PLEVNA MONTANA-75 YEARS            (FILE 3 of 3)

This book was transcribed by Larry Martin 
 
for the USGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mtfallon/_fll.html

Copyright (c) 2001 By Larry Martin 

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In 1945 he returned to the Plevna area. He purchased his father's
place, built a body shop, and raised cattle ten miles west of Plevna.
As Bob and Harry went on to their own careers, Earl sold the home
place, then set up a feed lot south of Plevna.
In his later years, he built a new auto body shop in Plevna and also
set up some trailer spaces.

Agnes passed away in 1966. Earl remarried in later years to

Photo E.M. Hoke on Hi Power at the Elkhorn Ranch

Photo An N.D. Badland Cowboy on a bad horse

Mamie, a fine lady with a bit of a southern drawl and who maintains
the Hoke home across the street on the east of the Plevna Fire Hall.

Robert Hoke and his wife, Helena, have eight children. Robert has
since passed away.

Harry Hoke and his wife, Johanna, have four children and they are
living in Des Moines, Iowa.
--Submitted by Harry H. Hoke

Photo Earl Hoke

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE HUETHER

George Huether came to the United States from the old country as a
single man at the age of 20. He was quite popular on the sailing
vessel after people aboard the ship found out about his musical talent
in playing the accordian.

He made his first home in Wessington Spring, South Dakota. He met his
wife at Selby, South Dakota, while she was working as a maid for a
doctor. They were married at Selby. Before coming to Plevna, they went
to Newcastle, Wyoming, to homestead. They filed for a claim, then
changed their minds and came to the Plevna area instead.

Their move to Montana was as a family, having two children, Magdalena
and George. The reason for their coming was an attempt to get more
land for a larger farmer operation than would have. been possible for
them in South Dakota. They loaded all their possessions, including
horses and other livestock, into a railroad car, while they themselves
boarded the passenger train. George and his brother, Henry, purchased
a homestead of one section of land from Matt Ehret and also later
purchased the Goodmiller property. They set up housekeeping in a
granary, where also one of their children was born. The granary was a
home until their house was built.

To supplement their income, Henry, George, and Matt Ehret purchased a
steam engine and a threshing machine and did custom threshing. The
threshing machine was wooden except for the metal frame. It was called
"Buffalo Bits". The steam engine was fueled with coal, wood and even
straw, with water for steam. It was said that the engine often burned
more straw in a short while than it would have taken to feed all their
cattle for a year. It took 8 to 12 men to pitch the grain into the
machine. Chauncey Ettles and Mr. Kilbauch managed the

Page 90

engine and threshing machine, which was a full time job for two men.
At lunch time they blew the whistle on the steam engine and everything
was shut down. The people whose crop was being threshed would feed all
the crew for the full time they were there. If it rained during that
time, the family would just have to board and room the crew that much
longer.

It was in 1918 that George was notified to report for the draft during
World War I. However, he was given a deferrment until his crop was
harvested. In the mean time, the war ended, and George was not called
on again.

One of the sons relates an experience he had when at the age of 12 he
was plowing with a one bottom plow (sulky) and the horses ran away
with him. He had caught his foot in the wheel, but somehow never fell
off. They ran over creeks and banks, even hitting a wellbox. The
horses finally came to a stop after running a distance of one half a
mile, when the plow went into a cutbank. His brand new pair of shoes
were ruined, but they kept him from more serious harm, although he did
have some severe lacerations. He was relieved from his farming duties
for the rest of the summer so that he could recuperate.

Another big thing at the Huether farm was their milking operation.
They milked over 20 cows by hand, separated the milk with a hand
powered cream separator. Often these chores were accomplished by Mrs.
Huether and one or two daughters.

