any further. Or maybe it was until his death in 1963. because another[...]en operated the business, Whatever the reason there followed an eventful having obtained the Case Farm Machinery fran- fourteen years in Valier. chise in her name. Mr. Schuler built the house they lived in for Ruth married Ray Newby of Fanshaw, Oklah[...]Ray and Ruth decided to sell this business and are now operating Ruth's Salvage and Scrap, which is housed in the building built by K.P. Munyon for his lumber business many years ago. Ray has a sheare and crane plus variou[...]rate the scrap business. Ruth's two children are Carrol Swanson, who lives in Valier and Charles Schneider, who lives in Denver, Colorado. The Schuler Family 274 |
| [...]in the Majestic. Since this was not very often, it[...]Tony was on Frances Heights or in Rock City.[...]he runners. in Valier.[...]and Johnnie had built it and trade, his interest in machines and farming led the fact that Val[...]afford to own their own and depended know there was something unusual happening at on such people[...]ake pasture. No one seems to remember if it wheat in the fall. The steam engine and separator eve[...]t day no doubt remember the put the cows in the pasture to flight. Tony, in later steam engine, Separator and water wagon stand- years, taught flying in Cle Elum and Arlington, ing behind the Schuler ba[...]e school but did not started the Majestic Theatre in Valier next to the finish high school. Barbara and Millie graduated cafe. This was the main attraction in Valier and from Valier High School. Agnes a[...]Valier more enjoyment and entertain- In 1929, after fourteen years of really en- ment that anything else in town. The Schuler joying Valier and hav[...]Tony ran the Schuler had an opportunity in Portland, Oregon projector. Before an electric piano player was in- that he felt he could not pass up. The depre[...]music fitting the scene and of the family in Portland would be better. sometimes when Hoot Gib[...]ere Things did not turn out so well in Portland in the middle of an Indian fight, it was all the old[...]stice to the struggle, but to Mr. Schuler, there was no such scene.[...]Millie took tickets. Mr. Schuler kept the place in shape and took care of the outside posters, etc., in regard to advertising. If anyone was unabl[...] |
| [...]d school, got married and sea ttered about. In 1939 Dad passed away at Portland. This was the end of a life that would not stand still. To him there was always something to do and he was always busy[...]through school was ac- complishment enough. In 1941 Mother passed away. Raising and caring for s[...]y ox team, raising a family without running water in the house and a furnace for heat, couldn't help b[...]anor, Joe, Schuler, she couldn't stand still when there was Frank, Ethel and Helen . something to b[...]myself." As people come and go from here to there, Sara Nelson. Her father came to Montana in there always seems to be one place that is more[...], three small children, a depression and we lived in Valier." -Anna M. Perrins (Schuler) mostly[...]Joe had a Model T truck out in the potato field[...]start the truck and Eleanor pulled the Minnesota in 1890. He was raised and attended spark - it kicked and they had a boy with a school in that area. Being an adventurous young brok[...]octor bill of only a few dollars. Shelby, Montana in 1911. His first job was lamb- Joe and[...]1200 seedling trees with a shovel as their Shelby in 1912. He also was janitor and clerk of equipment. Today the trees are part of the farm- the Shelby schools. He always s[...]stead of grandson Dale Seifert. He believed in kid in Toole County and always liked a good sur- s[...]time he started farming. In the early years he Joe served some time in the National Guard. used horses as everyone[...]id not He was sent to Butte during a labor strike in really enjoy working with horses. So he[...]ve a tractor. His first one was Doug las, Arizona in the summer of 1916 during a three-wheel B[...]d War I. to expand. In 1918 Joe filed on some Carey Land Act Their activities in the community at that time land in the Lone Tree Community. The spring of in[...]cial 1921 he married Ethel Nelson. Ethel was born in club. The time was spent doing fancy work to Illinois in 1898 and later moved to Dows, Iowa. keep the hands busy while also visiting. In 1923 She is the oldest of eight children o[...] |
| [...]ues. Ethel had her first and only pressure cooker in 1927. It was considered an expensive piece of equipment in those days and[...]ollars. It lasted all the years I was born in Valier, one of eight children of Ethel canned and she sold it in 1973 in good J.N. and Florence Starbuck. working[...]The summer before my senior year in high The recreation in the early years were the school, I went to[...]ng to Alice Rose, a former ties at the school and in the homes, and also pic- Valier teacher. I stayed in San Diego my senior nics. The school picnics were[...]to live with my car make it back up the big hill. Many went down brother John and help take care of[...]s also included daughter, when Alice died in childbirth. berry picking on the river and walks in the I continued living in San Diego, working at coulees to pick the first s[...]mmunity and ment Store until I came home in 1947 to help out county. He was a member of the s[...]ent's drug store, when Dad was ill. Lone Tree for many years. For sixteen years he I met and[...]ter Users of the Bullhead Community. We lived there farming Pondera County Canal and Reservoir Compan[...]nd- killed when he was kicked by a horse in 1963. I ed through the Cargill Company by Art Jar[...]ime the Water Company Conrad and was employed there. I met John had complete control of the votes. Mu[...]Williamson of Kalispell and we were married in devoted to this position. He was elected for two[...]egislative The Seifert children are Dale, who is married sessions. to Marilyn Johannes. They are living on the home The Seiferts moved into Conrad in 1948 place and have four children. when[...]Cheryl is married to Gene Curry and they are Elizabeth Starbuck of Valier. They had five living in Val_ier with their four children. Gene children. Frank was killed in an accident in ranches and has a trucking business. 196[...]Eleanor married Lawrence Conrad of St. in Bozeman, where he works for Sunbird Aviation. Clo[...]farmed north of Ethridge. He also has a welding in the Wingina Community east of Valier with business. their two children. They all now reside in Tempe, Sandra and her husband, Robert Ni[...]two boys live in Conrad, where they both teach After retireme[...]ome competition. Those days found their camper by many a stream or lake in Montana. The Herbert[...]y Herbert Sever went to Valier, Montana in[...] |
| [...]she was called, married Charles Clifton Sheble in Herbert married Geraldine Pagelin in 1922. Great Falls on February 24, 1903. Char[...]er and dad were farming near Valier. born in Greenridge, Missouri on February 14, Geraldine's parents moved to California in 1922, 1875, but the family beginnings are in Germany and Herbert and Geraldine took up a homes[...]es Edward Sheble, Sr. was born on June and farmed there. 22, 1906 in the Deaconess Hospital in Great Our neighbors were I.P. Axtell and fam[...]four children who all farmed near baptized in that same school by Reverend Valier. We moved to[...]Mecklenberg, who was the minister of the Valier in 1936.[...]r years. and later started up a poultry ranch. We are now When Jim was in the fifth grade, the family living on the ranch.[...]s Pendroy school and Jim started high school in we had in Valier. Also the bad times we had Chotea[...]wasn't for him. His father died in 1922 and later[...]ed working at various jobs in and around Stan- The James Edward Sheble Fa[...]one of Montana's earliest set- tlers who arrived in Helena, Montana on Septem- ber 20, 1864 when he w[...]took almost six months to make the trip. Included in the wagon train was the family of little Mary Byw[...]James G. Anthony. James G. Anthony was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on January 2, 1854. His fath[...]and Mary Read Bywaters, married James G. Anthony in Helena on June 5, 1880.[...] |
| ford, Pendroy and Browning. He was in Oregon Hauling hay with horses and w[...]to -40 and the wind blew continuously. thirteenth in 1925 while on the job, but was One July in the early l 940's, they had an ex- miraculously s[...]the bad times because like Julia Magee. She died in 1931 leaving a baby most of the families,[...]ere he The Shebles moved to Valier in 1945 when mined coal and later started his own tr[...]s northwest of town. Later Jim bought an ad- In 1937, he married Anna Olsen, a teacher ditional five hundred sixty acres. Jim always in the Pendroy schools. Anna's family[...]arley, wheat, hay and bum wald Olsen who was born in Oslo, Norway and lambs. her mother was Anna Frigaard, who was born in In 1950, Jim became county commissioner of Tronjheim, Norway. Anna was born in Choteau Pondera county, replacing Mandy Johnson who and was raised there and in the Fairfield area died during his term of[...]nts had a homestead and desert teen years in this office the flood of 1964 oc- claim three miles north of town. Early in life she curred. Many bridges and roads were washed out walked almost two miles to a rural school and and many lives were lost. Also during his terms of later attended high school in Fairfield and office the oiled secondary road, state and Choteau. She graduated from Choteau in 1924. federally funded, was built joining[...]h road at the county line. years, mostly teaching in rural schools in Teton The four Sheble children all atten[...]attended Montana schools. Connie graduated in 1949 and she is State Normal College in Dillon graduating in now Mrs. Norman Weaver of Jackson, Michigan 1934. Her last three years of teaching were in and has five children. Annalee, now Mrs. Brian Pendroy where she met and married Jim in Elliott, graduated in 1957. She lives in Kalispell August of 1937. and has two children. James, Jr. graduated in In 1939 they leased the old English ranch on 1958[...]thousand sheep, raised Sherry graduated in 1963 from Valier High hogs, chickens, hay and som[...]School and from Bozeman as a registered nurse in crews, lambing crews, shearing crews and[...]n Belsher of Prescott, raising bum lambs resulted in a lot of work for Arizona and they have thre[...]ies were born during those Jim and Anne are members of the Methodist six years, James, Jr. an[...]been a Mason for thirty-four years. They both are problems arose, especially when men came to[...]nch and failed to bring their thy Matron in 1956. The children were members stamps. Sugar sta[...]to bring the stamps Jim and Anne moved in to the town of Va lier were the ones who used the most sugar, generally in 1969 although they spend their winters in two big spoonfuls to a cup of coffee. Sheets were[...]had a lot of salt sacks ly, peaceful community in which to live and if that were bleached an[...] |
| [...]husband, Dick Sykes, lived in Valier for a time .[...]The Shues and Mrs. Sykes are deceased.[...]and Tiny King in 1969 and the King's son Joe and family live there.[...]ame from Cecil, Gordon King and Cecil Shue in 1964. Ohio. A neighbor in Cecil, a Mr. Inselman, per-[...]my, and their son the Carey Act Land Grant. So, in the spring of Cecil and his wife, Ida, came to Montana in the 1910, Henry Sill, with his son, Henry F.[...]of Va lier, the neighbor present Jim Powers farm. In 1926 Cecil and Ida buying a quarter section[...]They also bought a house west of Then, in March of 1911, the rest of the family the home of[...]house has since came from Ohio, traveling in an immigrant car, burned. The house on Dupuyer Av[...]veral years. ment. There were Mrs. Pauline Sill, Charles, Ida and Cec[...]l 1916 when Shues bought the Marshall-Wells Store in Shelby the big house was built up along the[...]that time the cost of the lumber was only $700. In[...]Mr. Sill passed away in August of 1920 from[...]a bachelor, was killed in a pickup truck accident in November of 1941. Charles, the oldest son,[...]father, living there until he passed away on[...]him in Brandon, Wisconsin, her former home,[...]husband, spent most of the winters in California I Ida Shue and A[...] |
| [...]The Charlie Sill place. had been living in the new Pioneer Home in Waterville: "The Simmons brothers sh[...]Williams so they may unload at that place it will |
| [...]n active member of the Valier community. statutes in such cases made and provided and She served as Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star, against the peace and dignity o[...]Mon- a member of the Methodist Ladies Aid for many tana". The defendant appeared before Justice[...]board. ty dollars, which was a considerable sum in the Alva and Grace had two daughters,[...]ifelong resident Alva was also an auctioneer in the Valier of Valier. She has been a memb[...]ing the bond drive of World War Star for many years and has served as a Star Point II, Alva don[...]Sharon was born on April 1, 1934 and Jere was in Valier donated articles and they were auc-[...]s born on September 12, 1916 son had to buy bonds in the amount of the highest at the Simmons hom[...]le. She attended school in Valier and after It was Alva who was instrumental in getting graduation attended Montana Normal College in Lake Frances open for ice fishing. Prior to 1943 it Dillon, Montana. She first taught school in the was illegal to fish through a hole in the ice but Munyon School near Williams and later in Stan- Alva circulated a petition and sent it to t[...]mission. The commission acted on the petition and in February of 1943 it became officially legal to fi[...]va planted Chinese pheasants throughout the area. In one instance they got twenty-four pair from the s[...]ing of his death he had recently fought two fires in the Valier community. Early in the morning of Sunday, October 10, 1948, as he was preparing to go duck hunting with his son-in-law, an accidental shotgun blast took the life of[...]d A.M., having been raised to the degree of Mason in 1902 at Bremerton, Washington. He was.also[...] |
| [...]reside there in the winter and in Big Fork in the[...]Egan and is the Superintendent of Schools in[...]In 1934 Dan continued to operate the Birch[...]f Browning on the who were born on March 4, 1943, in Hawthorne, Milk. In 1941, Dan and Dorothy Hammond were California. Charlotte has lived in California for a married here in Valier. Dan mined until 1943, at number of years[...]ces Heights. They moved there to live. Dan con-[...]be- Mike and Bernice Sirokman came to Valier in tween Valier and Conrad. In 1959 he tried his 1962. Mike had been a general agent for life in- skill at working in a stone quarry at Monarch and surance for twenty[...]ing material, ship with his son, Richard, and son-in-law, Jerry it was very beautiful stone. The F[...]ntana Stone on it that Dan from Selmer Snortland. In 1974 they sold the had produced. The sto[...]nd other parts of the country merchandising store in it. as well as to Cana[...]in cable from the Conrad Cemetery to Tom[...]Bouchers Missle Center and from there cross-[...]kept himself busy as he did his dozing in the win-[...]Sirokman and farmed there for a couple of years. Since[...] |
| [...]a large hunk of ice in the bottom of these buckets[...]While in Great Falls he saw an ad in the pa per,[...]Wilcox, who lived in Dupuyer, Montana, had The Dan Slezak family in 1970. David, Dan, Dorothy, placed the ad in the paper. So he took the stage Jerry, Roger and[...]ided to sell. He was able to sell as he Creek. There was a coal mine approximately nine had done a lot[...]so his miles northwest of Valier. This was in 1902. farming on the Hi-Line paid off. At this time there was no Valier; neither was In 1969 we bought the Valier Laundromat Conrad in existence. There was a little town east from Stan and Edith Russel[...]t and of what is now Conrad, called Pondera. There it has given us some good years, as well as some[...]m Great bad ones. The tourists and custom cutters are Falls to Coutts. Paul worked in the mine and later grateful that we have a laundromat in town. bought the homestead relinquishm[...]ox. He sold coal to the Land and Water and Marla. In 1975 we sold our farm to Jerry. Company to dig all the main canals in this area. David and Roger are living in Port Orchard, In 1909 he went to New Castle, Pennsylvania Washington and Marla in Conrad, Montana. where he and Anna Mukulska were married. They In 1976 the Valier Senior Citizens started th[...]iven born to this union, Daniel and Irene. In 1919 the one of the Senior Surreys from Conrad an[...]one of the drivers for a couple of years. So all in all he has had quite a busy life, as well as an e[...]The Paul Slezak Family Paul Slezak lived in West Virginia with his parents, the Martin Slezaks. While living there, they worked in the coal mines. At the age of eighteen, he decide[...]eled to what is now Tacoma, Washington and worked in the woods. Then from there he went to Butte, Montana where he worked in the copper mines. The copper mines were very deep in the earth, and he worked in a mine that was called "Never Sweat", and he said[...]weating Irene, Dan, Anna and Paul Slezak in 1928 Europe and while working there than he did in all his life. returning passport pic[...] |
| [...]hool and attended Montana universities. returning in 1928. Paul continued to operate the San[...]ter his death Dan and married Robert Cole in 1963. They were the first Irene continued to operate the mine. Later on couple to be married in the new Methodist Church. Irene married Gene Habets and they had their They live in Stockton, California and have two own farm, leaving Dan to continue in their children, Robert Jr. and Kimberlee Sue. father's business. Irene has lived in the Valier Jeani has been a flight atte[...]Air Lines since 1963. She lives in San Francisco[...]amily have fond memories of Jerry Durnell, a 1908 in Sharon, North Dakota to Norwegian born goo[...]d to tirelessly parents, Bert and Anna Snortland. In 1909 Bert drive his boat on Lake Frances f[...]Don married Jane Pope of Stevensville in southwest of Valier. He refused this location and[...]hers, Edwin and Walter, who served a year in Vietnam where he received the have both passed away. In October, 1937 Selmer Bronze Star Medal for heroism in action. He lived married Leola Vanover who was a 1932 graduate with his family in Germany for three years after of Valier High Scho[...]ld War II broke out. They then Management in Glendale, Arizona. He is present- moved to Washin[...]Corporation and Naval Torpedo Station at Keyport. In 1945 they sales manager for worldwide mark[...]Im- line of off-shore pedestal cranes used in oil well plement with the International Harvester and drilling. They are living in Houston, Texas. Plymouth-DeSota dealerships.[...]have four children; Sandra Travel Agency in Billings and is married to Bill born in 1940, Jeani in 1941, Don in 1943 and Aldrich of Aldrich-Helm Advertising. Diane in 1949. All four graduated from Valier[...]south of Conrad. In 1968 they sold the Implement and their home in Valier, purchased more land[...]and moved to the farm where they still live in the summers. In 1978 they retired from farming and[...]land. They own a home in Mesa, Arizona where[...]In the fall of 1909 John Spar ling and Harvey[...]ohn build a two-story The Selmer Snortland family in 1978. Back row, lane house on the eighty[...] |
| In 1912, their own daughter was born in this[...]Many families were buying more land and trac-[...]on any more land. He was in his forties. He had a John Sparling after[...]worth doing well." He had a horror of going in daughter, Dorothy, out from South Dakota. They[...]mories of pioneer and vegetables. days in Dakota, and these experinces stood them The new Ford car was a blessing to facilitate in good stead in Montana. They tried to protect delivery of[...]ot potable. John and his parents had arrived in the Get- Maude, being rather frail and having lived a tysburg, Sou th Dakota area in 1882 from much gentler life in Dakota, had to muster con- England. Maude arrived in Gettysburg in 1883 siderable grit to face the drudgery[...]from Ohio. Maude and John homesteading in Montana. In the very early days were married in 1896 and went into the mercan- there were no fences and everyone just cut across tile business in Gettysburg. When Carey Land the prairie[...]ose. Indians went by was opened up for settlement in Montana they joined the land rush to Valier. The Sparlings had both been active in lodge work in Dakota so they helped organize lodges in Valier. John was a charter member of Masonic Lodg[...]d the first president of the Wimodasis Club. In those days of poor transportation and com- munica[...]ecessarily mean that minds would go dormant. In 1911 John took up a one hundred and six- Joh[...]rling at tall house was moved onto the homestead. In retirement. later years an[...] |
