Wolf Creek Farming Past And Present

By Ruth Ann Cochrane

A present day view of the Wolf Creek settlement in Alpena County, Michigan, quietly reflects the industry and vision of its German and Russian immigrant pioneers. The first settlers arrived in the 1870’s.

What these determined farmers accomplished has been carried on today. The rolling landscape is dotted with neatly kept farm buildings, many constructed of fieldstone. The atmosphere of the Wolf Creek landscape provides an identifiable link with the community’s past and in this respect, accounts for its unique charm.

One of the early settlers in the Wolf Creek area was Abbauer (Christian) Dege. The following story of his life appeared in the Alpena News, September 14, 1987, and was prepared by his great granddaughter, Ruth Cochrane of Lachine. The article states:

Abbauer Henry Christoff Christizan Dege, better known as Christian Dege, was born June 7, 1824 in Bad Harzburg, Germany (West Germany). On May 13, 1855, he married Charlotte Sander of Wahrenholz, Province of Hanover, Germany (West Germany). They lived in Hanover for several yeas. Their five children, Henry, Fred, Christian, Ernest, and Mary were born there.

Charlotte died Dec. 16, 1877, leaving a young family. Mary, the youngest, was only a year old at the time of Charlotte’s death.

In 1881, Mr. Dege and his five children left Germany in search of greener pastures. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean via boat and landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. They stayed in Canada for a short time before traveling to the Wolf Creek settlement in Wilson Township, Alpena County, in 1882.

Upon arrival in Wilson Township, they found a vast wilderness from which they carved a prosperous farm. During their early years in Wolf Creek, it was necessary for them to walk to Alpena for provisions and supplies for their farm. The roads were mere paths, called “tote roads.” Of the farming techniques, the family recalls abundant crops of peas which were grown around tree stumps. The original log house was built over a large stump. The stump served as a table for the family and blocks of wood were used as chairs.

Mr. Dege was a staunch Lutheran. He and his family were very active in the church work of the Wolf Creek area.

On March 26, 1913, Christian Dege died of the ‘infirmities of old age.’ He was 88. The farm which he and his family cleared remains in the Dege name. Bernard Dege, his grandson, lives in the family home.

The neighbors of Abbauer Dege shared similar experiences when the arrived in Alpena County. First, the fields had to be cleared of stumps left by the lumbermen if their farms were to be productive. In time, fields of waving grain, corn and beans became representatives of their shared work. Herds of cattle, beef and dairy, and especially dairy, became a prominent resource.

Dairying developed it own marketing business when Harold Werth started the Shady Lane Dairy enterprise on his farm at Wolf Creek in the early 1930’s. The farm which was formerly the Robert Werth farm (Harold’s father’s farm) was located on Wolf Creek Road near St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and was situated in the center of the settlement. Harold bought milk from other farmers to operate his dairy, and in a short time, he moved into Alpena where he had constructed a new plant on Parson Street.

During the late 1940’s, Mr. Werth sold the dairy to a group of farmers. The Wolf Creek farmers continued to play an important role in supplying milk as did other dairy farmers in Alpena County. The business operated as a co-op, but it still kept the name “Shady Lane Dairy.” The group was known as the Alpena Cooperative Milk Producers. Arlington Martin served as manager for many years. Under his management, the co-op purchased Legg Dairy, another Alpena dairy, in the early 1950’s.

By the mid-1930’s, Shady Lane Dairy was bought out by Dean’s Foods, thus ending the business of locally operated dairies in Alpena County.

Packaged milk and dairy products are now trucked to the Alpena markets by several downstate and out-of-state suppliers. Many Alpena residents still recall the fine dairy products delivered by the Shady Lane Dairy. Not as many would remember that it all started on Harold Werth’s farm in Wolf Creek. That landmark still stands and is easily identified as the barn on Wolf Creek Road which has a fieldstone silo.

Anna Dege’s Baked Potato Casserole

“Get Some”

10 grated potatoes

2 or 3 cups mashed potatoes

2 cups buttermilk

2 tsp salt

4 heaping Tbs. flour

1 or 2 eggs

Melt heaping tablespoon of lard in pan. Bake one hour or until brown. Note: grated and mashed potatoes are mixed together.

Anna Dege’s Sweet Sour Gravy

1 quart gravy

1 Tbs molasses

½ cup sugar (according to taste)

½ cup vinegar (according to taste)

½ cup raisins

1 Tbs mixed spice

Bring spice to boil in a sauce pan and strain. Put spicy water in the gravy. Discard spice, add flour to thicken.

Recipes courtesy of Alice Standen.