The Huethers were faithful members of the German Baptist Church, where
George was the Sunday School Superintendent for many years and also
many times taught a class in the absence of a teacher. In the early
days, they drove to church with a buggy in the summer and bobsled in
the winter. The children were bedded down on hay and covered with
blankets. The hay was then used to feed the horses while they were
tied to the buggy or sled behind the church. Later they purchased a
Baby Overland car. It was a problem car, so they traded it off for a
brand new Willys Overland car from the Meyer Garage in Plevna.

The Huethers retired in 1952 and moved into their new home, which they
built in Baker. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in
1961 with an open house at their home.

Their children are: Magdalena (married to Ed Philbrick and their
children are: Donald, Richard, Annette, and Leon); George (married
Hulda Sieler and their sons are: Arnold, Victor, David, and Spence);
Walter (married Oliva Fuchs, and their children are: Curtis, Berniece,
Calvin); Helen (married Robert Sieler, and their children are Pete and
Gladys); Henry (married Dora Mae Weist and their children are: Paul
and Craig); Albert (married Florence Celander).

Photo [Back L-R] Magdalena, Henry, George, Walter, Albert, Helen Front] Mr.
and Mrs. Huether


HENRY AND KATHERINE HUETHER

Henry Huether of Alpena, South Dakota, married Katherine Oberlander on
February 29, 1910, after which they moved to Mitchell, South Dakota.
In the spring of 1915, Henry, Katie, and daughters O'Tillie, age 3,
and 18-month-old Bertha moved to Montana and lived on the Matt Ehret
homestead, which was eight miles southeast of Plevna. They took up
farming, and in later years also ranching. Martha was bom July of
1915, and Albert was born in May of 1918.

In the fall of 1915, Matt Ehret, George Huether and Henry purchased a
steam engine and threshing machine and did community threshing until
the late twenties, when the operation was put to rest. Henry then
purchased a gasoline threshing machine and threshed until combines
were used.

Large gardens were a necessity, and Katie enjoyed her gardens. She
also enjoyed crocheting, tatting, and sewing.

In 1934, the Montana Children's Home brought a smiling, blue-eyed,
eight-month-old boy to the family to be cared for. He was adopted as
soon as possible. The happiness he brought to the family was short,
however. In 1946, he was accidentally killed by a friend in a gun
accident.

In 1935, Henry became a partner with Pat Kaiser of the Plevna Ford
Garage. Some time later his son-in-law, Ernest Evans, was manager of
the garage until it was sold.

In 1944, the home place was sold to Walter Huether and Henry purchased
a farm-ranch unit on the Big Hill area, which his son Albert operated.
In 1947, Henry semiretired, and he and Katie moved to Baker. Katie
took up the hobby of flower gardening.

After a long illness, Henry passed away in April of 1959. Katie, at
age 96, is living in the Fallon Memorial Nursing Home. Son Albert
remained on the farm, and he and his family are still living there.

O'Tillie married Ernest Evans. They live in Missoula, Montana, and
have three daughters, one son, and eight grandchildren. Bertha married
Edward Koenig and they five in Baker. They have three daughters, two
sons, and eight grandchildren. Martha married Sheldon Rediske. They
live in Baker and have one daughter, two sons, and seven
grandchildren. Albert married Delores Bonnett and they live by the Big
Hill community. They have three sons, three daughters, and seven
grandchildren. Russell Thomas died November of 1946

Photo THE HENRY AND KATIE HUETHER FAMILY [Front L-R] Albert, Katie,
Henry, Russell [Back] Martha, O'Tillie, and Bertha

Page 91

GEORGE AND EMMA HUBER

George Huber was born in South Russia, of German ancestril on February
16, 1897. Two years later, his parents came to the United States and
settled near Herried, South Dakota. Here he grew to manhood.

In the fall of 1909, George came to Plevna and filed on homestead near
South Sandstone Creek, five miles south o Plevna.

In the spring of 1910 he came back to his homestead bringing with him
four horses, a cow, some farm equipment and enough furniture to set up
bachelor's quarters. He built a tworoom shanty with a bam leanto.