| [...]to the Marias to pick berries. Gyp- married in Washington and continues to make sies, with their wagons followed by dogs and her home there. Dorothy, now Mrs. Ted Hamaker, colts, were also seen on occasion. lives in Shelby. The little farm is still in the family. One day a strange flashy team an[...]to be the Watkins man, Orange, New Jersey in 1863. After receiving his who later became a frequent and welcome caller. elementary schooling in private schools in New His spices and flavorings lined the cupboard[...]sity in 1883. Shortly after his graduation he Maude[...]ok and seam- moved to Kansas to engage in sheep ranching for stress. She especially enjoyed[...]titution, he became associated with the bond deep in the trunk to be brought out for the hum- dep[...]tead table. Maude never did sacrifice In 1911 Mr. Speir came to Montana to aid in the niceties of life because of the new and[...]earlier. He was vice president and treasurer and in the lamp chimney and frizzing her hair.[...]was listening prises some 80,000 acres of land in Pondera to his Atwater Kent radio, and reading his daily county and is one of the largest in the state. paper. He met the mailman each day at[...]e from the house. He kept a daily Baltimore in 1896 and had one son, Robert Wade record of grain[...]., who also graduated from Princeton and interest in the news. He was always an expert is now[...]. He loved to hunt ducks and grouse Co. in New York City. He is now deceased. with his bird dog, Chief. In later years he turned Mr. Speir was a member of the Princeton to skeet shooting to keep in practice. Club of New York, and also a member of the The Sparlings retired in Valier in 1950. Valier Masonic Lodge. He was a past member of Maude passed away in 1953 at age 76 and John the Valier Community Club and was always ac- in 1959 at age 89. Their daughter, Eleanor, was tive in community and civic affairs, and was a[...]interest in those with whom he worked and dealt and his tact in handling people were two of his[...]reputation for music second to none in this section[...]in the state. He was especially interested in boys[...]music and represented Valier High School in the John and Maude Sparling state music meet. He sang for several years in the[...] |
| [...]Kruse, came to Montana in about 1916 to keep house for him for many years. Her daughter, Min- nie Kruse, taught school in the Valier district in[...]Bill passed away in Spokane, Washington in[...]104 and passed away in the early l 960's. Both are buried at Davenport, Washington.[...]Aaron A. Sporleder, came to Montana in 1906[...]ng full of vim, vigor, and by). The other two men are not known. vitality, they "ship[...]paying $2.00 for his ticket. They arrived in Methodist Church Choir, and gave unstintingly of Hamilton, south of Helena; and after so many his time and talent to all community affairs.[...]t sportsman and Daley Ranches and remained there until they helped originate and maintain a tennis club in learned of the sale of 78,000 acres of C[...]for several years. It was not until about ten in the Valier area in 1909. When the drawing of years ago that he gave[...]hts. William (Bill) Spinning came to Montana in In 1910 they "broke sod" and picked rock; about 1913, settling in the Bullhead area. He had they used walking plows. Irrigation ditches were a large farm and in the early days did all the farm- not in use until 1911, therefore no water and no ing wit[...]team threshing outfit crops. Art cut grass in coulees to feed his horses that he helped the neighbors with in the fall, and (this was all open country with no fences). In others in the area. In later years he farmed with March, 1910, they pitched a tent on Art's eighty in tractors and combines.[...]on the wall in daytime as the big ranch took plen-[...]ty of space. They had many hungry callers as the[...]that railroad was laid in forty six days between Conrad and Valier in 1909.) The Sporleders got[...]There were no roads, just trails, and many[...] |
| [...]married Ruby Taney who taught his daughters in Conrad High School and who was teaching in Fort Benton in the early l 950's.[...]their interests. They grew many vegetables -[...]two inches in circumference, and potatoes that Chris is in a weighed two to three pounds each. Folks got s[...]the Twenties. another project. Fryers, in due time, were dressed[...]and the down from as many as fifty-four geese For recreation Art hunted kit foxes with Bob provided enough "filler" for many, many pillows Stormont who lived just north of him. Bob[...]ok and often brought samples of it to his In January, 1979, the snowdrifts were so high neighb[...]t birds sat on drifts and peered through the In 1913-1914, Art and Aaron operated a windo[...]watching activity within. livery stable business in Conrad where the Coun- The snowdrifts were deep enough that the county ty Yards are now located. They bought three road crews[...]h a severe winter, Art decided to ten livery rigs in use. The brothers also hauled move to town for[...]n to the farm gravel for the first sidewalks laid in Conrad. In in the spring. Yes, the farm is still home. 1916 the[...], a Model The Sporleder twins were always in the T Ford for $432 from Power Wilson; and two[...]work. Art tells of his riding a 3-year-old price. In 1918 Art married Hattie Petersen, and mare he[...]hrew him. She went into that field all right, Jr. In 1920 the Sporleder Corporation was but[...]he yard dissolved and each twin bought more land, in- where the door was open to the cave. She s[...]ork for short at the opening of it and stood there, making cattle grazing. Art has witnessed many changes in farming techniques these seventy years. Horses we[...]apshot of his registered Arabian stallion, Sunup, in his billfold and shows it readily. He sold Sunup to a fellow in Kentucky.) Art raised Hereford cattle many years, but recently Black Angus cows and Charolai[...]d the foundation herd. Feeding a few Angus calves in 1976 finalized the cattle raising - and why not? He was 88! In 1949, his wife passed away, and in 1952 Art Sporleder with kit fox after a hunting trip with his twin brother Aaron did likewise. In 1953 he Stormontsin 1910.[...] |
| [...]He considered manage his new drug store in Valier. Drake also himself fortunate not to be dumped into the cave. had a store in Conrad and one in Choteau. Star- Not many years ago Art bought a white face buck left the train and came to Valier for an in- cow that turned out to be just plain ornery. He terview. He remained in Valier instead of going decided to dehorn and bra[...]quires the use of two irons.) He drove In October, 1909, he sent for his young lady in the critter into the branding chute and then into Iowa to come to Valier. They were married in the cattle squeeze, securely fastening the gate.[...]ober 29, 1909. C.H. Drake She was so mad at being in such close quarters brought them to Valier in his horse drawn buggy, that she stood on only two[...]pplied the two branding irons. By that out in the store, which was also the post office and tim[...]long the barbed wire fence toward Conrad and her. In no time she was standing on all fours; she th[...]fences and raced around the field, shack there and "Star" often rode his bicycle to snorting her[...]wn to work. "cooled off" and returned to the herd in the barn- The Montana Western Railway ma[...]e, Art said, trips a day at that time and many people came in "That's the best rodeo act we have seen in a long the evening about nine p.m. to await[...]arbuck Family James Nathan Starbuck was born in Marion, Iowa, April 14, 1879, to Joseph Ambrose a[...]e former Laura Cone. He gradated from high school in Marion and at- tended Highland Park College in Des Moines where he received his degree in pharmacy. After graduation he worked in a drug store in Waterloo, Iowa where he met Florence Verharen, daughter of Henry Verharen, who was born in Kleiv, Prussia, and Tabitha Sherri££ Verharen Florence was born in Vinton, Iowa on June 26, 1888.[...]essage on back of postcard to Miss Floss Verharen in James N. Starbuck came to Valier in August, October, 1909. ''Dear Floss,[...] |
| [...]weighing eight pounds, arrived and in 1926 an-[...]the city council. He was active in getting natural[...]in line for their allotment. "Star" was a[...]st of the eight, most with Dr. C.D. Powell of- there as long as he had that in the store, "a ficiating. Floss was never in a hospital until she political plum", during[...]postmaster appointment being a hardy soul was up in a few days. at that time, and cont[...]50-year member and one-time homestead and partly in Valier, after proving up president of the[...]r Association and a registered pharmacist in Iowa Avenue, where Doug Henneman is living. and Montana for 54 years. In April 1912 William Warren was born and In 1956 the Starbucks sold the drug store to a daugh[...]ed t, a young pharmacist from Fort 1914. She died in May 1915 from complications Benton, employed in Conrad at that time. The after measles. In 1915 the Star bucks decided to Starbuck's sons Bill and Tom are deceased and go back to Iowa with the three children to look for J.N. (Star) died in June, 1963. another position. It was there that Lucille died. Floss continued to live in the home and in They returned to Valier. Em Goff, who had a[...]d their The Starbuck's children who are living are home when they left for Iowa, so made living[...]irst wife, Alice Rose, at childbirth. Bill Akofer in 1921. It was on Dupuyer Avenue, the mar[...]the identical house, and the Star- lived in California, as did John. Elizabeth married buck a[...]Frank Seifert, who was accidently killed in 1963. side on their homesteads, once again were n[...]. After Natalie married Wayne Burkett in California. moving into their new home, a daughter, There are twelve grandchildren, seventeen great Elizabeth J[...]randchildren and one great-great grandchild. then in 1924, twins! A boy and a girl, each[...] |
| [...]Potluck Din- ner. Each Eastern Star Chapter in Montana was asked by the Worthy Grand Matron, Aud[...]Montana, Order of Eastern Star, to choose someone in their town for the Citizen's Award who has faithf[...]een a loyal Valier booster, has actively assisted in various drives such as cancer, heart, mental heal[...]kens, Dad always had fine quality chocolates in sometimes a turkey or vegetables, but we were dozens of flavors,which I helped stack in pyramid always well-fed and had a Sunday b[...]side-by- a school outfit. side on the shelves in the glass showcase. I My folks h[...]gger babies" (small doll shaped arrived. There were also bridge parties, when a licorice candies[...]strative, but we a counter, and let us make tents in the living knew he cared for us. Mother[...]knew that it all had to be at 92. put back in order before dinner.[...]or, to shop for a homemade jelly. The bread baked in large quan- graduation outfit. W[...] |
| two-day spree. There we heard Madame Dupuyer, Montana. In 1897 he married Minnie Schumann-Heink, noted opera singer, in concert. Morrison of Wolf Creek, Montana.[...]ced her octaves and Falls and Helena. arias in her hill top home near San Diego, that Pete St. Denis' shop was the first building in she could be heard all over the valley. We were[...]Street. The family spent the first summer in a tent all the arts.[...]Camp-Fire Girls, crafts and they lived in two rooms at the back of the shop. projects and c[...]ecial sausage, which was sold Denis died in 1940. around town. Mr. St. Denis was successful in carrying on a I remember in the fourth grade when the shoeing busin[...]ds for each thing, while teaching included in Teton County. While in Dupuyer he her the English. It must have been qui[...]build the first schoolhouse. He also helped in the making a scoop of ice cream on a popsicle type building of the first Catholic Church in Valier. stick, dipping each one into a melted syr[...]for the chocolate and paraffin, then placing them in the new church doors in 1938, also the handrailing ice cream containers in the soda fountain, the first for the stairs. ic[...]Pete and Minnie St. Denis and family settled in the village of Valier in 1909 moving there from Dupuyer. Pete St. Denis became the village blacksmith. Mr. St. Denis was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and at the age of nineteen decided to come west. He spent several years in Montreal, Canada serving an apprenticeship at bla[...]St. Denis ta, Canada. He opened his first shop in 1894 in[...] |
| [...]Margurite and Halloween pranks, such as in 1914 all of the out- Farrest. Louis, the eldest son died in 1909. houses were lined up in front of the Valier Hotel, Emma attended early grades in Lethbridge, poor Mrs. Manchester. In 1915 I wonder if they Alberta, Canada before Valier had a school. She ever found out who put the cow in the bell tower sold tickets at Valier's silent fi[...]h? Dupuyer Avenue was graduated from St. Vincents in Helena in 1916. called "silk stocking row". Mr. St.[...]on election day as she wouldn't Basketball teams in 1920. The people of Valier tell him how she had voted. could boast about their gals and w[...]Otis, grandaughter them. The team was top winner in the state. Corine graduated in 1920 and from Columbus Hospital School of Nursing in Great Falls in 1923. Margurite was valedictorian of the class of 1921, completing her high school in three years. She attended college in Montreal, Canada and Eastern Washington College, graduating as a teacher in French and Music. Forrest St. Denis graduated in 1924 and at- tended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash- ington. Pete St. Denis died in 1949 and both he and Left front is F. D. Kingsbury, fourth from left is Earl Minnie are buried in the Valier Cemetery. Aiken, Pete St[...]emember as Lauffer. The others are unknown. 294 |
| [...]non Steiner Family Apartments. In 1939, we built a house east of Va- My home was in Cornlea, Nebraska. Times lier and started farming. We had three children, were hard back there and I worked for a dollar a Donita, Kenneth[...]oard and room, ten hour days. The fall In 1947 due to my bad health (asthma) we of 1935 I l[...]finally a Western Auto Store. In March 1936, Matt Widhalm and I got in We have ten grandchildren and one g[...]ntana. I got a grandchild. Our children are, Donna Robertson, job working for Maurice Christiaens until in May who lives in Colorado and is manager of Empire when I got laid[...]and per year; Jim and Diane live in Palm Springs, I boarded and roomed with Mr.[...]r. and Mrs. Hugo Swanson, fishing and are enjoying our older days in the which was closer to my job.[...]tarted running nights and days. Harry Swanson was in The Stephen clan originated, like so many charge of the night shift. At first the hay was[...]from European ancestry. Stanley dried and stored in the warehouse until baled. Joseph Stephen was born to Polish parents on The following year they put in a pellet machine, April 17, 1908 in Medford, Minnesota. As a then we sold bales and p[...]t the mill, which did very struction jobs in eastern Montana. Margaret well.[...]I married Bernice, daughter August 17, 1910 in Homestead, Montana. of Walter and Elizabeth Brophy. Bernice was a Margaret grew up in the Froid area and worked former school teacher. She taught at the Wingina for many years in Culbertson with the Roosevelt and Williams School[...]ed. We County Home Demonstration office. In 1936 moved into Valier and lived in the Ferguson Stanley and Margaret were married in Poplar. In[...]Their first son, Michael, was born in 1941 in Whitefish. Stan worked construction jobs in the[...]While living in the Kalispell area their second son, James, was born in 1945. Stan worked for the Department of Highways in[...]Kalispell. In the mid-Forties, the family moved to[...]John, their third son, was born in Conrad in 1949. The family became involved later in ranch- The Stanley Stephen family ing and lived on the Frances Heights, in Valier[...] |
| [...]years. Their only daughter, Helen, was born in 1953 in Conrad. All the children attended schools or colleges and are married. Margaret died on April 16, 1976. Stan is[...]Valier. The Ora Stockmyer Family 296 |
| [...]that was in town for a week once a year, and to[...]family. In the springtime we would see the long[...]Water Company had about one hundred fifty of In August 1964 Ora passed on, after having the[...]d to break these wild until she suffered a stroke in October 1969, and mules for them. I can remember how he used to died in January 1970. The farm was sold to settle tra[...]e, and Chester bought the house and still them in harness in a stall in the barn, hook them lives there. If any of his classmates would like to up to a tub of rocks, hay and oats in the manger in write to him, his address is Aurora, New York.[...]h, via Canada, via Great Falls to Valier, Montana in 1910. They had six boys; David, Richard, Amos, Te[...]d. They took up a homestead south of Lake Frances in 1911, where they lived and farmed for sometime. T[...]t moved to Valier from Utah. They all joined Dave in freighting rock for the old grade school. In 1916 David and Charlotte acquired the Bidwell Ranch, west of Valier, and ran many cat- tle and horses, together with farming for several Standing, David, Sr., sitting are Richard, Ted and years. He also rented lan[...] |
| [...]ly old Armory, and the beautiful Valier Hotel. How sad I will be to go back there this year and see it[...]In 1919 Dave experienced a terrible set[...]remember getting up in the terrible cold morn-[...]carcasses where the day Standing is Amos. Sitting are Ray, Floyd and Charlot- before had been a cow o[...]ard work to hold the rocks up down sick in bed, and either Dr. Tidyman, or Dr. with the pull[...]breaking horses and mules. When I was a boy in about 1918-19 I was with my father a good share of the time. He hired lots of hired men working in the hay fields and threshing grain. This would le[...]ch rack south of the Valier Mer- cantile Company. There he would purchase a large bill of groceries, maybe from Mr. Fey, Roy Floyd at the Bidwell place in about 1918. 298 |
| [...]alls. He charged $15.00 son Bill arrived in Valier in April of 1926. They for fifteen minutes and my br[...]for part of the Charlotte Stokes passed away in the late Thir- summer and then went to work for Tom Neilson on ties and is buried in the Valier Cemetery. Dave the place now owned by Mac McAlpine. After Stokes, Sr. passed away in 1954 and is buried several years George went to work for the U.S. beside his mother in Gridley, California. I can Reclamation Service and in 1934 went to Fort truthfully say that they had a share in the Peck Dam as an electrician with th[...]in Seattle. George and Olive are now retired and Peter and Winnie (Rush) Stol[...]live in Seattle. in Casselton, North Dakota in 1892. They farmed In Minnesota, the rest of the Stoltz family there until 1908, sold their land and moved with[...]possessions in a railroad car to be shipped, Mr. employed in the lumbering business. Three more[...]began their journey to Valier in their 1923, seven In 1923, Clarence and Charles decided to[...]as their driver. George and Louis stayed in in a Model T Ford car and came to Valier to visit[...]o Montana to complete some worked through harvest in the area and returned[...]family, Ethel, married and stayed in Meadow- Charles and George came west for the harv[...]ith her seven children. season. Clarence returned in 1925, worked[...]. A short distance farm. He seeded his first crop in the spring of west of Glasgow, the transmission in the car start- 1926.[...]to the nearest town, Tampico. There being no garage there, they hired a man to take them to[...]the next town, Hinsdale. The garageman in Hins-[...] |
| [...]Louis purchased the Earl Orvis farm in 1936[...]the death of Mr. Orvis. He has farmed there since[...]Helen (Habets) are in the cement contracting business in Missoula and have five children.[...]In 1944, Clarence and Dorothy (Scott) Stoltz[...]ee girls Hauling grain on the Tom Nielson farm in 1927. and two boys. Mr. Peter Stoltz moved to[...]with them and there made his home until his ready for them to move into. Cliff, Frances and death in 1948. Mrs. Stoltz passed away in March Ruth walked to school in Valier. The neighbors 1933. gave them rides on their horses and sleighs in the Frances graduated from the Montana win[...]and served as a flight Louis arrived by train in March, 1927, to nurse. She married Captain[...]les and end of World War II. They live in Missoula and George arrived in the fall of the same year, own and operat[...]in, as well as some of the Alice spent many of her years in Valier and neighbor's grain, after building grain[...]cks were just starting to be used passed away in May of 1980. around Valier as most were using hor[...]Ruth worked for Boeing Aircraft Company in grain tanks.[...]George. the children would be closer to school. In the Montana has been good to the Stoltz's in the spring of 1928, they started building their h[...]servation, now Peter and Winnie Stoltz live in the state. Five of known as the Cliff Stoltz Ranch. Not many of the them are living in the Valier area. original buildings remain (the house burned in 1955) but the groves of trees stand as a living memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Stoltz. In 1929, Ed and Agatha (Stoltz) Haynes family arrived in Valier to make their home. George Stoltz bec[...]f the newly org.anized Farmer's Union Oil Company in Valier in 1930 and served as manager for the Farmer's Union[...]Montana Farmer's Union. They moved to Great Falls in 1943 where he managed the Black Eagle Farmer's Union Oil Company. They are now retired and have a summer home in Port Town- send, Washington and live in Mesa, Arizona in Louis and Peter Stoltz in 1934. 300 |
| The Charles Stoltz Family In the fall of 1923, Charles and Clarence Stoltz wer[...]Minnesota. It took them 11 days to make the trip in their Model T. Winnie Stoltz a[...]Frances and Ruth. Charles returned to Minnesota in the fall of 1924. They worked for Jack Goff and[...]married June 28, 1926 in Duluth, Minnesota. In At this time, Highway 89 was being built.[...]Valier. Pearl and infant son, Gene, arrived in four-mule teams pulling scrapers forging a road Valier in late December, 1927. from the prairie. In 1929 the Stoltz brothers formed a baseball Again a group of four headed north in team. Team members were Charles C[...]and washes. They ford- son, a brother-in-law and also Bill DeWitt, Merle ed the Milk River[...]ms and they played teams from place to settle, so in 1926 Charles drove the the surroundi[...]Charles built the garage known as The Farm- in a 1923 seven-passenger Studebaker. Those[...]were Peter and tana Railway Depot in 1933. He acquired the J. L. Case dealership in 1934. The same year, Charles[...]buildings are now located. In the early l 940's, Charles Stoltz purchased[...]porated in 1970 at which time they were farming[...] |
| [...]Family When the Peter Stoltz family arrived in Mon- tana in 1926, on election day, Clifford was four- teen ye[...]d Valier High School late that fall and graduated in 1930. After graduation he continued to work on the family farm. In 1937, Clifford married Wilma Curry from Roundup,[...]e Valier area to teach the Uleberg Country School in the fall of 1936. Her parents had come from coal mining backgrounds in England and Germany. Weberg pupils on horseback in 1937. They homesteaded in the Bull Mountains, but farming didn't work out so they returned to the coal mines of Roundup in 1931. day was spent at the[...]and substituted off and on for from farm work in the l 930's for Clifford. years in the community at Uleberg and Badger- After a baseball game in July, 1937 Clifford Fisher Schools.[...]nd Wilma were married. They began farming on In 1936 the Uleberg School enrollment was their own in the spring of 1938. Their first crop fifteen with[...]nded country schools, it was quite a job for a In 1944,they bought the original Stoltz farm from yo[...]s Clarence Stoltz. They farmed and ranched there arrived on horseback. Part of teaching the coun-[...]1941, Larry Edward was born followed and harmony in the community reflected in the by Janice Kay in December of 1943. The family school. During winte[...]was complete with the birth of Gail Margaret in tle or no attendance.[...]e wondered if all Larry served two years in the U.S. Army, the Stoltz's did was play baseball, as every Sun- 1966 to 1967, one of which was in the Vietnam conflict. In 1969 he married Robin McGowan, a[...]native of Highwood, Montana. Robin taught in[...]between 1968 and 1970. In 1970 the Stoltz's[...]and Robin lived there from 1970 to 1980 when[...]Bozeman, Montana in 1967. They live in the Pupils at Weberg in 1936. Back row, Bud Harwood,[...]Bozeman Valley with daughter, Erin Lee, born in Calvin Lenoir, James Cook, Roy Smith and Phyllis 1974. Don and Janice own an independent in- Haynes. Front row, Carma Harwood, Virgie[...] |
| [...]th staves, with Father and Mother ford and Janice in 1965. pulling it around the prairie land with me in the[...]fuel for the cookstove and heater. One day in Representatives in 1972, being the youngest 1912, Magnus[...]on a bank of the Dry For ks. This 1976. She lives in Helena, Montana working as a gift of nature saved us from the hunting trips for consultant in Citizen Participation and State the "ch[...]f us Clifford and Wilma continue to be active in children around the new house with the gr[...]covered with ashes from the great fire of 1910 in as a Director of the Montana Farmers Union,[...]l Council of America. glow in the grayish sky. In the fall of 1911 our family moved into[...]ndwold Family school. We lived in a small house on the land now Magnus Strandwo[...]d Annie Bandley the first classes held in the old stone school which was born in Glencoe, Minnesota on October 27, still[...]Mable, Alex, Orville, and the writer, George. In 1907 our family moved to Prosser, Washington where my dad farmed a small apple orchard. Dad heard, in 1909, of the Homestead Land available in Valier, Montana and he came here to stake out his "homestead" in January of 1910. My dad was a carpenter by trade, so he built our two story home, and in March of 1910 Mother and us children came[...] |
| [...]the littlest homesteader resides in Valier, Mon-[...]I married Annie Arnst February 28, 1931 in[...](Pakkala) who lives in Kamiah, Idaho. We have 3[...]George. The car on the left couple homesteaded in Tolley, North Dakota. is a 1935 Ford and on the r[...]the homestead. They remained in Tribune for several homesteaders decided to build[...]hey named the new Pulver Struss died in 1911, when Harold was school "The Red Bridge Scho[...]Later Robert married Bell McTaggert, and in the road to Conrad and Dupuyer. I "shank[...]m, Minnesota. He mared" it two miles every day as there were no worked for the Soo Line Railroad, which ran be- forty-passenger buses in those early days. In tween Kenmare, North Dakota and Thief R[...]d, and as a lumberjack, prior to Mother died in the fall of 1929 and was laid moving to Val[...]t at Lake View Cemetery. Shortly after the in 1927 with his uncle, Fred Struss. After arriving loss of Mother, we lost our home to fire. The house in Valier, he worked for Frank Hughes on his farm was rebuilt in 1940, but that year also saw the and also[...]ate at Lake View. We Strandwold kids grew up in the Valier area. My brother Alex bought the home place in 1941. He farmed it and other acres until 1960. In 1963 Tom Boucher purchased the land holdings of A[...]brother Melvin followed the skill of car- pentry in Valier and its neighboring area. The writer has b[...]d those skills for the United States Govern- ment in the Panama Canal Zone with the Army Corps of Engineers in 1940-1941 and in various other locations in the states. As the initial fall of th[...] |
| country in the early l 930's. Harold had little op- portunit[...]During World War II, Harold served his coun- try in Casablanca and Tunis, North Africa. In 1943 he was discharged from the Army, because of[...]h Bowman was his employer following the war. From there he moved to the Ernest Lauffer place where he was[...]bruary 10, 1950 and Susan was born June 17, 1953. In 1959 Harold began working for the Montana Western Railroad, where he worked until his retirement in 1969. Harold and Lucille still reside in Valier, as does their daughter, Susan, who married Francis L. Clifford Gail Swank in 1935. from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Francis and[...]fer, Eric, and Bozeman, coming to Browning in 1929, where he Jeremey. Harold J. works near Carter, Montana. worked for Lewis Chevrolet and in 1930 for[...]alier from her parents had come to Browning in 1934 from Browning in 1946, having purchased the Akofer the Gal[...]originally built Potters had a meat market in Browning. by D.L. Fulton and has been operated as a lum- In 1945 De Voe went into the Army for one ber yard c[...]year. The family came to Valier after his In 1922 the Monarch Lumber was destroyed di[...]ining moved into the H.L. Riggs home, which in 1981 is stock and property. Monarch had previousl[...]ibby Lumber Company. Now Swank children are Dean, Dewey and Linda Lee, they were all in one building. Hardware was ad- who attended Valier schools then went on to Mon- ded to the stock in 1930. This is the second oldest tana State University where Dean graduated with established business in Valier. a degree in architecture; Dewey in education Swank, the oldest of thirteen children of the and Lee in distributive education. Charles Swank family which came from Indiana Dean went in to business with his father and to Joplin in 1911, he in April and she in July. the business was incorporated about t[...]in. The children attended country school. Af- many public buildings and homes in Northern ter sixteen years they moved to Chester,[...]Montana. Dean married the former Bar hara Hen- there was a high school. After graduation from n[...]Derek, Chester High School DeVoe attended M.S.U. in Dewey and Tracy. Derek, a senior at M.S.U. in[...] |
| [...]came to Montana and lived in a small house near[...]In the years 191 7-1919 there weren't many[...]pplement his income by Swank Lumber in 1946. going into partnership wi[...]ple . The student at M.S.U. and Tracy is a senior in high tractor work filled in what grain, cattle and milk school. money didn't bring in. Olga recalls one of her DeVoe and Gail's son Dewey is married and many chores was to take the dulled plow shares is a school administrator in the Great Falls school into town for sharpening[...]and build store fur- had to make the trip in horse and buggy. niture.[...]Sometimes she made the trip two or three times in The Swank family has been active in lodges, one week. church and community activ[...]South Their store is one of the most modern in the Dakota, and see if farming was any better there. area.[...]ted land. Packing up their personal meat business in Browning and came to Valier in belongings, Hugo, Olga and four small child[...]o South Dakota and went to work for a farmer ters are both deceased. there. He happened to be a relative of their close[...]two young Swedes from Oakland, Nebraska, arrived in Valier, Montana in a box- car. Seeking to make a new home and a living in what's known as the Triangle Area, they went to t[...]and a few The Hugo Swanson family. Standing are Harry, other buildings. Hugo returned to Nebraska to Harold and Clarence. Seated are Hugo, Eva and marry Olga. That spring in 1915, Hugo and Olga Olga. 306 |
| [...]ttered with the left end and date tom off Us kids are all holding a kitten with mama cat staying close[...]f course my mother stands by the best looking cow in Pondera County. Mother used to ride this old boss[...]again they had to keep going. better there, so they decided to come back and[...]t better for which they were very thankful . In the year 1933, when they quit working for In February of 1969, Hugo passed away and Jack Goff,[...]d done for seven years, was buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Valier. they moved to a place northeast of Valier[...]ving at the farm for a few years, for themselves. How well Olga remembered that then m[...]when she moved to Conrad and resides now in the country. So they lost all their savings that[...]sses Valier and wishes she lived doesn't remember how they managed, and she there once more. didn't know how they would have lived except[...]After graduation from Valier High School in As time went on they had their troubles now[...]or the Water Company before starting to back from there, the children greeted them with fa[...]first thing they thought of In 1938, he and Eyvon Campbell were was fire, but in[...]med north of Valier since. nearly all their crop. There was not enough to They have participated in the community ac- even harvest. They did c[...] |
| [...]: Daryle, who attend- ed Montana State University in Bozeman for two years and later married Pam Pfeiffer of Dupuyer, in 1962. They have three boys, Kirby, Kurt and Klint[...]ndparents' (Camp- bell) place, east of Valier and are engaged in farming and ranching. Darlene attended and graduated from Mon- tana State University in Bozeman and later taught in Great Falls a few years. She met another teacher, Gordon Braaten and they were later married in 1968. They have one girl, Gloriann and two boys, Duane and Dustin. They live in Great Falls where Gordon still teaches. Cind[...]tana State University. She is teaching part- time in the Valier Grade School. She married Dick Schock from Great Falls in 1972. They are farming with Harry and Eyvon now. They have[...]sary that Hugo and Olga and their family moved to in 1933. Harry has farmed this land since his folks'[...]Top Cafe and Bakery in Sunburst for six years Eva H. (Swanson) Schutt, the third child and and Case Machinery in Sunburst for four years. only daughter of Hugo and Olga Swanson, was They moved to Helena in 1959, where they born March 12, 1921.[...]burned She graduated from Valier High School in in 1967. Since then and to this date they sell in- 1939, attended Great Falls Commercial College, surance, although they are semi-retired. worked for Deaconess Hospital and t[...]nson, youngest child of Hugo Falls Army Air Base. In 1944 she was transferred and Olga Swanson, was born May 23, 1924. to a position with the U.S. Navy in San Francisco. He graduated from Valier High School in Later she worked for War Shipping Ad- 1942. He then joined the U.S. Navy in November ministration. of 1943, and served in the South Pacific during She married Marvin[...]ta. He was later North Dakota, September 14, 1945 in San Fran- discharged in May of 1946. cisco. They moved back to Valier in 1948. He met his wife, Ruth, in Philadelphia, Penn- They had four children: Betty Jeanne, born in sylvania in 1944, and they were later married in San Francisco in 1946, and now teaching in 1946. Harlem, Montana. Janice, was born in San Fran- They have one son, Bob, and one daughter, cisco in 1948, and is now employed at the Mon- Bever[...]children; tana Highway Department. Jerry was born in twin girls, Mary and Susan, Bob Jr. and Kelly. Conrad in 1949 and was married to Bonnie. They Beverly has two children; Bobby and Kimberly. now are living in Great Falls, Montana. They Harold and[...]1955, when they moved to Philadelphia. Since born in Conrad, Montana in 1950. She married then they have lived in New Jersey and are now Richard Rippe in Rapid City, South Dakota in presently back in Lancaster County, Penn- March 1971. Both lost their lives in the Rapid sylvania. Harold has worked for the Continental City flood in June, 1972. Can[...] |
| [...]ching graduation he attended Lawrence College in in 1902 eight miles west of Valier on Birch Creek.[...]school was built near our ranch majoring in Civil Engineering. In his year books and most of us seven children atte[...]several classmates had written notes, each there. Later some of us attended high school in ref erring to Jim as "Monty". Valier.[...]ntendent. One year he substituted for the believe in 1908. basketb[...]Jim married Frances Carson, a teacher, in Conrad. He ran hundreds of head of cattle. I 1928. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, remember the cowboys that atte[...]on the school board Dupuyer was our nearest town in those days. A for 16 years. He assisted in building the school minister by the name of Van O[...]gymnasium and the swimming pool, the new there, but came to the Birch School for services gr[...]school grounds. him. Brother Van was an old timer in Montana, The Jim Tidymans had four s[...]uffalo ranged the prairie. businessman in Billings, and he has two children; -Jesse Taylor Tom, living in Michigan, has three children; Jack living in California, he and his wife are both[...]The Dr. G.F. Tidyman Family in Colorado, has three children. Dr. G. F. Tid y[...]es Tidyman was born on October 22, came to Valier in 1913, from Ennis, Montana. 1900 at Townse[...]e daughter of the They had originally settled in Harlowtown, late Mr. and Mrs. Alex Carson. Her father came when they came from Wisconsin. In Harlowtown, to Montana in 1870 where he took up harness Dr. Tidyman was a c[...]ing their construction from the University in Missoula in 1923 where period. After the construction was completed she majored in English and languages. through that area, they mo[...]e he She and James Tid yman were united in practiced medicine for about eight years. He marriage in Helena in December, 1928. Mr. then came to Valier. Their so[...]orking for the Valier Water Com- white child born in Harlowtown on June 9, 1902. pany where he is still employed. The Tidyman family lived in the house She taught in Conrad for one year and in presently owned by the Charles Van Gardens at Townsend one year. She taught in Valier since 414 Illinois Avenue. The doctor's of[...]mans had three sons; James, Everett teaching in 1943 and continued for the next 19 and Leonard. J[...]ars. Besides teaching English, Spanish and School in 1919. Other class members were Hazel Latin, she advised many all-state school papers, Henneman, Clarice Wade,[...]in, Hazel Sabin, Anna Wheeler, Lela Sarrler, many all-state annuals as well as directed school. Geo[...]re, plays. She received the Gold Key Award in 1960 Vera Ahlgren, Christine Smith, Vivien Ahlgre[...]ed Charlton. In the 1961-62 school year she sponsored the Jim[...]and Latin Club. Only not very good at them. While in high school he with her excellent su[...] |
| [...]Carson Tidyman, who through a full generation in her honor with Mrs. Bruce Farrington and Mrs. had been scanning the students in her English Lloyd Eppe in charge. classes as if they were muddy pebbles in a James Austin Tidyman, 60, died in Billings sluice box, had me under her steadiest focus. on October 16. He was born in Harlowtown, Mon- What I had already[...]now about tana on June 2, 1901 and came to Valier in 1913, Mrs. Tidyman was as unsettling as he[...]down raises of his death he had been manager for many due her to forestall the day when t[...]not afford her, and that she paid in stores by Mr. Tidyman was town treasurer for[...]er, and forgetting the matter Valier has had many fine teachers over the forever. In Valier this quick blink of a system years, but on[...]by author Ivan worked well enough. But in the main shopping Doig in his first book, because of her inspiration town of Conrad, it left a patter of misbanked to go on in Journalism. His description follows ... check[...]with per- had at last to fund a bank account there solely to mission from Ivan Doig and Harcourt Bra[...]h something on. This brought about her fame early in the century. Now the town had the fo[...]nly a At school she would arrive in dark plain single street of business.[...]ting neck, clopped from one class to another in the it's roots into the earth. Inside, the buildi[...]st of shoes. She was buxom, much like itself open in the wide gaunt logic of a frontier Grandma[...]ike a parade ground, ar~und, her mounding in front and behind was with students' desks soldier[...]rom the tried regularly around the sidewalls. All in all, waist as she hurried about, she flew among us like there seemed to be a grayish barracks-like[...]g over a lazy feeling to the place, and I stepped in on my first sea ... She taught all the English courses, first and morning with doubt crowding high in my throat. second year Latin, occasionally a course in By more luck than I could have prayed for,[...]imagined where she might exist ex- ... Too many times each school day, I would cept in the midst of all this. She had taken leave[...] |
| reasoned, giving birth to their babies in the fields shop on the place. and going right on with their toil. ... " In September, Olga passed away from a rup- Doig[...]to Northwestern University majoring them. in journalism, and is now a free-lance writer.[...]called to the service in 1942 during World War[...]he now resides. He married Marie Farmer in Charlie, were among the first settlers on Frances[...]e land where Powers live now. Charlie live there. They have five children and three of lived on th[...]ts Valier. One daughter, Ruth, lives in Great Falls homesteaded on the adjoining farm which is one- and Julie in Helena. All are married and have half mile north of Jim Geigers.[...]ve four children, Adolph married Olga Norsby in March of all married now. Randy is in Libby, Anita in 1911. They met when the Norsby's were coming Helena, Jeanne in Conrad and Lori in Valier. to their homestead. He met the family at[...]Jim was one of the first rural mail carriers in Dam, which was just being built at that time. He[...]He delivered mail with a team of horses took them in his wagon to their place and later for a while and later had a Model T Ford. In the said he knew then he had met the gir1 he woul[...]opped at someone's house marry. They were married in Dupuyer in a small and helped them when they were al[...]as needed. It took all day and sometimes two In 1912 their first baby, a boy, was born. da[...]by and Ole Tronson were grandfathers There were many hard times in those days. of the baby and they sat up all night[...]over whether it would be Jacob Ole deaths in the family, but through it all, they or Ole Jacob[...]ether. nest. Later a girl, Gertrude, was born and in Adolph died in 1948. There were thirteen 1918, another girl Ruth Irene. She died in the flu grandchildren and eighteen great gran[...]tie Vanden Bos and Margie Geiger Margery was born in Tacoma later when they lived there. Shortly after that, in 1919, a bad drought The Walter True Family took all the crops. There was no pasture or hay Walt, as he was[...]t their cows and horses as they did was born in Rochester, Indiana in 1892. Mary not have feed for them. The family left the Ethel was born in Peru, Indiana in 1896. homestead and moved out to Washington until[...]around quite a lot. He married Mary E. Stoffer in Adolph bought the place known as the Gund- 1913 and they operated a restaurant in Fulton, lach place. There was an old building in one Indiana. They then went to Dulcie,[...]tore for the where he worked for his brother in a store. Then community and later he moved[...] |
| [...]in 1967.[...]at Valier. Daughter Evelyn died at Ronan in[...]Montana in the spring of 1914. He bought some[...]land, built a house and Mother came in the fall. I[...]damp for my mother in Belgium. When she came[...]e country with three little ones. The oldest In 1923 Ethel and daughters Isabell and chil[...]ol at Uleberg. Isabell and three miles north of there. Evelyn went all eight grades there. The girls In Belgium they walked to town or wherever drove a two-wheeled cart driven by Blue Bell, a they went, but in this country everything was so stubborn governmen[...]to have horses and kicked apart most of the time. In bad weather buggies and wagons. My dad tol[...]d to take them and Bernice to Williams in his wooden shoes with snow on the (Stokes) Scott[...]Eva (Baker) Bowman. Helen J. had he got there. My husband Jim tells about one day Freda Dean fo[...]they started, so they had to Flathead irrigation in 1931 where he rode ditch comeback. at Pablo,[...]s and one sister came to Montana. One new houses. In 1933 Walt and Ethel, Jake and brother, Re[...]berg. Helen J. finished seventh and eighth grades there. Walter worked as water master until his death in 1947. Just before his death he bought the land on[...]before moving to Valier where in 1947. she cooked for Arbie Leech and later[...] |