Photo George and Emma [Leischnerl Huber

Photo The George Huber harvesting operation

On August 3, 1913, he married Emma Leischner. She came to Plevna with
her parents in 1910 at the age of 15.

George and Emma lived in the shanty until 1915, when they built a new
two-story house, where, together, they raised nine children.

Mr. Huber was an active member of his community, serving on the school
and church boards, as well as the Farmers Elevator Board and various
other agricultural committees.

George and Emma Huber retired from the farm in 1953 and lived in
Plevna. Mr. Huber passed away on August 16, 1959, of a heart attack.
Mrs. Huber suffered a stroke in January of 1971 and was bedridden
until March 18, 1975, when she passed away.

In the 1920's, Mr. Huber had a threshing rig and did custom threshing
in the neighborhood. The family also excelled in raising pumpkins and
watermelons.

Photo The George Huber Family

Photo [L-R] Ervin, Leon, Herbert, and Roy

CHARLES AND DELILAS HUBER

I, Delilas Perau Huber, was born of French and German ancestry on
February 9, 1889. My father came to this country from France with his
mother. My mother was Nancy Coutts. 

Page 92

I was the fourth in a family of six girls and one boy, being born in
Rock Valley, Iowa. My elementary education was in Rock Valley. We then
moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, when I was 13. 1 furthered my
education by attending six months at Madison Normal, my intentions
being to become a school teacher.

However, I became very fond of a fine young fellow, Charley Huber, who
courted me by traveling some distance in a fine buggy pulled by a
horse named Nellie. I recall one time, when the hour was late, Charley
returning home, tied the reins to the whip stand and went to sleep.
When he awoke he was home. Nellie had taken him there. That's more
than transportation of today could do!

I moved, with my family, to Bowman, North Dakota, where my folks
farmed. I later returned to Sioux Falls, where I married Charley Huber
on December 22, 1910. 1 had spent two weeks in November making my
wedding clothes at my sister Nannie's (Mrs. Herman Korth), who lived
six miles west of Plevna.

Charley Huber was born June 29, 1881, at Muscatine, Iowa. This is
close to the Mississippi River. Charley had six brothers and three
sisters. All of the sisters married, but of the seven boys, Charley
was the only one to marry.

One month after Gladys was born, in April, we moved by train to the
Plevna area and worked for my brotherinlaw and sister, Herman and
Nannie Korth, for $46 a month.

In October of 1917, little Elizabeth, age three years and eight
months, died with a sickness going around. She was sick only one day.
Pete Herbst was the only one around with a car, and he went to Ismay
after Doctor Carey. She is buried in the cemetery west of Plevna.

In 1918 we borrowed $1600 to buy enough farm implements and horses to
start farming. It took sixteen years to pay it up at 10 percent
interest. We rented the Korth place for a couple of years, then we
rented the Plath place. In 1918 we bought our first auto, with
curtains on the side, from the County Treasurer, Clyde Wilson.

The year 1919 being such a dry one with poor crops, we took our family
to Sioux Falls and worked for friends, returning in the spring to the
Plath place to continue our farming.

In 1921 we moved to the Moore place, seven miles north of Plevna,
where Kenneth was born. Dr. Carey came to the home to deliver him.
When Kathryn was born, December 8, 1923, 1 went to Baker for her
delivery. Dr. Blakemore was the attending physician.

The Moore house was very large, and we had community dances in the
living room. We would take the furniture out and put planks around the
walls to sit on. Mrs. John Ludwig chorded on the organ for John Howe
on the violin, with Jake Ludwig and Jake Zimmermyer on accordians.
Charley called the square dances, and what a grand time we had! At
some of the dances, prizes were given for waltzes, polkas, and
schottish. Charley and I took our share of prizes. Dances  were held
in other homes and school houses. In those days, you made your own
entertainment. We had a community Horseshoe Club and had many
horseshoe meets.