| [...]Alice Vandenbulke, and winter so Dad came in March. Also Mom's cousin husband farmed north of[...]e they passed away. Jim Marie. Mom came in the summer with three of Raemaeker bought the Nol[...]us ... Andy, Mary and myself. We arrived in mid places and later sold it to Allen Halverson.[...]on. People do not tan that much in Belgium. We I remember when I was in the first grade (I stayed at my uncle and a[...]ldn't change my shoes moved into our house. In the fall of 1915 we had because I didn't have the[...]he only went to the Marias river to pick berries. Many American that first year. Being young we[...]s. We always enjoyed them so much. school. In the following year our teachers were During the s[...]or Sunday dinner and when Mother Baumert. In the fall of 1918 we moved to the dry invited them[...]fferent school and the school was closed. ironing in the closet, it had to be done up, too. We went to the Wolverton School then and so did Once in a while a salesman would come and the Sab[...]nt Marie died about a month after he made us stay in the house because he said George was bo[...]years. Uncle Remi went back to Belgium in the have to wind up and we played it all day long[...]he first radio we had. It had ear back in early 1920 and Remi Huyghe moved to phones, so on[...]whose sister married one of my uncles in Belgium. My dad (Oscar VanDaele), Remi Nolle[...]eshing His wife, Sylvie had been raised in the city and machine in that part of the country. Later they did not like farming. She had a sister in Chicago sold it to Francis DeBoo. My dad's first[...]denbulke moved there too. Both uncles found[...]n. Uncle My uncle Remi Nollet came to Montana in Remi and Aunt Sylvie had a baby[...] |
| [...]eleart's brother Pierre, as his family had stayed in Belgium. Another brother, Cyril, died in the flu epidemic of 1918. Emil Verstraete l[...]this time, they had close neighbors. My dad died in 1947 and Mom moved to the Morgan place, a nicer home. came and lived with me in Kennewick, The children remember being left with dif- Washington until her death in 1956. ferent friends in the community later while Mr. When Dad was young in Belgium he saw his Vanden Bos went on a[...]n by a previous never forget all the good she did in life. When she marriage. His name was Joe Van[...]send the rest of us through school. In the early days, Cornelius told about When we were[...]plow. He told of walking through nurses training in Havre and was a nurse behind it to break s[...]lius Vanden Bos came from Holland to In the drought of 1919 they lost many of their South Dakota. He settled there and later heard of the homesteads being given in Montana, so in 1910 he came to Valier and homesteaded about ten[...]Johanna, Car1 and Dick. They remember living in the homestead house and all the fun they had toge[...]d talk of school days and other children who went there. Freda Fulmer Dean and Inga Norsby Culleton were two of their teachers there. Mrs. Vanden Bos died in 1920 or 1921, Adolph, Olga, Bernard, Gertrude and Ruth in 1918. 314 |
| C. H. Vanden Bos and children in 1922. Standing are Johanna, William, Harry and Bertha. Sitting are C. H. and Nickolas. Being held are Carl and Dick. horses as there was no hay or feed for them. They The old homestead house they lived in is still |
| [...]reside in Valier. Their five sons are Richard,[...]Carl married Daisie Orr and they live in[...]anden Bos VandenBos house on Frances Heights in 1940. Nickolas married Olga Lindberg and they 316 |
| [...]rse and get accustomed to the climate. Steve left in 1908 buqgy. and went back to Iowa. Later he we[...]wife to get his wife, but Cornelis found his wife in Ettie sold the farm to Dan Slezak, and it is[...]. Ettie went to Aetje (Ettie) de Boer was born in Roseland, Washington for awhile, then back[...]north of the Lutheran Church. Ettie died in took up a homestead about eight and one-half[...]8, 1976. At the time of miles southwest of Valier in the Frances Heights Ettie's death, there were about 123 direct blood area. They had fourte[...]ey were: Marie Cornelia, Dena Etta, Kap side, there are still 72 direct blood line Nellie J., Herbert Dirk, Annie Jennie, Peter descendants living in Holland today. Albert, Steve Fredrick, Minnie Joh[...]Kop All eight of the Van de Kap boys served in Nellie Van de Kap was born on April 15,[...], out on the homestead on Frances Heights, served in the Army, and four in the Navy, during with her father delivering h[...]the third oldest child, and many of the household Cornelis' daughter,[...] |
| [...]have served in the armed forces. While married[...]in the area, ran a bar for awhile, and eventually[...]ended up in Conrad working for the cemetery. While working there, he died, suffering from a[...]The family him she heard a snoring sound. Upon in- never really had much reason to come to town,[...]asleep. He woke him and the Indian Chautauqua was in town. Another time she remem- insisted on h[...]time he locked all the doors so he couldn't get in, winter clothing because it was so cold.[...]ring. This At seventeen, Nellie went to work in the time, the Indian had fallen asleep in her pansy Valier Hotel for Mrs. Manchester. Nelli[...]liked things done right. his wife. This was in the summer, and since the But she was kindhearted in her own way. She windows were opened, t[...]m Zalk, Holland, and when he went back to Holland in 1928, his parents had picked out a girl for him t[...]oing to marry just as soon as she was old enough. In May of 1932, he and Nellie were married. She was[...]am P. Barrendsen III. Bill died of a heart attack in Standing, Nellie, Joe and Joe Bolsmo. Seated are sons 1936. Later, Nellie married Guiseppe[...] |
| [...]r periods of time, but always returned. She lives in the house that Bill Barrendsen had Walter Clay he[...]ld items. We camped two dy, Montana from Illinois in 1910 with one nights in a tent and I remember that dragonlike daughter, Zella, where they homesteaded. He train going by in the dark shaking the ground was foreman on one cr[...]ng to Reclamation Project. They lived that winter in a kids that had never seen a train; but we had a tent. He had many Indians on his crew and took flattened st[...]pfire since a After trying to farm and ranch in 1919 and stove had to be installed. Just a[...]ed too big a slice, so we moved to a little place in crops. He thought it was the promised land for[...]so soon sold out and moved to a Land and There were twenty-eight to thirty-two students at Water Company farm in the Abbot Lake area Wingina. During a blizzard in 1928 our neigh- northeast of Valier.[...]to death a short distance I remember moving in 1926, after loading from her house. Zell[...]rode to high our cattle on the train at Hingham. There my school with her. All the students st[...]g was the secretary for the Water Company many years. While living there our sister, Mildred, fif-[...]shoe shop in Valier, and in 1931 he gave up farm-[...]to the Henry Osterwyks. His first shop was in Dr.[...]In 1943 after most of the children had grown[...]Vanovers first car. in-law on his farm and dairy, but soon starte[...] |
| [...]The Ray Vermulm Sr. Family shoe shop in Kalispell. In 1966 they came back to Ray and Wilma Vermulm and daughter, Jen- Valier where Lutie died in 1967, and William in nie came to Montana in 1905 from Rock Valley, I 1975 at the age of 91, in Oregon where he farm- Iowa. Five families, i[...]came to Montana by |
| Montana. Mrs. Vermulm and the girls returned to in Choteau owned by William Hodgekiss, with Iowa to[...]s the barn tender. Old Frank birth. Mary was born in the old Conrad Hotel and liked children, and[...]d farm. six years old, he would go there just about every Cornie married Ruth Hazen o[...]addle and tie 1955. She was an elementary teacher in the it to the front wheel of the stinkwagon (manure Valier school system. They live in the old Ver- wagon to those of you who are not familiar with mulm home and have farmed befor[...]he got big enough to kick people in the shins, the The roots of the Walley family are in Ireland, name was shortened to just "Pete". bu[...]While Sarah Simmons, from Valier, was to Canada in the early 1800's. Pete's dad, Albert war king in Choteau for Dr. Maynard, a mutual Malcome Walley, was born at Sherbrooke in the friend introduced her to Pete. They w[...]of the Depression. They and after a brief service there, immigrated to the moved to Valier in the fall of 1934, and Pete had United States. Alb[...]ng- wiped out by small pox while they were living in son house that sat east of Jazz Orr's place.[...]ived, moved the house to its present location in 1943, and later became Mrs. Charlie Powell. Many of and have lived there for the past thirty-eight her descendants are now living at Babb, Mon- years. tana.[...]wit- work as a ditchrider, and recalls that there were a zerland. She had brothers and sisters who had lot of small farms in the area at the time. Pete's come to the United S[...]5 an hour and was glad to get it since jobs Hotel in Dupuyer before marrying Albert. The were pretty hard to find. George Ebner was the family lived there and later, west of Bynum, project engine[...]called, was raised at Choteau and attended school there. As a young man, he held all sorts of jobs in the area, mostly on farms. He did the lambing, sh[...]enjoyed over the years. This is the story of how Melvin Earl got the nickname "Pete". There was a big old livery barn Pete and[...] |
| [...]Floyd Hartwell, Loren Lightner, Jude Monroe, and many more. He worked for the Water Company for thirty-nine years, the last twelve as manager. He retired in 1974. Pete served on the Valier town council[...]ecalls that while he was on the council, they put in the first transit water pipe that everybody thoug[...]Dam broke at about 10:00 a.m. Johnny V anden Bos in 1952, and they had four and Fay Stokes was[...]Robbie, Doug and John. Her and others in the area to get out. Jere was husband was killed in a farm truck accident on bringing the combine up the hill and Cliff Olson Frances Heights in 1957. She later married Paul was bringing a[...]Ramey from Cornelia, still raining and there was a loud roar because of Georgia, in 1966, and they have a daughter, Lori the wate[...]managed to get to former Sid Adams and Pond farms in the Birch safety before it hit. The water seemed to pick up Creek area and lived there until he sold part of the house and smash it against the hillside and the farm in 1977, which is now part of the Kings- was wash[...]when the water hit. Other neighbors in the area The flood of 1964 did much damage t[...]they lost mem- farm and the memories of that day are still very bers of their families, along with[...]William Maynard Wayman came to Valier in pany. Because of the amount of rain that had[...]aho where he had been fallen, it was thought that there would be some in the real estate business selling homestead high water in the creek bottom where the house land. and[...]about 500 baby Sales Company. It was located in the building chicks that were in a chicken house in the bottom north of the Valier Hotel. M[...] |
| lived in Illinois, but were actually from Penn-[...]sylvania. Her father fought in the Civil War . She was a very good pianist in her time, having taught piano before coming to Montana. In the[...]She and Daniel Webb were married in Fort Ben- ton in 1919.[...]Wayman His old ledgers show how the times were back then. In 1924-25 he was doing real good on the as immigration officer for the Great Northern farm but entries in 1932 show where he had been Railway Company and brought many of the to see an attorney (Mr. Bullo[...]or Those were the hard times that broke many banks in Shelby and Cut Bank and moved to peopl[...]They moved into town and Dad worked on In 1923 he moved to Great Falls where Mrs. the[...]ng the hard Rose Wayman was a public stenographer in the times. He more or less retired in 1942. Rainbow Hotel.[...]Miss McCall, Miss Dora King (Monroe) and Williams in phasing out some of the business Miss Frances Axtell. The school closed in about there. 1[...]ids attended Valier Grade cherries and was active in the Flathead Cherry School in town. My dad ran the bus service which Growers As[...]rs were years. He was 86 at the time of his death in Mrs. Riggs, Miss Johnson, Miss Carrie Lar[...]Mrs. Andersch, then later we lived in . the[...]es north of Valier was Doris Chatlain, I think. in 1916. He came from Colfax and Oaksdale, In 1938, I married Ira Hartwell. We first rent- Washington where he had farmed in the Palouse ed from Mrs . Andersch then bought a house on country. He was born in Madisonville, Tennessee. Frances Heights. His[...]rs Webb came to Montana to later lived in from Floyd Hartwell who built it in teach school at the Abb9tt Lake School in 1918. I 1936. Floyd and Emily bought our hous[...]hen we were first married Ira worked for was born in Ashland, Nebraska, but lived most of Montana-Dakota Utilities, Water Company when her life in David City, Nebraska. Her parents had t[...] |
| [...]ake Eppe boys, especially Lloyd seeing how high they Ladies Aid, she took me, at first, and both Elmer could jump. and me, later, to the meetings. In the summer About when I was eleven, t[...]City. Later of built and I went to a carnival there. That place course there was the Stitch and Chatter Club. had lots of good times in dances, proms, later At home, as we lived on[...]roller skating, old settler's picnics, etc. All in all I Cut Bank and Shelby, there was a lot to see. The guess we had pretty good times in those days. Indians making the seasonal trek to Cut Bank and In 1942 Elmer went to Washington and took a lot of s[...]hanic. Then he joined the Marines. He served In our home Mother had her magazines ... in the South Pacific. Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, De- Elmer married Bessie Thomas in 1948. They linator and my dad had his Spokesman R[...]g Post, and several others. As we Her parents are Bill and Minnie Thomas of Dupuyer. had a Victrola[...]to hate. I'll never forget a paper garages in Conrad and Great Falls until he start- record we[...]ession, "Pota- ed driving for Greyhound Bus in 1956. They now toes Are Chea per," etc . live in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As Elmer became older, we played together, I came hack to Valier in 1948 hut actually mostly with his toys as I didn't care for dolls have never lived there much. I have lived mostly much. We had an old horse named Gray we rode in Helena. -Elmoe Webb and Margaret Atkins[...]Wefsenmoe spent 28 years in railroad work,[...]went to work for the Great Northern, serving in[...]Lodge many years. -Great Falls Tribune 324 |
| [...]My grandmother and father, as a child, in the store. The Frank A. Weismantel Fa[...]pects to the departed. |
| [...]I have lived in and around Valier for sixty-[...]five years. I was born September 18, 1910 in Port- land, Oregon. We moved to Lewiston, Maine in 1913 and lived there until we moved to Montana.[...]Western Railroad in Valier, Montana. We were met there by Joe Speth in a bobsled. On the way[...]Bradley, we were caught in a blizzard and had to[...]I was married to Connie Eppe in 1930 and[...]of Gonzaga School promoted to a fireman job in 1942. I became an of Law. My mother and her famil[...]ran Zalesky Tailor the railroad abandonment in January 1970. I Shop in Spokane. After graduation, they married and retur[...], and the first three of their children were born there. Then they moved to San Diego where the rest of t[...]to Farmers Associates Com- pany. We had a tragedy in 1976 when Tony (Francis Weismantel IV) died in a motorcycle ac- cident. My father died in 1978 due to heart failure and multiple sclerosis,[...]w buried with his parents and grandmother Hoffman in Montana. My grandfather came from the[...] |
| [...]he Pondera Canal and Reservoir Company. I retired in the fall of 1974. I planned on doing a lot of fis[...]wns, trimming hedges and taking care of our cabin in Coram, Montana. I have tried to collect much[...]Robert Wenzel in 1948. Oiin Weitman Orin Weitman was born in Missouri in 1894 had just given her her family inheritance and she and came to the Valier area in about 1916. He came to America with the · intention of buying was a farmer and cattle rancher in the Abbott land; but not being able to understand and speak Lake Community for many years. the language fell v[...]lost all.) John Klosterboer. Orin passed away in Conrad in In 1911 the Hubner's leased a farm at Mon- December[...]o sisters tier, Missouri. Frank was working in Iowa, but and numerous nieces and nephews. spent the winter months helping his folks in[...]he was only fifteen and really didn't plan to In 1903, at fourteen years of age, Frank ma[...]The Hubner's heard about homestead land in Davenport, Iowa with his mother and step- being available in Montana and took out a claim father - Teresa and Joe Hubner. (Teresa's father in 1913. Frank arrived in Valier in January of[...]arrival in Valier for a Mr. Bush, driving a team[...]In 1915 he went to work for Willard Olsen I[...]In the meantime the mailman continued his[...]moved to Portland, Oregon and in passing[...]remarked, "Who would ever want to live in this Orin Weitman[...] |
| [...]lived in several different communities. They[...]Two more sons joined the family, Francis in 1925 and Robert in 1930, both of whom are also presently engaged in farming north of Valier. In 1940 they moved into Valier and bought[...]Sullivan house in Williams from Ted Crawford Sr.[...]five years. in 1953. During their years in Valier they were mem-[...]o Ruth he'd waited five years and that active in Mountain View Garden Club. She en- was long enough! On a cold morning in Decem- joyed raising flowers and sharing[...]nk were Oriental Limited from Portland. Frank was there instrumental in the development of the Valier to meet her with a[...]moved to the Horizon Lodge in Conrad in 1976. Frank took Ruth for her second buggy ride in The home in Valier is presently owned by Robert Montana , this time wedding bells were in store. Wenzel. They drove to Shelby on Decemb[...]ber 10, 1973 at a no-host dinner at the Panther In January of 1916 Frank took over Drive Inn, as the oldest law enforcement officer in management of Willow Rounds Ranch on a share Montana, a job he began at 62, when most are basis. He and his family lived there until Novem- ready to retire. He accepted the[...]Marshall. He was also a was born. Two years later in September, Frank state livestock inspector[...]trip across the p~airie to Having lived in the area since April 1911, he fetch his mother, a[...]d of the experiment station, boarded tations are made to families of deceased lawmen, with Ruth an[...]he group wanted the honor of presenting this In the spring of 1929 the Wenzels moved[...] |
| [...]factor in their coming to Montana.[...]Nat Wheeler came to Va lier in March of[...]The first night in Valier was spent above a[...]went to bed there was a poker game in progress in the saloon and when he came down the next[...]morning the same players were still in the game and going strong. It is not known how the poker[...]part of his ear. There had been a fight in the night[...]Leila, and Helen, came in May of that year. They arrived in Shelby on a spring day when a gale[...]the street so bad you could hardly face it. There[...]not been for Nat being in Valier.[...]wagon. Since there were no roads, few bridges, he was possibly the oldest active duty law officer in the United States. Nat Wheeler died on Octob[...]e month after the presentation. Nat was born in Preston, Minnesota on July 20, 1885 and married G[...]nton, Minnesota. They came to Valier to homestead in 1911. The Nat Wheeler Family |
| [...]came from Minnesota in the spring of 1913, and[...]Nat's. In 1921 the old folks moved to Portland, Oregon to be in warmer climate. Bill Wheeler was in the second graduating[...]n on the farm northwest of The Nat Wheeler family in 1936. Left to right, Bruce, Valier. Elsie, Maud[...]ny (Sill), Grace and Nat moved to Valier in 1947 Lon, Helen (Sill), Dad (Nat) and Ben.[...]88. He was the oldest law-enforcement officer in had put up. The only place they had to hit was the state of Montana, and perhaps the oldest in the bridge across C Canal, about one half mile the nation, at the time of his death in 1973. Lelia east of the later-known Carl Miller place. Wheeler died in 1914, Ben in 1959, and Grace in That summer of 1911 was a wet one and the[...]or. Grace said she spent half the time with a mop in The Thomas Whipple Family her han[...]Thomas Henry Whipple was born in Cass The house was built one quarter mile east of County, Missouri in 1875. His bride, Josephine its final location as[...]were not Rector was born on April 8, 1883 in Springfield, marked well, so was moved to the section line in Illinois. They were married at the turn of[...]tury, August 8, 1900. Twenty acres had to be in crop and fenced Prior to his marriage, Tom fought in the that year to prove up on the homestead, but N[...]eak up the ground for Rough Riders. While in the service, he traveled him. He used a bridge pl[...]o. spikes that work down into the soil and got it in Tom and his family lived in several states in- shape to seed. cluding Kansas, Texas, North Dakota, and In the days when they first came there, many California, before settling in Valier in 1921. He bachelors were homesteading the country, and was a barber in Valier for many years. Lucille, Grace furnished them with baked g[...]the last of their nine children, was born in Valier. eggs, and milk. Fallowing Tom's death in 1941 , his widow Lon and Leila started school in the Cleverdon moved to Tacoma, Washington and died in 1959. homestead shack, which was one-fourth mile Three of their children are still living: north of the Brink place. Two years[...]Montana. Teachers at Buena Vista School, in the order they taught, up to the early Twenties w[...]Ruth Morley Clark Wickware was born in Wick- Crawford Phillips. Families of stude[...] |