In the winter we would pack a bobsled with hay, warm blankets and
heated rocks and go to the neighborhood dance. The rocks would still
be warm when we went home many hours later. The horses were tied
beside the sled and they would eat the hay while there.

Our children walked to the Lincoln one-room school about one-eight of
a mile from home. They went to high school in Plevna, staying with my
sister, Nannie Korth, whose husband passed away. Nannie stayed with us
the first part of her "mourning year". The organ was put away, there
was no laughing, no music, no singing or dancing, no entertainment at
all. It was as if we had all died. Herman was moumed by the whole
community.

In the spring of 1924 the Sprindale Extension Demonstration Club was
started, and I was a charter member with about 20 members. There were
two other clubs also started, the Pleasant

Valley and Plevna, with about 20 members each. In 1929 the three clubs
went together, since so many members had moved away or died. There
were about 20 of us left, so we called it the 3-in-1 Club, and I am
the only charter member left out of the three clubs.

Later we moved to Nannie Korth's place again. Our neighbors were the
Steve Hagers, the Charles Millards, the Harry Hokes, the Pete Herbsts,
the Bill Thielens, and the Joe Steffes, and many more through the
years.

We lived at Nannie's until the fall of 1937, when Charley, Kenneth,
and I moved to Missoula, Montana. Later we moved back to Plevna and
worked for Johnny Medearis.

Evelyn married Willard Malcom in 1937 and they have lived 16 miles
south of Baker since 1940, when they bought the Charles Shepherd
place, now known as the "Big Hill Community". They have four children:
Marilyn, Richard, Lynnda and James. Willard was born at Miles City,
Montana, in 1911. His folks, Jim and Althea Malcom, moved to the
Walkins country to ranch north of Terry. Willard has five sisters and
one brother, Russell, who lives on the home ranch at Walkins.

Gladys married Pat Murray and lives in Savage, Montana. They have one
girl, Patricia, and two boys, Mike and James.

Kathryn married Clyde Fifield and they had five girls: Priscilla,
Karen, Dianna, Clydene, Pam, and one boy, Curt. They live at Missoula,
and Curt is in the Navy.

Kenneth married Eva Jane Owen of Baker. They had two girls, Marsha and
Debbie. Kenneth enlisted in the Air Force in 1942 and flew all over
England, Germany, and France during World War II. He flew supplies for
the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and for the Cherbourg Invasion in
France. Kenneth was killed in an airplane accident near Miles City,
Montana, on March 12, 1964, while flying a commercial plane for the
Frontier Airlines out of Billings.

Charley and I bought a house in 1946 in Plevna and lived there twenty
years, then we moved to Baker on November 1, 1966. Charley died June
18, 1970. 1 now live in the Prairie Manor in Baker, and in February of
1984 celebrated my 95th birthday.

Delilas Huber has been an officer in many capacities at the Senior
Citizens and is always ready to lend a hand. She has kept the 3-in-1
Club going, even with a few members. Her interest has been in people
and community. She visits in the nursing home and sometimes she and
others play cards there. She enjoys writing letters and likes to read.


Photo Charles and Delilas Huber  50th wedding anniversary

PHILLIP AND JUSTINA JANZ

Phillip and Justina Janz came to the United States from the Dorf
Kloestiz in the province of Bessarabi, South Russia. They

Page 93

migrated to Java, South Dakota, in the early 1900s with their five
children: Adolf, Emilia, John, Ann and Reinhold. Their last child,
Robert, was born to them in 1912 at Plevna.

When land was available in Montana for homesteading, Phillip went to
Baker, Montana, on the Chicago-Milwaukee Railroad in 1909 and then
walked to where he homesteaded three miles south of Plevna. He
returned to Java to bring his family to their new home, where he
cleared the land for farming. In his spare time, he worked for the
railroad.

Phillip was very interested in growing and grafting of fruit trees and
started a small orchard.

The church was another important interest to Phillip and Justina, and
they helped organize the building of the Plevna Lutheran Church, and
he was one of the first trustees.