| ware worked in a bank in Michigan until he erine in physical education. moved to Bison, South Dakota in 1911 to become Bob taught in Lewistown Junior High School treasurer of Bison County. There he married from his graduation in 1934 to 1939 when he Margaret Miller, born in Cass City, Michigan on went on to graduate[...]after receiving a teaching fellowship there. He Dakota in 1912 with a group of friends from received his Master's degree in 1940. Since his Michigan. Each homesteaded on 640[...]he built a log house to prove up on their claims. In college in which he was teaching in Willimantic, 1915 they moved to Valier where Mor[...]und he did not receive his taken a job as cashier in the Montana State Bank. Doctorate until 1947. He taught at Eastern Con- They first lived in the old McCormich House on necticut State College in Willimantic for thirty the east road to Conrad.[...]Bob (Robert Kenneth) was born on August in Japan at the University of Hiroshima and Tokyo 12, 1913, in Bison, South Dakota. Alberta Isabel Gakugei University working with Japanese (Berta) was born in July 31, 1915 in Cass City, educators from elementary grade[...]versity to develop a new science curriculum 1917 in Valier, Montana. Katherine Miller, Mrs. for[...]seven years of being at Eastern Bob served as in the new high school. She returned to Michigan[...]ising Mr. and Mrs. Wickware were both active in faculty and student relationships. Upon retiring community affairs throughout their life in Valier. in 1974, the new laboratories and planetarium Mrs. W[...]Bob was married to Mary Planteroth in River- stituted over the years in the Valier schools from side Church in New York City by Harry Emerson the elementary grades through the high school Fosdich in 1942. They have two children, Sara grades, as she[...]from Mt. Pleasant Elizabeth (Sally), born in 1947 and Jane Isabel, Normal School in Michigan and had subsequent- born in 1954. Mary died in 1963 of a heart valve ly taught in Niles, Michigan before moving to operati[...]campfire girls. Howard, South Dakota. They are now living in Mrs. Wickware died in 1939 at the age of 54. Howard where Kent is in the family bank and Mr. Wickware was preside[...]the School Board for a number of years. He served in local medical clinic. They have two childre[...]lature as representative, from Orion, born in 1976 and Keir, born in 1979. Pondera County for two terms. He continued to Jane graduated from Goddard College in write fire and hail insurance for the Fireman's Vermont and worked in the State Historical Fund of San Francisco and the Hartford Fire In- Museum in Montpelier, Vermont. She is now surance of Hartfo[...]ter retiring completing her Master's degree in Education and from the ranch he was elected to be[...]er for Pondera County and having sold sity in Fairfield, Iowa. the home in Valier he moved to Conrad to live in Bob married Louise Kenyon Ashton in 1969 the Conrad Hotel until he died in 1952 at the age and they are now living in Lyme, New Hampshire of 75. in an active solar house which they built in 1977. All three children, Bob, Alberta, and[...]University of Mon- Alberta graduated in 1937 and taught in tana at Missoula. Bob majored in chemistry and Belt and Helena, Montana High Schools. She physics, Alberta in home economics and Cath- married Benjamin B. Law June 21, 1941 in[...] |
| [...]em land to farm. We all later got Relations Board in Washington, D.C. and San married and spl[...]practice of law with an our families. office in San Mateo. Alberta was active in the Many thanks to the good teachers like Mrs. Ladera Board of Education and in Nursery School Tidyman, Mrs. Hamaker, The Van Gardens, Mr. work. The nursery playground in Redwood City is Miller, Mrs. Lauffer and the many others. named in her honor. Alberta died in 1974. They Thank you to the many businesses and the have two children, Robert born in 1946 and Betsy people who gave our children, Joe, Antionette, born in 1951. Bob and his wife Laura are in real Claire, Dolores, Madeline, Bede, Ray and Agnes estate in Astoria, Oregon. They have two jobs w[...]and Tony. Betsy married David get a start in life. Johnson in 1973. They now reside in Grants Pass, Thanks to George, our husband and Dad who Oregon where they both teach in the local school gave his son, Ray, a start in farming. system. They have two children, Bryan an[...]s of our children, thank Catherine graduated in 1939 and married them, as they helped us by working hard to make Ensign Wilfred M. Howerton in 1942 at An- our dreams come true. -Cyrilla Widhalm na polis, Mary land. They were in Boston for three years while Bill received his Masters in Naval Engineering at M.I.T. They had naval duty a[...]ing- This story has it's beginning back in Hum- ton, D.C.; San Diego, California; and Honolu[...]farm of not more Hawaii. Bill retired as Captain in 1974 and has than 160 acres was the home of[...]w have a boys were later to make a new home in the state home at 2311 Carroll Avenue, Escondido,[...]that they should continue in that profession. Catherine and Bill have thr[...]y is a State later arrived. Edwin arrived in this area in the fall of California Finance Supervisor and has[...]s. On children - Donald, Peter and Amy. She lives in returning back home to Nebraska, he convinced Davis, Californa. Bill is a contractor in LaJolla his cousins to come back to Montana with him the and Raymond works at Bullocks and lives in Long following summer. Well, transportation in those Beach. -Bob Wick[...]Model T Ford touring car. After many hours of The George Widhalm Family[...]n't contribute much to the history of arrived in the Valier area carrying Matt and Andy Valier, bu[...]d his brothers who came from 1935. Many know that this was during the Nebraska in the l 936- l 937's, all unmarried and Depression years, and all four were eager for work not experienced in farming in this area. as there weren't any jobs in Nebraska. Not only Thanks to Mr. Jensen from[...]Depression had it's effect on the "job them a job in his beet field. Later the Valier market", b[...]d Mr. Speir who droughts was being felt in their home state. Their 332 |
| first day in Valier was great, as all found jobs. An origina[...]as Matt recalled was that the nights roots in Valier is Mrs. John (Pearl) Ghekiere. cooled down[...]ho arrived married Montana night's sleep, whereas in Nebraska, it would stay girls. George marrie[...]Sunburst; Bede, Thompson Falls; Ray, Va- thought in mind which was to return the next lier;[...]ied Loretta Bisnett and were the followed by Matt in July and a newcomer, brother parents of LaVona (died at birth); Anthony, George, in the fall. Billi[...]o get its Nebraska; Arthur, with the Air Force in Holland; feet on the ground in this area in the mid 30's, as Angela, Minneapolis, Minnesot[...]died on March 15, 1980. 1936, he again came back in the spring of 1937 Paul married Evona Tack and their children to join Matt in the raising of sugar beets. They are Joann, Washington; Robert, Valier; Gary, leased t[...]d; Douglas, Valier; and Vernon, located. Later on in January of 1950, George Valier. moved o[...]ied Mary Lou Habets and they son, Ray, now lives. In 1940, Matt rented the became the parents[...]; Doris, Alpena, Michigan; Terrance, and remained there until 1954. Matt put down Helena; Steph[...]; Mervin, Valier; roots at the Charlie Sill place in 1954, and there Donald, Broadview; Evelyn, Columbia Falls; he made his home until moving into town in Katherine, Great Falls; and Thomas, H[...]ere he lived until and their children are Theresa, Cut Bank; Mary, retiring. Upon retiremen[...]vre; and Timothy, Valier. Paul had heard so many things about Mon- Walter married Ber[...]ecided to try his luck, so he arrived children are Daniel, Butte; Diana, Conrad; in 1939 and rented the land which he now owns[...]ere and they brothers, Walt ventured to this area in 1948 and became the parents of Phillip, Roc[...]ugene, Great Falls; Five sisters still live in Nebraska. They are Dennis, Chester; Stephen, Chester; Gerard, Mrs[...]George (Ella) Earl, who still lives in Nebraska, is the father Ternus; and Mrs. Edwin (H[...]ger, Sharon, Gordon, Rodney, Kevin and Bon- lived in Nebraska, is deceased. A sister, Ethel, is nie. a nun and lives in Arvada, Colorado. One Ella, who also lives in Nebraska, is the brother, Earl, still resides in Nebraska on the mother of Alice, Ron[...] |
| [...]an, Susan, and Diane. Katherine, who resides in Nebraska, is the[...]ly mother of James, Ramona, Clarence (who resides in Valier); Laverna, Milton (who lives in Matt came to work on farms in the Manson Livingston), Mary Elizabeth (who died at birth), and Conrad areas in 1935 to help supplement in and Mary Margret. the Nebraska home where crops were poor. In Elizabeth, of Nebraska, is the mother of[...]hirteen children were Matt had recalled back in the spring of 1948 born while living there. In 1954, they bought the it was a very wet season, in fact so wet that he Charles Sill farm and moved in April of that year. didn't even get his crop. His[...]a chance and seeded oats on the 3rd of July. many fond memories remain. After that date, it stopped[...]mily and kept them busy. again it played its part in causing a hardship as The family now is all grown and on their own. it turned cold early in the fall of 1944 and stayed They aren't too sca[...]a few of the beets could be har- now stationed in Holland. vested.[...]incident professions and not one dud. They are a great which happened in the spring of 1948. They were gang and the[...]moved to town. In February of 1980, the farm Alfred stated tha[...]years since he first came to we did. Montana in 1937. M[...]g is an account of coming to laid to rest in Lakeview Cemetery, surrounded by Montana as Paul[...]the grain fields he so loved. In 1939, Paul came out with four neighbors in a 1928 Model A. They started out from Corn- lea,[...]ith their feet on means blacksmith. He was born in Selchow, a bench. The next night they slept in the car at Germany on November 2, 1859. When[...]a. Surprised at the cold Montana to America, in May of 1883, there were several nights, they were sure they had reac[...]His wife, Emelie Siedel was born in Posen, Nebraska. Paul remained here, thoug[...] |
| [...]ving North Dakota was that we had three Wisconsin in 1887. She moved to North Dakota, horses in Arthur, and the one we called Queen was where she[...]When my father was preparing to They settled in Arthur, North Dakota, where pack up our house[...]o had some farm land move to a rented house in Fargo, my father an- near the town. He had all th[...]to the farm where he had bought them. We all put in-law, Leo Boettcher come from Germany to help[...]tana. He had to agree to ride with her in the During the time that my parents lived in Ar- baggage car. He moved our belongings to one thur, North Dakota, there were eight children end of the car, and he[...]d. He had to provide feed and water for (who died in infancy), Leda, Carl, Herbert, Ruth her, and[...]en off the train at Minot to exercise her. father in North Dakota and told him of the land They w[...]aders north- when I look back on it, I wonder how he ever did west of Great Falls in- a new community called it! Not many fathers would agree to such an Valier. This was in 1909, and my father decided arrangement. But you can imagine how delighted to move west from North Dakota and settle in this we five children were when we got to Mont[...]and found our father there to meet us, and when So he sold his property at Arthur and went we got to Valier, there was our dear old horse, out to Valier. He filed for a homestead and Queen. opened a blacksmith shop in Va lier, and he hired Our house in Valier was built out on the west a contractor to[...]r name for it. Ours from Arthur to a rented house in Fargo, North was the last house on the str[...]families had built on beyond our house. Ella, was in Valley City attending normal The[...]room, a kitchen and a pantry When the house in Valier was ready for us, on the main floor. Later, a master bedroom and a my two older sisters remained in North Dakota to bathroom were added on the no[...]d other children took the train to meet my father in an oak wall telephone on the stair landing righ[...]. All calls were placed to leave our home and our many good friends in through the "central" operator. There was a front North Dakota. When our family left Ar[...]hich was moved to Valier and have a cow, as there was no other way to get milk which we used all the years we lived there, until for the family. the family home was fin[...]t the set down from Valier a few and arrived in Shelby, Montana on August 10, years ago and refinished it and uses it in her 1910. We were hot and dusty and tired as we home in Great Falls. awai[...]buy water for twenty-five cents a bottle in Shelby,[...] |
| [...]forest fires finally stopped that sum- had bought in no time at all. When we got to Con- mer, we[...]used to complain about to us like a big place, as there were lights shining the wind and the dust that[...]my mother grew to love Montana and realized that there were lots of open spaces be- her view of th[...]en the night before. somewhat of her home in Germany, which was That summer was the year of th[...]sh border. She told us that the home forest fires in Glacier Park, and we awoke to a her family lived in had once been occupied by grey and smokey day, wi[...]ed to Germany for one visit to her family there in thought - we had no running water, we had to[...]a bottle again. She had one brother (killed in World War and wash water for twenty-five cents a barrel. I) and one sister who remained in Germany. None Across the road from our house were[...]harrowing experience. The ship was lost in the through that first winter. Our neighbors let[...]ock terrible storm. When it finally arrived in New away. In the spring of 1911, the Cargill Com- Yor[...]ship at last had docked in New York. My mother When we left North Dakota, I was thirteen and her sister-in-law, Amelia Luther, landed in and the oldest of the five chldren who came that[...]a was born, and on January 12, my Aunt growing up in Arthur, North Dakota. Now I had Amelia had a baby girl born in Great Falls. responsibilities; I had to look afte[...]mother, as my two older attended school in Va lier. In 1911, when Edna sisters had been left behind to attend school in and Ella came out to join us, Edna taught p[...]er Valley of North Dakota, which was on it in three months. She still owns her original flat an[...]Amelia Luther and their family. I am sure I spent many hours being quite They had four dau[...]ns, so I had homesick for what we had left behind in Arthur, several cousins to keep me from be[...]I attended high school there for two years, taking 336 |
| [...]remember they had beautiful white unable to take in Valier. buckskin outfits, trimmed with colored beads. While we lived in Valier, we had a They wore feathe[...]. house every fall to make our clothes. She lived in When they started their dances, they got my old- Valier and sewed in her own home. My mother, er sisters, Edna and Ella and me to join in the having been trained as a tailor, was very par[...]ut our clothing. In North Dakota, most of the small settlements Caring for a family was no easy task in those were groups of people who had common origins days, as there were no modern appliances or in Europe, such as German communities, Nor- convenie[...]hat. Valier was a very cosmopolitan com- who came in every day. All food, of course, had to munity. There were many people there who had be prepared at home. There were no package come to work on the[...]homesteaders; some came to start up the house, as there were no packages of cut-up businesses in the prospering new town. We had chicken at the store in those days. Our cellar was neighbors named B[...]ucky. Mrs. Bush was an accomplished horse- stored there. We had a coffee grinder attached to a woman[...]ad two daught_e rs, beans that Mother had roasted in the oven. We Maud and Joyce. Another neighbor was a Cap- had apples in boxes shipped from Washington, tain Ol[...]at pot a toes from local farms near Va lier, lard in the Armory. They had a daughter named Alice. large tins, flour ground in Dupuyer from our own The Starbucks were ou[...]with two children, Laura Mary and Billy. Carl in two-quart jars. She also canned beef and fish[...]Mr. and Mrs. Hughes also moved to Valier to in our wood stove. There were always at least open a restaurant.[...]than that. So the kitchen was a nesota and in Va lier each met her future busy place. All the d[...]married Todd Fuller, all learned to cook and bake in Mother's kitchen. who had come out from Pen[...]Sauer, who was a salesman for the Valier assisted in childbirth for some of our neighbors Farm Sales Company and had come out from when we lived in North Dakota. My father had Wisconsin.[...]for the Federal Land learned English at a school in Wisconsin, but my Bank. My closest friend[...]r of the water project, and he and Although there were native American In- his wife, Nan, came out to Montana from back dians living in North Dakota, I had never seen East. She[...]c. They built a very any until we got to Montana. In the fall of 1911, the nice home in Valier, which she furnished with her Blackfeet Tr[...]furniture, dishes and silver from back in New campment near Lake Frances. They set up all[...]nd it rained so and we were all somewhat in awe of her. hard that year that there was water everywhere. There were a lot of social activities in Valier They had to dig ditches to drain th[...] |
| and the mid 1920's. We had many dances, with Valier, as are our parents. the men from the Armory and the youn[...]ere working on the water education in Great Falls and worked as a project; there was a movie theatre (I sold tickets secretary to a real tor, D. F. Mains, in the bank one summer), there was a tennis court and even a building in Valier. Later I worked as secretary in small golf course. Cars were a rarity; we had no the bank there. It was through my cousin from TV or radio, but w[...]ere married at came to mind, because most of them are gone my parents' home in Valier on June 28, 1922 and now and have not lived in Valier for many years. moved to Great Falls, where I have l[...]what has happened since. My husband died in 1973. We had two since those years that we moved out to Montana daughters, Ann, who lives in Porland, Oregon, and grew up and left Valier.[...]and Shirley, with whom I make my home in Great My father had suffered an injury to his spleen Falls. when kicked by a horse in his blacksmith shop in Carl was married in Montana, then he and North Dakota. In later years, this injury led to his wife, B[...]ons, and he became ill and was live in Maple Valley. They had two children, hospitalized in Great Falls, where he died in Herb and Cathy. Both Carl and Barbara have 1929. My mother stayed in the family home in died. Valier, and during her later year[...]Herb, my brother, traveled the world in the spend the winters with my family in Great Falls. Merchant Marine. He had many harrowing ex- But when spring came, I would find[...]he would World War II. His story would fill many pages. His go, to spend a few months in Valier. In the fall of first wife was killed in a subway accident while 1944, while she was stayi[...]e and was confined to her bed. She Helen, in New York City, where he has lived since died on Christmas Eve in 1944, at the age of 77. retiring from the M[...]e war. After my mother died our family home in Ruth married Maurice Fee and lived[...]old. It has been completely awhile in Choteau. They had two daughters, Pat remodeled, a[...], Edna, married W. D. "Bill" Ruth still lives in Polson at Lakeside Village. Emery, who had a hard[...]s had an interesting life - he said grocery store in Valier. They had three sons, Rob- as a young[...]Bill. Edna's husband died at the He served in the Army during World War II, then age of 49, but she stayed on in Valier and raised took a job with the Veterans Administration in her boys through some hard Depression years.[...]h the travel industry and has con- ent. She lived in her home in Valier until a few ducted many tours to the Orient, Africa, South years ago, whe[...]and has visited home and move to the Pioneer Home in Conrad. Europe many times. He now makes his home in Ella, the next oldest, married Harry[...]This is a lone story, but I thought I should in- Valier from South Dakota to open a jewelry store[...]rt of the life of Valier. I and Harriet, all born in Valier. After the girls have not been able to go back there for several grew up, Ella and Harry moved to Missoula. Both years, due to failing health. But I have many have since died and are buried in the cemetery at happy memories of my[...] |