Phillip was a great family man and dearly loved his children and
grandchildren.

Photo THE PHILLIP AND JUSTINA JANZ FAMILY [Back L-R] Reinhold, Adolf, Anna,
Johnny, Robert [Front] Justina, Lydia, Lorene, Phillip [Ernelia is not
pictured.]

ADOLF AND LYDIA JANZ

My father, Adolf Janz, the son of Phillip and Justina Janz, came to
the United States at the age of twelve from Dorf of Kloetiz in the
Province of Bessarabi, South Russia. They settled in Fallon County,
three miles south of Plevna, and he lived there with his family,
working at various jobs -- mostly on the railroad. Adolf also served
in the Armed Forces during World War I and was stationed at Fort
Lewis, Washington. He was a member of the Last Man's Club.

My mother, Lydia, an immigrant from Russia, was born July 21, 1900,
the daughter of Henry and Regina Schell. On February 21, 1920, Adolf
and Lydia married and bought land one mile east of his dad's, where he
built a two-room house and barn. He farmed with horses, walking behind
the plow from dawn until dusk. He also raised cattle, hogs, and
chickens.

There were five children: Lorene, Albert, Lillian, Edna and Alice. All
had to help when they were old enough.

After a short time, Adolf decided to build a large dam. With only the
help of horses and a fresno, which uses four horses, and a slip, which
uses two, he began the work. For several years he hauled flat rocks
from the hills about onehalf mile away and laid them on top of each
other next to the dirt to form a dike so it wouldn't wash the soil
away. When the dam was finished and finally filled with water, it
washed out so it had to be rebuilt. Then there were rains and it
filled again.

Adolf's brother Bob built a boat in his father's hay loft. The boat
was used for many years on the dam. This dam, being the
only large deep one around, was a great attraction on Sundays. As many
as fifty people would gather for swimming, boating, and diving.
Grownups and children alike used buckets, or whatever was available,
for water fights. Adolf also raised a large garden, irrigated with
water pumped from the dam. He then sold the vegetables to neighbors
and grocery stores.

In the summer of 1938, after his parents had passed away, we moved our
belongings in a wagon to the old homestead where the house was larger.
He farmed both places, with everybody helping in some way. In the late
fall and winter he would mine coal for his own use and for sale. This
was done with dynamite, a pick, and a shovel. The coal was hauled on a
wagon with a team of horses. Other people would come to the mine to
buy coal. Some of them were Paul Leischner, Mickey O'Brien and Jack
Doyle. In later years, he contracted for District #55 and hauled with
a 1931 Chevy truck.

Adolf enjoyed planting trees and grafting, and he continued with his
father's apple orchard. They were members of Peace Lutheran Church in
Plevna in the very early years and helped build when it was enlarged.
He served in many capacities as Elder and Deacon.

The one son, Albert, is now farming on the homestead. He married Alma
Sultan and they have five children: Richard, Joe, Cecil, Roxann and
Rebecca. Cecil passed away in a car accident on April 16, 1972.

Lorene married Ben C. Garity and lived in LaGrande, Oregon. They are
both deceased. Ben passed away in 1973 and Lorene on January 14, 1983.
Their two children are Patrick and Sherry, who reside in Oregon.

Edna married Bud Mothershead. They live at Palmer, Alaska, and have
seven children: Barry, Bradley, Bryan, Bruce, Gregory, Frederick, and
Lisa.

Alice married Charles Hegg and lives in Miles City, Montana. They have
four children: Blaine, Michael, Mitch and
Sandra. In the fall of 1960 Adolf sold his cattle, retired, and moved
to Plevna, Montana, where he lived until his death on May 30, 1968.
Lydia lived there until the fall of 1975, when she moved to the Eagles
Manor at Miles City and at the present time is in the Miles City
Nursing Home.