| years we spent together on the high prairie in They had sold their homestead in Claresholm, the little community known as Valier.[...]arrive. Harvey worked in what I seem to remem- , Advan[...]her now as the Withrow Mercantile or at least in a As a native of Valier, I should like to correct an store in that location. Son Ross was born in 1912 impression made by Bernadine Sohl in an otherwise while the family occupied[...]store for H.L. Barber in the "Project". Nothing could be farther fr[...]Mercan- and a threshing machine. He was raised in the village tile until 1937. of Valier,[...]ur parents, aside from being solid citizens, in 1923. In 1924 she married William H . were rather remarkable people in their own individual Schlieman who worked[...]erests ran to music, literature and animals in 1929 and married Luana Warren in 1938. of all kinds. Both my older brother Carl[...]Harvey was born in 1880 and died in 1958. Valier was probably one of the most simple and Mae was born in 1886 and died in 1973. Imo was yet sophisticated towns west of the Mississippi River born in 1906 and died in 1980. and east of the Rockies. It was settled b[...]westward the blue and jagged 1~03, in Nevada, Iowa, came to Montana Sep- Rockies rose above the horizon in the north and tember 1926 and homesteaded in 1927 around gradually receded from view to the southward. the Dry Fork area. In 1928 he settled on the Visibility was Valier's[...]homestead. there one could see up to 150 miles. Here the ch[...]t from children fit. elsewhere in Montana, or, for that matter, the en tire repub[...]and Mae C. came to Valier with daughter Imo Alice in early July of 1912 ostensibly to open a men's clo[...]Methodist Church Sunday School in 1926.[...] |
| [...]The Wilkinsons In 1935 he went back to farming north of Another son, John was born in August 1918 and 340 |
| [...]ty or any of the modern equipment. Both boys were in the service. Bob suffered a stroke in 1942 and they sold their farm to Pete Habets and[...]perated a "coffee shop". They returned to Va lier in 1944 and Sigrid spent her time making doughnuts a[...]ghthouse west of Valier. Jimmie passed away in 1970. He left a son, First Lieutenant Mike Wilson, stationed in Ger- many and a daughter, (Patti), Mrs. Cam Johnson of Spok[...]1, 1980, and resides at the Pioneer Nursing Home in Conrad. Despite all the trials and tribulations,[...]The Wollam family in 1917 or 1918. Left to right, Mr. wonderful people[...]ie, Raymond and Mrs. Wollam . our sixty-two years in God's country.[...]James Wollam Family was born there in 1909. James M. Wollam was born on May 3, 1872. In 1920 the Wollams came to Montana and As a young man he spent some time in Kansas but settled in the Birchfield Community. Mr. Wollam eventually he went west to the gold mining town passed away in 1929 following surgery at of Cripple Creek, Color[...]rm a few years before moving to Valier where born in Canada on June 12, 1875. When she was she[...]ember of W.S.C.S. She lived the Illinois and from there to Cripple Creek. Florence last few of her 94 years at the Pioneer Home in Con- and Jim were married in Cripple Creek in 1898. rad, where she died in 1969. Their two sons, Raymond and Leo, were born The Wollam's eldest son, Raymond, who was there. born in Colorado in 1900, lived on the farm for When the Wollams lived in Cripple Creek, it several years and later mo[...]nt of the Lucky Dollar Mine carrier for many years. A member of the Company. During 1903-04 th[...]roubles between the 1.O.O.F., Raymond died in 1945. The Wollam mine owners and the unions. There were shootings, farm is now owned by Jim Sheb[...]-three Leo, the younger son, was born in 1903. He deaths and many more injuries. The militia was married Dorothy Nelson (Chausse) in 1926. He called in to settle the disputes but the mines were was a[...]ear Carrol, Dorothy moved to Valier in 1927 and their son,[...] |
| [...]He joined the Army in March, 1941 and was on a[...]Pearl Harbor. He spent forty-four months in the South Pacific and was discharged in 1945. He worked in Kalispell for a time, returning to the Valier area in 1946. He started farming,[...]raising sugar beets near the Dry Forks in 1948. Jessie Howell Wunderlich was born in Sep- tember 1929 and raised in the Kalispell area. She and Art were married in November 1949.[...]he still farms. This was The Wollam grandchildren in 1942. Left to right, Kim the former Boehme land[...]im and Beverly Nelson. Valier. Art died in August of 1978. Their two sons were born in Conrad, Larry in Owen, was born that September in Conrad. A April of 1953 and Glen in September of 1956. year later they moved to Willi[...]International Elevator for graduated in 1971, joining the U.S. Navy in eighteen years. In 1946 they moved to Great March of 1971 and entering active duty in Septem- Falls where he was self-employed and sub- ber, 1971. He was discharged in August, 1975. He sequently a salesman for an investment company. was married in 1976 and his daughter, Deanna, Leo was a member of the Downtown Kiwanis was born in 1977. He remarried in 1979 and is Club. At the time of his death in 1968, Leo was now attending Montana State University in zone manager for Investors Diversified Services Bozeman. in Cascade and Phillips counties. Glen graduated in 1974, then attended Bonnie Wollam married Ind or Nelson in Wyoming Technical Institute before jo[...]had three children: Jimmie Boyd, Navy in September, 1977 and will be discharged Beverly Gae, and Jack Kimberly; nine grand- in October 1981. children and six great grandchildren. Bonnie and Indor lived in and around Valier until they moved to Arizona in 1967. Bonnie died in Mesa The Ora W. Younger Family in 1976. Ora W. Younger was born in Peoria, Illinois Owen Wollam graduated from V[...]family came west and spent some time in Oregon, University of Washington. He married Donn[...]arm at Nez Perce, Idaho. This Bailey of Red Lodge in 1962. They live in Tempe, farm still remains in the Younger family today. Arizona where Owen is an Associate Professor In 1910, Ora and his wife Pearl, along with and Co-o[...]mily Pearl and Ora was dissolved in 1917. Art Wunderlich was born in October, 1918, In 1933, Morris, Ora's brother, took over the and wa[...]ound Outlook, Montana. He family farm in Idaho and his parents moved to spent some time in the CCC before his family Spokane, Washington. Ora spent several winters moved to Kalispell in the early 1930's. with his parents[...]alier area about 1938 or Factory. While in Spokane, he married Dorothy 1939, where he[...] |
| [...]while in this area, Wanda May and Blanche[...]10, 1926 in Conrad. She grew up on the family[...]While in the Valier area, Lee worked as a farm[...]retired in 1979, and shortly thereafter, on De-[...]active in the Eastern Star and Rebekah organizations for many years and has held offices in each. She is also clerk of the Cemetery Board[...]Spray". For many years Wanda has worked at the[...]Wanda is very active in the work of the Valier Ora Younger, wife, Doroth[...]f tuberculosis. Kate had two young children. In the spring of 1923, Dorothy and Ora moved to Vali[...]rint her some labels and she sold homemade butter in the Valier area. The family recalls that this mon[...]he same time. Then Ora would load all the turkeys in his Model A truck and haul them to the market in Conrad. All this work was done in three days so they would be fresh turkeys. Dorothy Younger died very suddenly in August of 1936. Ora remained on the Frances Heights farm until he retired and then moved to Valier in 1954. He lived here until his death in March of 1959.[...] |
| [...]ver al years. Blanche Marie Younger was born in Septem- ber of 1927. She too was raised on the family farm. In February of 1946, Blanche married Dick Barron. Dick and Blanche have six children, Vic- toria May, who lives in Craigmont, Idaho; Cyn- thia (Bruner) and two daughters in Great Falls; William (Bill) and wife Loretta with two daughters in Great Falls; Rhonda and husband, Charles King live in Valier with a son and daughter; Dorothy and husband Mark Stevens with a daughter in Dover, Delaware; and Thomas and his wife, Susan, who live in Conrad. Wanda and Blanche were educated in the Valier area. First they attended school at th[...]east of the Steve Goff Ranch. They rode to school in a Victoria Model A Ford. They also attended school in the town of Valier. Ora's son, Lyle, was born to him and his first wife, Pearl. Lyle was born in April of 1910 in Idaho. In 1930, he married Margaret Hopkins Ge[...]hnson from Canada, and they have three sons. They are Elred, born in September of 1931; Eldon, born in May of 1937; and Larry, born in May of 1939. The Peter Zeimet Family All of Lyle's sons are married and Margaret and In 1908, my uncle Peter Biversi and wife Lyle now ha[...]railroad. He came from a town not many miles[...]railway crew. My dad, George M. Zeimet lived in ;..0:>:::":<.-.-v._.,.x;._~❖[...]putting in the grade. When my father arrived in Valier he saw that there was a need for houses so[...]homes and some of the stores in town.[...]1909. I was the first child born in Valier and as George Zeimet and Heinie, carpenter[...]can find out my parents left Valier when I built many houses and stores in Valier in 1909-1910. was two and a half years old.[...] |
| Catholic at Conrad, Montana in January 1910 by still a member of the carpe[...]Cormick. Peter Valier, P. F. St. Denis, In 1964, I was injured in a car accident and and Charlie Russell are listed as Godfathers on was laid up for a ye[...]married Dorothy M. Armbrecht from a At that time there were four other children, the pioneer Madison[...]. We have I held aeveral jobs over the years in Wiscon- six children, three boys and thr[...] |
| [...]• • A Day In The Early Twenties ter[...]ran up the radio antenna pole. Brink grabbed the |
| [...]time. "How is the sick calf?"[...]dose for a calf. How is the cat doing?" Ball Game In Valier The man a[...]ll two digging and two covering up." diamond in Valier was located east and south of where the An[...]uys were stand was covered with an awning so that there sitting around the pool hall talking about[...]winters they had experienced living in Montana. The young fellows of the town had a[...]similar to the present day Jaycees. ever put in was one summer in Glacier Park." They sold ice cream and real homem[...]f "ice cold This incident took place in the days when lemonade", as in modern times, these fellows Valier's str[...]t: day and there was sloppy mud six or eight inches Ice cold lemonade, deep. Stirred in the shade, Several old guys were standing in front of the By an old maid,[...]ith the stray dog, gave This story took place in the days when Dinger's dog a kick in the rear. Brink missed and prestone sold at $10.[...]d it took ker-plop, he found himself sitting in the sloppy $15.00 worth to fill a radiator, usual[...]Valier to play cards with a few choice words. in the pool hall. Solo or Pan was played and frequen[...]A Disappearing Date which were parked in front of Haugen's Pool Hall. In the early days when Valier had an armory, Pete had prestone in his radiator, but the dances were held in this building quite frequent- other fellow[...] |
| [...], began the this school district, now there are approximately founding of institutions of learnin[...]time the citizens and Kunkel was appointed in his place. The first elec- those interested in the project were unwilling to tion for trustees was held in the spring of the year wait, and therefore a scho[...]d a but owing to some mistake made in the election teacher employed by it in the fall of the year the County Superint[...]persons as trustees to hold office for one year. In is now used for manual training and a physics[...]was elected trustee for the three-year Late in the fall of the year 1909, School term,[...]cceeded D. F. Mains has a large area, larger than many counties in and Martin Lien has succeeded H. C. Kunkel. The which many readers of this article have resided; foll[...]of a school district is to mak~ miles square. We are informed that when the an inventory o[...]o have been em- Townsite of Valier was staked out in the spring of ployed from time to time. The first teachers were 1909 there was not a child of school age within[...] |
| [...]se routes when punctuality and regularity of ning in September of the year 1909. In the year attendance are considered. 1910, Ward Combs, S. A. Selecman, Ella Curran High school work was commenced in the fall (Harrison), Helen McLain, Florise Peirso[...]school was afflicted with a serious disease early in the course was taught; each year following th[...]re the end of the the four-year course was in effect. When the year. Mr. Selecman succeeded him as principal. Valier High School had three years in its course H. T. Douglass was the principal for t[...]ers. cises were held in the spring of 1915 when Ber- For the year 19[...]bury were graduated. Each of these is now in at- Mabel Malone (Noble), Ella Wilke (Harrington)[...]at the State University. Edith Mecorney (Merrill) in Valier and Emma The conducting of[...]the construction of school buildings and in this, Carrie Larson in the country. this distric[...]ame has probably kept For the year beginning in the fall of the year abreast of the times. The[...]l and Cecil I. building was constructed in 1910, in 1911, a Kramer (Mather), Flora Brooner, Maude Smith, large sandstone building was constructed in Edi th Mecorney (Merrill) were the teachers in Valier; in 1912, school buildings were construc- Valier and[...]son, ted at Williams and at Bullhead; in 1913 the Gwendoline Evans, Ethel Bruce and Carrie[...]uilding and the Birch Field son were the teachers in the country school. school building were constructed. Mr. Ames was again principal in the year Thus history shows that in about six years, 1914 and Cecil I. Kramer (Mather[...]land has been transformed from a coyotes' retreat in Valier and Carrie Larson, Katherine McGrue,[...]conserved and their waters net- were the teachers in the country. ted over a vast irrigation project, the schools For the year beginning in September, 1915, within these parts have de[...]ght well be pardoned and Lucretia Goff assistants in the high school; R. for being proud of. But pro[...]len Roddy the will see a greater advance in the coming six grade teachers; and Carrie Larson,[...]ers, Elsie Sanders and Clara Perkins the teachers in the country schools. This writing would be i[...]The Irrigator - 191 S times there have been as many as five school wagons transporting pupils. It has[...]spor- This, the first graduating class in the history tation can scarcely be over estimated[...]ool occupies a place and distinction present time there are two wagons being run. The which it is imposs[...]rds show a high degree of efficiency from In any school there is just one class which can be[...] |
| [...]than any other class as nard William Anderson there are no precedents to be followed. Other 4. Essay - Music - Louise Kinsbury classes may follow in the footsteps of the first 5. Essay-The[...]Mabel S. Anderson presume to put themselves in their places. 6. Vocal Selection - Chorus, girls of inter- All of our alumni are at present attending the mediate department St[...]7. Commencement Address - C. W. Tenney, received are doing well. Bernard Anderson and Rural School Inspector Louise Kingsbury are attending school at 8. Presenta[...]i) - Men's to us by Miss Anderson for publication in the Glee Club, Messrs. Ware, Atwood, E.[...]The Valeria Society school work in Valier. "During 1914-15, the seniors worked[...]ria Literary Society was organized exercises came in the spring. Since the class was at the begin[...]Valeria. Public programs have been rendered in "It was a more frightened than dignified[...]t and third Fridays of class which took its place in front of a large crowd each school month. The purpose of this in the armory that evening. After. a few[...]n they sat back quietly confidence and poise in those who must appear in and listened to the remainder of the program. public and, in short, to afford training for better State Rural[...]citizenship. ney of Helena, gave a rousing speech in which he Since the organization of The[...]ls to finish their its members have grown in confidence, knees school work before they attempt[...]sident; Blanche The following is the program in full as ren- Messecar, secretary; Her[...] |
| [...]ool District No. 18, Valier, Montana Records in Teton County show that School 1966. In 1976, a new shop with woodworking District No. 18 of Valier, was started in 1909, and welding facilities was built behind the and school was held in what is now the janitor's existing high school at a cost of $149,000. In house. The stone building was built in 1911 for a 1978, the existing gymnasium was r[...]rooms were also built at a cost of $350,000. there in 1915. Then the new high school was built In District No. 18 were the following rural in 1918 at a cost of $24,000, and later they add-[...]three miles north; Buena Vista, six The community in 1950 built the swimming pool. miles northe[...]southwest. and the old stone building was closed. In 1965, Several of these schools were bui[...]$395,000 high school was built gatherings many times to raise money for school in its place, and was occupied in the spring of equipment. In about 1939, these rural schools The Valier School built in 1911 for $15,000.[...] |
| were all closed and the children were brought in by bus to Valier. The Class of 1915 was the f[...]. Commencement exer- cises were held May 20, 1915 in the Armory. State Rural Inspector of Schools, Mr. C.W. Ten- ney of Helena, gave a rousing speech in which he appealed to the boys and girls to finish[...]ke up This high school was built in 1918. their chosen life work.[...]ice M. Robinson from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, schools in district No. 18 in Teton county, was was hired for the fall of 1914. She was a relative started in the fall of 1912 in a homestead shack of Abe Ferguson, who homest[...]es north and three known as the Al Rich place in the Wingina and one-quarter miles east of Valier.[...]g pupils enrolled: Mable Maddox, In 1915, Clara Perkins from Dupuyer was Elizabeth Ma[...]chool, was hired for the fall of 1916 send her so there would be the necessary ten and again in 191 7. A new school was built in pupils to start the school. Emma stayed with her 1917 on the same site. The enrollment was in- brother, J. W. Gitchel, who homesteaded on what[...]building was needed. The new larger school In 1913, a new school house was built three with[...]the buildings on the Harding homestead, In 1918, Cecilia Brophy, now Mrs. Ted which is now o[...]Brophy, in the Wingina Valley, except when the[...]term, Pondera County was formed in 1919. Her third term in 1920-21, had the largest enrollment in the history of the school. Those enrolled[...] |
| [...]ported by bus to the school in Va lier after 1939.[...]who moved it to Valier after he retired in the[...]dedicated However, she was relieved of her duties in on April 23, 1966 and was a happy and J[...]as hired to replace her. memorable day for all in Valier as they gathered Millie stayed with the Na[...]h Leigland Company returned to Buena Vista School in the fall of 1922 of Great Falls holding the gen[...]ld Electric and Al's Plumbing and No records are available for the 1923-24 Heating of Conra[...]ldren went to school and Roofing of Cut Bank. in Valier that year and it would seem that the The first class was held in the new building school did not run, as the popul[...]demolished and the new building erected in its tana, taught the 1924-25 term and boarded wit[...]oks family. There are nine classrooms, a 50x70 foot There weren't enough pupils in 1927-28 to multi-purpose room with a 25x50 foot stage. The run the school. Those that lived in the vicinity home economics room is painted in orange tones went to the Bullhead school.[...]ilies had moved to the lockers line the walls in the main corridor and an community bringing eight[...]this time the population became more settled and there was an average attendance of ten pupils. Gra[...]he beginning of the second generation of teachers in this area. The Valier[...] |
| [...]from their services, while the other group went in School District No. 57[...]By Mrs. D. D. Dean Many dances and parties were also held in The Abbott Lake School was located seven the buildings on weekends and many good times miles north and one mile east of Valier. It was were had. located in a thriving little community filled with There were many youngsters attending the dryland homesteaders and[...]ol at first, sometimes forty or fifty youngsters, There was a house on nearly every one hundred[...]ded by the Then came the dry years and many of the dryland homesteaders.[...]to look for better con- School was just held in a small building un- ditions elsewhere. Seve[...]decided a good living was not to be had and lived in and around Valier until her death. from the small farms and also left. Many went The new schoolhouse was built by Bill F[...]where they came from. one of the dryland farmers, in 1916-17. Dorwell The enrollment grew less and less, until in Dean worked for Mr. Fry and helped build the[...]room. In the early days, the schoolhouse was used Many of the boys and girls who attended as a community[...]school at Abbott Lake, have gone on to higher There were two groups, the Methodist and the[...]in the world, giving them a good life. They can[...]look back with fond memories in their school days[...]One of the biggest events held in the Town of Valier for many years was the all school reunion held in June of 1965. People from all parts of the[...]gatherings ever held in the town. Two days of ac-[...]ntana. On Saturday registration was held in the The school children in 1916 taught by Miss Carrie grade school and[...]stine Broten, Thelma Berg a banquet was held in the high school gym. and Bertha VandenBos.[...] |
| [...]round the state including Billings, Helena, flown in from Great Falls. White[...]ening were supplied by Kim Phillips and a teacher in the system. Jerry's dad, Horace, was Annette Porter of Columbia Falls. Music for dan- the music teacher in the Valier Schools. cing was by Swede[...]Charles Van Gorden and Jack Crawford in Mok See for entertainment on Sunday afternoon.[...]Library was organized in 1912 by the Reverand beautiful desk, chair, filin[...]Mecklenburg, Mr. W. L. Bullock, Mrs. basket, all in black walnut, for the superintend- Minnie Harr[...]people. A place for the new Public Library was in Carrie Larson. She taught in the Frances Heights the Harrington Jewelry Store. School starting in 1912 until 1922, then in the In 1914r the library in the jewelry store Valier Schools until 1945. Desp[...]d the books were moved to a years, she remembered many of her former students. Another teacher, Elizabeth Kingston O'Brien, who taught many students in their first year of school, also attended and was[...]ded the class reunion held at the Bulldog Saloon in Williams on June 24, 1978. Members of the[...] |
| [...]and the library was open daily five-thirty. While many women devoted time to in the afternoons. Margaret's assistant was Jessie c[...]to be held organized to give assistance. in honor of Mrs. Manchester for her provision of It is interesting that in a short time there were the room in the hotel for library quarters. 336 re[...]92 adult and Patrons paid fifty cents a year in support and children's books. The headquarters of the Path- many entertainments were given to raise ad-[...]t Falls City Library ditional money. At that time there were over one and five counties now share t[...]redit for the success the local librarians are just a few of the benefits. of Valier's first Pub[...]t that time it was possible the City Council room in the Civic Center in through the Federal Library Assistance[...]granted the money and The Women's Club was still in charge. set out to raise $25,000 by donations. The town In 1959, the Valier Public Library became a -an[...]Margaret Holm retired as librarian in 1969 Connie Lohse, Mary Chausse, Mildred Rohrig[...]t as The books were moved to larger quarters in was Margaret Hodgson. Patty Derks i[...] |
| [...]rch The First Baptist Church to be organized in the Valier community was called the Hope Bap- tist Church. This was organized in July 1916. In March, 1919, it was changed to the First Baptist[...]ore the church was organized were Mrs. A. E. Ames in 1913 and Mrs. Ware in 1914. There being no church in Valier, they were all active workers in the Lord's work. Meetings were held in the homes of the first Baptists to settle here. L[...]head School House Baptist Sunday School in the early 1920's. with Rev. Stevenson being the f[...]Valier to a small building. In about 1943 a new In 1920, the first Baptist Sunday School was chur[...]In the summer of 1943, the church called[...]Rev. H. C. Knuth of Stanley, North Dakota. In[...]amounted to $1,600. The old Baptist Church in Valier, 1920. Rev. H. C. Knuth,[...] |
| [...]rch. Remarks September 22, 1945. Lunch was served in the old were made by the following charter members: church building and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon Mr. Arthur Bowman, Mr. Earl B[...]Town and Country for Mr. Robert Deardorff in charge of Mr. Wilmer Work for Montana. Mr. Homer[...]Methodist Church The first Methodist service in Valier was held new town of Valier. Many promoters and laborers in the Hughes Restaurant in late September, were working on the b[...]erecting the main buildings of the town. Much There was a choir of six voices accompanied by money came in with the settlers and it was freely Mrs. Kester.[...]this time the parsonage was built The church in Valier was organized by Rev. and the few[...]Aid Society Bynum charge with the minister living in assumed the obligation of paying for it. Dupuyer. In April of 1909, Rev. Hutt began[...]s dedicated August 14, 1910 negotiations for land in the new town of Valier for by Rev. Robert For[...]leming, Mrs. D. famous solo, "Tell Mother I'll Be There". F. Mains, H.J. Hines, Thos. Buchanan, T. B. Ed- It was a time of prosperity and boom in the wards, Dr. G. F. Tidyman, Roy S. Wilso[...]burg came in 1911. In September, Valier had a[...]came in 1914. A fine sixteen voice mens chorus Sketch of the First Methodist Church in 1918 by Laura was organized and they sang for many years. Mary Palin. In December, 1917, the church burned from 358 |
| [...]During Rev. Engdahl's pastorate in 1940, the[...]Rev. Ginter's stay and a new tile floor put in the[...]. R. Norton, months. Work began on the new church in March, 1928; Edwin Dover, 1930; G. A. Morrison, 1932; 1918 and the dedication took place in July. C. C. Hoffman, 1936; R. L. McCannon[...]George Cummings, 1948; Bill Keefe, 1950; John In 1922, the mens chorus was asked to sing P. G[...]lmer Kennedy, 1957; R. F. at Methodist Conference in Great Falls and gave Druckenmiller, 1959; Elmer Robison, 1964; Lyle concerts in Cut Bank and Choteau accompanied Hamilton,[...]vey Wilkinson Wakeman served again in 1925 then Mrs. Pond, The Methodist Ladies Ai[...]rs. Simmons, who served for three years, which ed in the fall of 1910 from a society known then bri[...]e weeks. items in the cash book include plastering, The purpos[...]the parsonage, and keeping up the insurance. In December, 1912, Mrs. J. N. Starbuck was elected president, this being the year Rev. Mecklenburg served in Valier. Since then the following ladies have served in the order named: Mrs. G. F. Tidyman, 1913; Mrs. J[...]Mrs. Methodist Ladies Aide at Williams in 191 S.[...] |
| linoleum, rug and furniture for the parsonage, in- During the three years Mrs. Simmons w[...]l, and a furnace for the parsonage. In 1940 the Methodist Women's Society In September, 1926, the balance on the mort-[...]the coming of Rev. Woods, and classrooms in the basement. plans were made to pay off this ind[...]ments. ner was served at six o'clock and later on in the While Rev. Cummings was pastor we[...]r the success of this under- social hall in the old church, but before the new taking belongs to Rev. Woods who aroused the in- building was finished the old church bur[...]s several of the board members did the soliciting in were held at the Odd Fellows Hall and classes in the country.[...]s. This was held at the Methodist In 1964, we burned the mortgage and had Church on Su[...]lips. Much has been accomplished since then. In In 1977, Rev. Robison was instrumental in December, 1928, the church was repaired and[...]$135. for and dedicated in 1978. In 1930, the parsonage was renovated on the inside, repaired and painted on the outside, costing $189.71. In August, 1931, gas was installed in the[...]Reverend John Ginter in July of 1955. The first[...]Monroe in August of that year. A formal meeting followed in August with the following officers[...]ary Palin. Methodist Womens Society left to right in the back are[...]Eyvon Swanson, Gertie Orr and Sara Nelson. Front are Mrs. L. Campbell, Marie Peterson, cal[...] |
| though they are "Housekeepers". memorials for[...]needed for the chancel and for the church in Methodist ritual and aids to worship. Weddings,[...]bers of the Altar Guild find that church occasion are given special attention. An giving meaningful service to the worship in the important concern is the management of[...]neral of the Diocese of Records show that there were twenty-two Helena, Montana and a native of B[...]rought back thirteen funeral masses held there. A lot of the old timers families from Belgium and Holland. Eighty people are buried there and the cemetery is still there. in all. They arrived in Williams and Valier on We were also blessed with four girls who became March 1, 1913 by train. There they were met by nuns and one brother. Fathe[...]and Jerome Monroe were Some families were lodged in an eight room the first young couple to[...]leene. I called the "Big C Ranch". They all lived there remember the snow was so deep Father was together until their own homes were built and brought there by bobsled from Valier. ready to move into. Masses were also said there For funerals the bodies were prepared fo[...]ght away. in their homes until the day of the funeral. Mr. The wood frame church was built in about Peter Habits made most of the caskets[...]rough the and out of wood. He did this for many years until Catholic Church Extension Society. Th[...]embalming was done for the was ready and blessed in July, 1914, by Bishop of dead. Doctor Simmons w[...]t Sunday of each month when Masses were In 1938 the 25th anniversary was celebrated said in the Holy Cross Mission in Dupuyer. The by the same Bishop Carroll and[...]was with horse and buggy until the early In 1934 Fr. VanderLoop organized an Altar 20's when[...]Demraeth was here the church was forced to close in 1963. Services were Sunday Mass, Len- ten[...] |
| meetings were held in the homes which Fr. atten- had some evening s[...]So as changed to propane and a floor furnace was in- time goes on it will only tell what will happen to stalled. The Montana Power put in electricity in this lonely little white church in the Belgium set- 1947 which made a big improvemen[...]Catholic Church St. Francis Church was built in 1909. In the the next Pastor Father Augustine Bernard V[...]holic church. The rectory was finished in 1919 and the Church records began in 1911 when Father Altar Society met there February 6, 1919. An Francis Joseph Shevlin came as the first resident organ was purchased for the church in 1917. priest. Baptismal records show that he ministered Members in 1913 included Atwood McCornuck, to the people of[...]st, Miller, Rustad, Wagner, Sturgeon, It was in 1913 that Fr. Day, a native Belgian Penger, and[...]ristiaens, Habets, Ghekiere Tacke 1 people in all. They arrived March 1 by train and Beelae[...]except for the year 1929 to 1930 |
| [...]ches were involved in a community happening at[...]a meeting of the Valier Parish Council in 1972[...]After the Vatican II Ecumenical Council in[...]formed in 1969. Ina Majerus represented this[...]the first Shrine built behind the Catholic Church in memory of parish council meeting was held at St[...]Andrew We can trace the gradual improvements in Widhalm. Larry Stoltz represented the Me[...]Since that time other members of the Parish In Valier the building of the present brick ha[...]turns aiding the Pastor, Father church was begun in 1937 and the first Mass was Werner in church decisions with elections held celebrated in it on Thanksgiving Day, 1938. The each yea[...]1914; Rev. Mat- for a community Methodist Church in Pendroy, thias J. Vande Elsen, 0. Praem, Sept. 15, 1914 to where it is still in use. The present building was July 3, 1919; R[...]1929; Rev. Norbert B. Mallen, 0. Praem, Demerath. In 1965 the decoration was modern- Sept. 1[...]1932; Rev. Stephen M. Vander Loop, 0. Praem, came in 1966. Aug. 28, 1932 to Nov. 2, 1952; Rev. Maurice J. It was in 1963 because of small attendance Windt, 0.[...]est of the their children to be instructed in the Lutheran four Valier churches, was just a dre[...]land of and Mrs. Sigvart Wolds tad came to Valier in Shelby and asked that he conduct[...] |
| [...]s held to make plans for a church Lutheran Church in Conrad, agreed to serve building. Membe[...]Ruth Marie Kilian, Eleanor Charles Sill. Many of the members worked Johnson and Evelyn Olson.[...]aterial was donated. families worshipped together in the old Baptist The cornerstone was la[...]Engh at the home of Herman and was held in the new building. Anna Margaret Ester Newgard to[...]lette was baptized. February 4, 1940 at a meeting in the Baptist Frances Tidyman played the pi[...]Sigvart Woldstad, Karl first to be married in the church on September Kilian, John and Cora Wol[...], Sunday school also became a reality in 1953. Herman and Ester Newgard, Andy and Minnie[...]d by the Elmer wegian Lutheran Church of America. In 1946 the Parrs in memory of their son Alan, who died in name was changed to the Evangelical Lutheran 1967. Church, and in 1960 this church body was one of On De[...]uilding was dedicated at a service conducted In 1942 Pastor Engh resigned and the Rev. by D[...]ved until 1949 when boring towns were also in attendance and dinner the congregation voted to h[...]In June, 1957, the congregation called its[...]Wanda Leet in 1962, and it's first occupants were[...]Church are as follows: Harold Engh, June 1936 to[...] |
| [...]; G. T. Kern, Martha and Deborah Circles are still active and March 1964 to June 1964; Richard Matson, June the Altar Guild, organized in 1965, is a real 1964 to Oct. 1966; Dennis Norlin[...], July 1967 to We greatly appreciate the many gifts and Jan. 1974; Ivan Cross (layman), Feb. 19[...]Valier Jehovah's Witnesses In 1931, the International Bible Students Witne[...]This nesses and was remodeled and enlarged in 1961- title was chosen as applying Isaiah 43-10-12 to 1962. A dedication service was conducted in their preaching or witnessing work about Jehovah 1976. Jehovah's Witnesses in all of Pondera God. This name has been applied to[...]Valier Kingdom Hall. In 1939, Charles and Ida Ingram came to J[...]t recognize women as ordained ministers preaching in Valier and the surrounding area. and for a time from 1970 until 1976, as there They were from the Ronan area. Others who were no men of training living in Valier, the carried out full time preaching here during that Valier Witnesses met with the congregation in period were Jim Webster, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wren[...]ilies moved to the Those who were interested in Jehovah's Wit- Valier area and meetings were a[...]s a congregation of Jehovah's At present there are 45 who attend five Witnesses. They inculded the P[...], meetings were held at and Jehovah's Witnesses are still active in the the home of William Parker and at Norma Bell's area with their work of preaching about God's home. In the early l 940's, Fred Anderson gave[...] |
| [...]y Club A meeting of those persons interested in tal in getting the swimming pool built so the organizing a community club was held in the young people would have a safe place[...]and the club maintained an ice skating rink in the Following a dinner served by the Lutheran Lad[...]d as temporary chairman tain the cemetery in bygone days. Ladies Night and stated the purpose[...]mbers suggested setting up a picnic area at spoke in favor of a community organization. A Lake[...]appointed and a slate helped get a new bank in Valier, and got the air- of officers was later elected. port hangar built in 1946. The first officers of the Va lier Comm[...]rving on the first Department, was instrumental in getting the board of directors were Walter Scheel[...]omm unity Club has produced the driving force for many im- provements and benefits for Valier. The following is a partial listing of the many accomplishments of this outstanding organization. Some of these are the projects of the Community Club and some are the projects of other groups that the club has gi[...]wise. The Harvest Festival Dance was started in 1944 and was a yearly event in cooperation with Swimming pool projec[...] |
| [...]istricts and each district has its own These are just a few of the many ways the officers. Community Club has been[...]non-profit organization. the Town of Valier, and many times they have It has helped needy children, families in need, worked in conjunction with another group, but Boy a[...]ocking on 6 holds their annual Jamboree in the fall of the doors or sponsoring shows to rais[...]since it first started though there is an election of[...]holds a state contest for fiddlers. This is held in[...]In 1977 the Boots & Ruffles Square Dance[...] |
| [...]It Sheble sharing secretary duties; 1980 officers in- was then taken over by Mrs. Paul (Pat) Barr[...]lcome all seven members. The 1981 members are Mike, interested beginners to join us in October of each Doug, and Hallie Lauffer, Pe[...]Members of the club have achieved many awards for their work and in 1977 received a Rocky Mountain 4-H Club state award in Safety Project. In 1978 the club's The Rocky Mountain 4-H Club was started in Safety Project was entered into Nationa[...]an audience of about six thousand, who It was in March 1913 when the writer arrived responded to each number as though they liked in Valier and discovered that this busy little town[...]eard. was sponsoring two units of the 2nd Montana In- The press also was kind in their reporting. fantry Regiment of National Guar[...]Having than a thousand inhabitants, in the wilds of Mon- had previous experience in bands, I enlisted in tana, producing and supporting National G[...]ary band of The home of the Valier Units was in the professional calibre." National Gu[...]bases, gatherings until it was destroyed by fire in the ending their summer encampment. late T[...]About August 27, 1914, Governor Sam V. In the last two weeks in June 1914 all uni ts of Stewart ordered the mob[...]This organization called themselves "In- shell. This was accepted, and at the appo[...] |
| [...]y D Butte was led by Muckie McDonald, his efforts in was led by Captain Willard Olson and First r[...]or that detail. Muckie's to their home bases in Montana. While General threats did not materializ[...]guard contingent moved into Silver paid off in their World War I assignments, Bow County Courtho[...]build up all units to war strength. When war In summing up, gains, none; losses, one was[...]and given high school graduating classes in Gr~at Falls and this order, "Leave your horn at h[...]r was not accepted graciously Early in the fall the 1st Battalion, comprising and some r[...]ion clinched the destruction was mobilizing. In October, the other two bat- of the band.[...]and a medical detachment, com- Jersey, there to join our Division, the 41st, all prising the S[...]f the United States. liner Vaterland). In addition to the 41st Division, That m[...] |
| [...]a damper on joy for those Christmas Day was spent in South Hampton who knew him. where ne[...]t daylight Decem- States. That order came in the latter part of ber 27.[...]th species were taken standing up. We arrived in New York harbor on February 14. were headed for L[...]s were a Russian Regiment homes were in eastern or southern states were troubled with a m[...]the rank of cor- This club was organized in January of 1978 poral. The skeleton regiment will then proceed to and had their first meeting in February. There the 41st Division Headquarters at St. Aignan,[...]to which he was assigned. Company D remained in Mount Richard for the duration, during which time many thousands Mountain View Garden Club of me[...]acated by someone elses war casualty. In April of 1954, ten Valier ladies and two[...] |
| [...]at the annual situation and also became involved in a fall teachers' reception and h[...]Herb Wood told the delegation, For many years the Garden Club held flower "When Va lier w[...]blue and red ribbons in the horticulture division City fathers had the site leveled in the fall of was awarded to and shared by two V[...]Leonard Yeager of Montana State In 1964, the club applied for the Sears College.[...]na Federation of Garden Planting was started in 1956 and the City Clubs, Inc. civic development project. The club put in a water line. The Garden Club sent out let-[...]. Later the city took full of this campaign, with many donations coming responsibility for t[...]the Garden Club bought and projects in the city, plus the building of park planted the f[...]planted flower moving and retiring of many of the club's mem- boxes each spring at the grade[...]War I, after their return home from service in the[...]nd Mountain View Garden Club at park planting day in rehabilitation and to assist the loc[...] |
| [...]the post to Mayor C. D. Powell in 1941.[...]Legion has sponsored many young men to attend[...]senior, participated in Red Cross blood drawings,[...]and Valier cemeteries, helped flood victims in the[...]worked on many other projects to help serve the[...]r 6, 1919. received their charter in May of 1920, due[...]to Harriet Palin's untiring efforts to get a In 1919, local veterans started to sign up unit started in Valier. She had four sons in World eligible members to join the American Legio[...]t endorsement of a post application for In addition to the fourteen names on the charter was[...]Education Week observances and the auxiliary in action, during World War I. Emmett Ryan[...]sponsor for an additional girl the years received in action on November 11, 1918, Ar- we were[...]rter said, "Mr. Ryan Community projects are Santa with treats for was a splendid young man an[...]veterans to select and give to their families and in addtion to their service to local veterans[...] |
| [...]The first meeting was held in the Hunter[...]who came to Valier in the early days to build the[...]Master of the Grand Lodge of Montana in 1941.[...]Dated May 20, 1920. In 1924 our lodge affiliated with the Tri-[...]odge was pur- have been given special recognition in the form chased in 1929, and after considerable of a gift, a tea or[...]alterations the first meeting was held in it in 1930 Now in our sixty-first year, we have increased[...]repairs and renovation were done again in 1950.[...] |
| [...]Chapter and was granted. In 1949 Valier Lodge No. 76 joined with Sister Power, W.G.M., installed the officers Conrad in co-sponsoring the Conrad Chapter of[...]nce C. Charlton, Nellie reputation second to none in this section of the Ralston, Nellie Bul[...]Campbell, F. C. Newcomb, D. S. Hunter, P. L. in many cities in Montana. Their accompanist Nixon, J[...]r was the vice president and manager of in the building that is now the I. 0. 0. F. Hall. th[...]tana Land and Water Company. In 1919, our members assisted in con-[...]ed through the The Town of Valier was started in 1909 and Grand Chairs of the Grand Ch[...]s, civic and was elected Worthy Matron in 1929. and fraternal organizations. On August 8, 1911, The first meeting in our present temple was a petition for dispensatio[...]eld February 13, 1930. The men's chorus taken in the mid 1920's. From left to right are R. W. Speir, Fred Palin, Harry Olson, Elme[...] |
| [...]service presented our temple with a new 50-star in Valier wi1 ha banquet in the Temple. The event American flag. was honor[...]Hattersley of Conrad, associate generously to many benevolences. We try to grand worthy matron; Mrs.[...]ama. Initiatory work was exemplified for the in- Valier I. 0. O.F. Lodge No. 97 spection of[...]immons, Mrs. Elsie Johnson, Mrs. Nina Many of the first members were transfers from Ferguson[...]elebration. The Past Matrons Club was formed in 1938 to sponsor events to raise money for the Cha[...]e newly formed club and it was duly adopted. In 1948, Valier Chapter assisted Victory Chapter of Conrad in forming an Order of Rain- bow for Girls in Conrad. In past years many items too numerous to mention have been added to[...]provement of the temple. Some of these were given in memory of departed sisters Valier I.O.0.F. Lodge members back row left to right and brothers. In 1955, Brother Albert Wagner, are Don Haynes, Ed Haynes, Cliff Stoltz, Bud W[...] |
| [...]served and with the lodge furnishing cigars. In 1912, the lodge chartered the train so they could[...]h, $40.00 was paid to the Mon- tana Western. In 1914, the Eyota Lodge No. 60 of Conrad consolidat[...]Installing team in 1958 back row left to right are Many big feeds were held but the most im-[...]rothers and ducks fur- Johnson . Front row are Esta Nelson, Corrine Whitcomb, nished by A. 0. Ha[...]ara furnished it was oyster stew or lutefisk when in Hofland and Myrtle Johnson. season. On[...]ts held were the rab- and the Red Caps. Also many games of volleyball bit hunts. Either the Masons[...]er needed the lodge aided needy with other lodges in the area. These at first were families of the[...]nk, Conrad, Shelby and $3.75. Valier. In later years the picnic was moved to the[...]iano was purchased from Star- Jones Memorial Park in Dupuyer with Choteau buck Drug Co. for[...]Throughout the years several things were In 1925, the Brothers decided to buy their do[...]always captain for the 1.0.0.F. Lodge. In later stations. The material was purchased from Chas. years they enjoyed many whist parties. Akofer Lumber Company.[...]on was held for the twenty- Dances were held there with S. J. Hofland fifth and fiftieth ann[...]free of Cut Bank consolidated with Valier in 1943. charge. Other bands were the Rod Marshall[...]pies, rent from the Lodge. They moved in 1947 wh~n it 376 |
| [...]Sister Flora Ott, Grand Warden. finally finished in 1960-61. In 1929, one of the highlights was children's[...]Eva Bowman was installed as noble grand in tend this all expense paid trip.[...]r Lodge has had the privilege and honor In 1937, they started summer vacation for to have t[...]visitor. Valier entertained District 4 in 1937 and[...]2, 1920, with Sister Ella Shoemaker, In 1941, a new roof was put on the lodge Grand War[...]ble Ellingson, vice grand; Mable In 1942, I.O.O.F. calendars were put in all McGahan, secretary; and Freda Fulmer,[...]and Isola Fulmer, outside guardian. In 1944, the Rebekahs made a service flag Dues wer[...]for the I.O.O.F.s. The Rebekahs met in the old Masonic Tem- In 1946, Brother Anderson was elected ple until 19[...]put on memorial for the district meeting in Great grand July 21, 1922.[...]ctober 18, 1922, with the ducks being In 1955, we helped Mr. and Mrs. Andy furnished by[...]elsen celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniver- , In 1922 the hall rent was $5.00 per month in- sary. On past noble grand night all of ou[...]and 35-year members were honored including in a bucket. That same year the noble grand was[...]xem- on remodeling the hall and a telephone was in-[...] |
| [...]In 1972, the district meeting was held in[...]made many trips and Harry Sand made a staff for[...]In 1973, we started having our annual rum-[...]he Sisters with a ham and bean din- left to right are Clara Hofland, Freda Dean, Helen[...]elected the Distric 4 president. Mike Belnap In 1959, we entertained the 1.O.O.F.s at a was[...]e card party. We helped with Brother In 1978, our hall was damaged by water and and Siste[...]ing at the Masonic sary. The Rebekahs had a float in the Valier Temple. It was nice of them to[...]ce then our activities have almost come to a In 1960, we sent our quota to the Eye Bank, halt[...]s removed from the hall during the back in our own hall. remodeling and we had our meetings[...]the Swift Darn for 1981. dedication program in 1967. The highlight of the year 1969 was the[...]e The Valier Jaycees were chartered in 1973 won't say what happened over the pillow that[...]Bowman, vice president; David Wagenseller, In 1970, Valier Rebekah Lodge celebrated secr[...]Pulver. In 1971, we served banquet for the Class of[...]n. Sadie Russell moved to Wyoming. active in individual development and community We he[...] |
| [...]we help them on many of their projects and assist iri many ways. The largest one is the annual[...]Homesteader Days held each June in Valier .[...]Brush-In and Lazy Eye Clinics. For several years[...]mas Bazaar. The Valier Jaycees from left to right are Jim Nelson, The money is then put back into the[...]through many channels. We have purchased new Robert Widhalm, R[...]kating rink. Youth activities are a very important part of The present members are Curt Aaberg, our projects. We have[...]ton, senior girls who wish to compete in the Pondera Mike Hayes, Doug Henneman, Charles Ki[...]On the state level we compete in many Thomas Majerus, Tom Myhre, James Nelson,[...]l, Rodger Parmelee, Gene Paul, and third many times in our class division. We Ted Paulson, James Pulver,[...]ock, received first place nationwide in our population Robert Sill, Brad VanBinsbergen, J[...]The Valier Jayceen Chapter came into existence in April of 1975 through an extension of the Conrad[...]icki Pulver as president. She played a major part in shaping our inexperienced group of seven into the[...]Gwenna Wid- President, working with all the clubs in our[...]re . Not pictured; Jill Briden, Rhonda As we are an auxiliary to the Valier Jaycees, K[...] |
| [...]with all our work we also have social In the beginning it was left up to the hostess and f[...]oyd celebrate our charter anniversary each April. In Conner, who taught at the Abbott Lake Scho[...]e ladies arrived at her house, it turned to bring in our new officers and present awards to out t[...]ters. Mrs. experience for young women, especially in a Barron was asked to cut the twins'[...]ter would not exist joined the ladies and many a card game was without the support and donations[...]yed. the people of Valier and the businessmen who are The club at one time joined with the ladies ever faithful in their aid for our projects. We sin- from the B[...]In the early 30's each member quilted twenty So[...]"blocks" with their own name in the middle of to form a club consisting of the ladies living in the[...]she completed in the spring of 1933. the idea. The first meeting was held in the spring Over the years, the club served many Com- of 1930. munity Club dinners, helped with the many dif- The main purpose of the club was to get[...]The Valier Saddle Club was organized in 1964 by Ray Newmiller. There were thirty people in the club from Great Falls, Cut Bank, Sunburst,[...]In July of 1974 the club asked the Jaycees to[...]help them with a parade in Valier. The club sponsored a Queen contest in 1970 which was[...]Days was started in 1970. The first two years only Ruth Wenzel of the[...]Dwain Swanson and Duane Toren families quilt made in 1933.[...] |
| [...]elebration grew these active, competing in Tri-County Rifle League and people asked for help[...]speople. They furnished prizes for the many team and ind_ividual trophies and medals, parade[...]n the including State Team Championship in 1950, celebration had grown so large and the Duan[...]Department spon- State Indoor Championship in 1953. sored a dance and more activities such as softball games, barbeques and an O-MOK-SEE. In 1978 the Saddle Club got the Dupuyer Club roping[...]Wingina 4-H Club and held Jackpot Roping. In 1978 Dwain Swan- son was the state champion rider in the men's The following sketches are part of the past division of the State O-MOK-SEE. There were activities of the first Wingina 4-H clubs from the over 130 riders from all over the state in that Pondera County Extension Agent. compet[...]Homesteaders Day terprise Club are listed as two 4-H clubs in 1935. Celebration in June has drawn more events and Willing Wi[...]the efforts of the leadership, work progressing in good shape, Jaycees and Jayceens. should be one of the outstanding clubs in the[...]been secured from the office." Members listed in-[...]C. Peterson. organized July 28, 1947 at a meeting in The The Wingina Enterprise Boys Ex[...]King, secretary; and has made a good start in his work, but the rest of Paul Chatlain, field captain. the boys are laying down on the job. Leadership At a meet[...]petent leadership. The loss of the older girls in In 1948 the clubhouse and trap houses were the[...]t built with volunteer labor. Previous to this an in- to reorganize next year. Also the fact that Mrs. door gallery rifle range was in the basement of Lloyd Campbell, club leader[...]rt should be at Lake Frances. Other indoor ranges in years made to continue with the club, even though this past were in the Valier Garage and the basement membersh[...]have good records." In 1949 a 30 cal. range was built east of the[...]Hanley. The A Junior Rifle Club was started in 1951, and club was reorganized in 1937 with increased is also affiliated with NRA.[...]the Distinguished Expert Qualification, In 1973 the Wingina 4-H Club was again which[...] |
| [...]4-H members who have achieved many 4-H Past members from 1974 to 1980 are Teri goals. These goals were met in leadership, Monroe, Kim Vanden Bos, Jack, David a[...]earned a $1000 scholarship and a trip to members are Kurt Swanson, Kip Monroe, Ver- National 4[...]one in safety and one in health. 382 |
| [...]o work and train them, outskirts of Valier for so many years after they then bring them back and dem[...]e up the entire irrigation project from Swift Dam in the mountains west of Valier to as far east as Ledger, Montana. As a boy I can remember playing and climbing in and around them investigating, etc. They were lar[...]ble to move a very large amount of dirt and rock. There were several of these machines that the Water Company owned and operated in their time. When they had served their purpose an[...]ns, hay racks, camp wagons, hay, grain and stalls in the barns. A very large man by the name of[...] |
| [...]Crum- packer. Survey crew working in the winter of 1912. Montana C[...] |
| [...]as myself, worked for many years for the Valier[...]to give us extra money in the spring of the year.[...]It was Mr. Chet Atwood with foot on running board in 1911. a pleasure to work for them. put the a[...]Shower For Bride-To-Be |
| [...]Charles Cook family and friends in Glacier Park.[...]The Great Falls Tribune in a January, 1922 The Duane Bruner famil[...]racing with the chinook in making the annual ice[...]28,000 tons of ice from the lake to be stored in Gr[...]channel, then the ice was carried in blocks by[...]Some of the ice remained in Valier where[...]and sold it to their many customers for their ice[...]Store from 1909 until 1956, put up his own ice, in Gordon King on pull type swather in 1954. a small building behind the drug store,[...]eleven in the evening, when he closed the store.[...]Hullingers in the horse drawn dray wagon was the utmost in modern conveinences in those days. Olive Cook, Joyce Cook and[...] |
| [...]side the Valier Armory. Threshing grain in early days required lots of machinery, ani[...] |
| [...]d carried the young Telegener boy to the hospital in Conrad with a burst appendix. In the fall, after the wheat was harvested,[...]we helped Dad and Mother distribute them to those in the area who would need extra flour for the winter. Many a time in the winter, when a call from Swift Dam warned us that a blizzard was on the way, school would be closed. If there was not time for kids to get to their homes, since there were no school buses in those days, we would take in a houseful of kids for the night and our beds, fl[...]grow up! Dragline working on ''B" Canal in May, 1913. Joyce Cook, Hazel Lonnevick and Esther Cook. Ted Orr on right with friend in 1918.[...] |
| Footings being built for Lake Frances Dam in 1909. Ed Huges is on wagon with team with[...] |
| [...]ad. Harvest days around Valier, shocks of grain in the ¥ First grade class in 1924-25, Ethel Noyes, teacher.[...] |
| [...]We lived on the ranch from then on in the summer and had to ford Birch Creek to get there. Many a friend who came to visit us , hit the river too[...]creek crossing, the ford, to our house. Many a slip-[...]pery day, we would have to get out at Mother's in-[...]ie Aiken's father. In very rainy times, especially in June, we[...]ehind the horses as they swam and lurched across. In Valier, Living On The Ranch[...]e of town, down by the lake. materials in the dipped pail of water. Dad's early experience in the Montana State Bank was interesting because of[...]around Valier. I remember him telling of the need in the bank to credit fairly large sums of money to[...]e, much to Dad's disgust over their lack of trust in the individuals to honor their loans and their la[...]ng of the rancher's inability to ride all the way in to sign a note in the middle of a busy time at the ranch. Da[...] |
| [...]ront with a group on a touring project. First man in front row is Arbie Leech, fourth in the front row is Arthur Jardine, attorney,[...] |
| [...]In the left background is the school, Catholic Church, of chewing tobacco in his mouth and plunked it in front of the church is St. Denis Blacksmith Shop[...]to us kids that we always had to leave Then there was Epworth League on Sunday early to milk the co[...]was a real ragtime pianist, would go down in the Children's Day programs and the Christma[...]up all the pageants were packed by all the people in town hymns with an especially good ragtim[...]iano so well for everything from the Church in the Vale". "Jesus Loves Me" for the cradle role t[...]en, Mr. came for their first-pastorate in our church. They Olsen and Mrs. McCalley. Sitting in church with had to learn about the west and especially our each of the families lined up in their respective town with their new babies,[...]got home there was a thorough discussion on not indulging in such bizarre behavior. Blackfeet Indians perform in Valier in 1910. Mrs. Doc Powell and[...] |
| [...]and Joe Balsmo at Ted's Bar. Ted and Verna Orr in 1929.[...]are Bob Aiken, Slim Dodson[...]Olive Cook Jen and Ernie Lauffer |
| [...]20, 1941, climaxed over eighteen months of in- tense effort which started in Feburary of 1940.[...]unique in that no outside funds were used and all[...]held, the bank building is in the background. Frank Duff homestead. Todd Fuller and Edith Fuller in front of C. P. Fuller |
| [...]Concrete crew camp at Swift Dam in 1913. lake and Francis Lauffer Gordon King on pull combine in 1949.[...]prominence as the first girl born in Valier. |
| [...]ody threshing with one of the first steam engines in the area in 1916. Early day sheep shearing[...] |
| [...]Schools tions in school and my desire for bulging muscles[...]sometimes three feet high that used to develop in calaureate sermon that the wheat sheaves piled[...]at sport for us to get up a first on the hay rack are the last to be pitched off. great speed on our[...]his feet as he went over and the lake especially in high school, although with Miss Lar- re-echoed for quite a while as he landed on his son in charge of the elementary education, I'm[...]r class Shakespeare and Caesar's conquest of Gaul in numerals. The night we put our "30" on its side second year Latin. When my wife and I were in was a windy one and in my dreams for the next Southern France a few year[...]We put a great deal of planning and work in- es and fortifications and the flashback to her[...]lattice trellises. And so we were able to College in Iowa and a truly great teacher. I dance in what we felt was a great Southern Gar- remember her saying that we needed a course in den, a really big deal in those days. Our opening commercial law for our fa[...]e, sitting on the edge above the floor, have used many times. fairly w[...]Valier High School became our new English teacher in the junior- Grand March. senior years a[...]lloping across the plains, we set her straight on how to pronounce gallant and galloping much to her mu[...]teacher, as was Mr. Crane from Willamette College in Oregon, but again he was happy to have us "educat[...]came superintendent for a while, once took us out in his open topped touring car after a play rehearsal and got it up to sixty miles per hour in front of the cemetery on that straight str[...] |
| Fourth of July picnic at Frances Heights in 1910. Schuler threshing machine[...] |
| [...]Great Falls this week and naturally bought a lot in Valier. Mr. Amon will erect a suitable building a[...]ample revenue for the capital and time involved. There is no reason why the pleasure squadron should not[...]roject. Note coffee pot and fry pan on the ground in Mr. Amon has built a number of gasoline front. launches in the past, all of which proved profitable and look[...]Bob Aiken and Frank Kuka, wonder who the girls are? Snowdrifts in Valier in 1978.[...] |
| [...]gas stove, we all longed for the soft rain water in the reservoir to wash our Survey crew surveying[...]of coal. Gas was too hot and too immediate. There never was any mutton or lamb in our house or in Hans and Fritz Meat Market because of the sharp f[...]nd Where Swift Dam is located, taken in 1911. nose so you could breathe. A fri[...] |
| [...]Valerian rounds out 43 years of publishing bine in 1940. weekly in the· Town of Valier. The original issue[...]was printed here in November, 1909. Quite a few[...]tinue to live in Valier where he will "cover" the[...]news for the Conrad paper. In addition he will work in the Conrad plant. Caverly will be[...]paper in Conrad. Kids playing on steamshovel in 1933. Lightener family gathering at Frances Heights in ''S" camp water wagons in 1911. Mr. and Mrs.[...] |
| Survey crew in 1912.[...]A. H. Habets, C. E. Atwood and Paul Chatlain. Many of the people who live in the Town of Valier donated their time and labor f[...]iken seated on tenance. The Valier Pool is unique in that there is the step. no charge for the use of the pool by the people in the community. The first lifeguard for the po[...]Farmers Union Elevator fire in 1949. Fire of undeter-[...]in the afternoon. Paul F. Entorf, Jr. was the manager Snowdrifts in front of Rieder Mercantile in 1938. and estimated damage at $133,000. 404 |
| [...]r as we grew up, we would go out to square dances in each of the surrounding country school houses whe[...]ng on the benches Swift Dam area in April, 1913. along the walls, while everyone was[...]th an old rubber tire turned out to be my partner in a Grape Vine Twist burning on the ice to give[...]a sail. The ice skating rink was set up finally in front hitching rides on sleighs that were heading[...]walked Class picnics and parties out in Rock City back dragging our sleds.[...]and fun, even without beer, Most of the boys in town had horses and we pot or any stimulant[...]it on a high rock formation. Creek with our lunch in a saddle bag. One day, Chautauqua was a great break in the sum- Herlof Gilboe and I rode downtown on my[...]eggs. Girlie, as she was called, was programs, there was always a kid's program in frightened of anything that rattled. On our way[...]treet from the Mercantile Store, she ticipated in plays and games by a Chautauqua started to run aw[...]a great source of our fun, swim- ming at the dike in the summer and ice skating and ice boating in the winter. Even at 40 degrees below Swimming in the Marias River, Edith Wenzel, Hazel |
| [...]row are[...]are Grace, Jere and Dupuyer Avenue in Valier. Of the first two houses the Sh[...]is now Hazel Ot- thousehome. Bob Emery in 1911. H. J Heyen harvesting in 1943. 406 |
| [...]ommunity, and we think it will continue to be so. In fact, we see a bright future for Valier with the[...]p. Ranching will continue to be a way of life for many of you and we will continue to meet your needs fo[...]Over the last 70 years we've put some roots down in Valier. In the next 70 years we'll grow together.[...] |
| [...]E KEG QUIET IN CONRAD[...] |
| [...]WINTERROWD IGA AMC JEEP 1st IN QUALITY TIGER DISCOUNTER[...] |
| [...]EARLY TOTAL COVERAGE OF THE FARM AND RANCH MARKET IN BLAINE-CASCADE-CHOUTEAU-FERGUS-GLACI[...] |
| IN MEMORY OF[...] |
| [...]THE CHILDREN NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.[...] |
| [...]LIER FARMERS UNION DICK'S IN LOVING MEMORY GROCERY[...]FEEDS COMPLETE LINE IN GONE BUT NOT PRODUCE & GROCERIES[...]VALIER, MONTANA We Are Not Satisfied[...]PHONE 279-3614 Unless You Are. WHEN IN VALIER |
| [...]ESTABLISHED IN 1898 STATEWIDE SERVICE THROUGH OUR OFFICES IN: BILLINGS[...] |
MD | |
| Stories of families who settled in Valier, Montana. History of how Valier, Montana came to be. Includes photo[...] |
Slezak, Sharon, Harvest of Memories: Historical Events of Valier, Montana (1981). Montana History Portal, accessed 21/03/2025, https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/90425