I, Lillian, was born in 1926 on the farm south of Plevna. At the age
of six, I attended school in Plevna for six years and then a country
school for two years and then back to Plevna for four years of High
School. My first six years of school I either walked or rode in the
one-horse buggy with the rest of my sisters and brother. In the winter
when there was snow, the George Hubers would pick us up with the
sleigh and give us rides to school.

During my high school days, carnivals held in the old Plevna Town Hall
were the big events. I also played and enjoyed girls' basketball.

After graduation from high school, I attended Billings Normal School,
which is now Eastern Montana College. I then taught country school for
two years.

I married Clarence Leischner in 1946. He was born in 1917 on the farm
of his parents, Otto and Emma Leischner, located 18 miles south of
Plevna. When Clarence was one year old, his father passed away during
the flu epidemic. His mother continued to live there until 1923, when
she moved to Baker. He has two sisters: Viola and Florence.

From the age of eight through twelve, Clarence lived with his Uncle Ed
and Aunt Elizabeth Krausz. He attended Baker School, the Prairie Park,
and then back to Baker. At the age of seventeen he attended C. C. Camp
at Ekalaka and on the shore of Flathead Lake located north of
Kalispell, Montana. After
that, Clarence worked on various ranches at Drummond, for his
Uncle Albert Sprechers at Elgin, North Dakota, and for his Uncle
Edward Krausz. He then moved to Plevna to work for Bob Janz. In 1941
Clarence was drafted for the service and spent 31/2 years in Europe,
returning in the spring of 1945.

After marriage, we bought the present farm two miles south of Plevna,
which was homesteaded by Ole Hoffman. I went back to one more year of
teaching, while Clarence got

Page 94

things going on the farm. We lived on the farm until 1956, when we
moved to Plevna and rented Ruth's Cafe for a year and then back to the
farm.

I worked as school lunch cook for Plevna High School for several
years. Clarence worked as custodian until 1971, when we moved to Miles
City, where he was custodial supervisor for two years and then back to
Plevna as custodian of Plevna High School until 1981.

At the present time we are raising cattle. Our interests are our
children, our grandchildren, and our church. When the children were
younger, we were active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

We belong to Peace Lutheran Church in Plevna and take an active part
in many ways.

We have two children. Jim was born in 1949. He is married to Kathy
Taylor, and they have four children: Nicole, Tommy, Jamie Beth, and
Kelly. Jim is presently working for Montana Banksystem as managing
agent in their insurance department located in the Montana Bank of
Baker.

Jacqueline was born in 1950 and married Thomas Rieger. They have two
children: Paul and Tandeen. They live at Bridger, Montana, where Tom
is a highway patrolman and Jackie works at the Bank of Bridger.

Photo Lydia and Adolf Janz

JOHN AND ELIZABETH KARCH FAMILY

John Karch, Sr., came out to Montana in June of 1909 to look for a
homestead and found a half section of land about seven miles west of
Baker. He hired a carpenter, who was building for some other
homesteader, to build him a shack.

John went back to Eureka, South Dakota, and married Elizabeth Hirsch
on January 2, 1910. They moved out to their new home, "a shack".

Some of their neighbors were John Wenz, Andrew Wenz, the Gomillers,
and Fred Schroths.

In 1914 they built a bigger house and a barn about one half mile south
of the homestead shack.

To their union, six children were born: Elizabeth (deceased in 1924);
John Jr., Charley (deceased in 1918), Bertha, Ida, and Viola. John,
who married Carol Rose, lives in Baker. Charley married Lilly Schell.
She lives in Baker, as does Bertha. Ida married Richard FoUmer. They
live in Renton, Washington. Viola married Norman Lang and they five on
a farm east of Baker.

As youngesters, we enioYed going to Plevna with our dad in a Model T
Ford for repairs or shopping. Was it a treat to get a cone of ice
cream! In the spring of the year, the country schools had a roundup
of scholastic and athletic events. What a treat it was, too, to eat in
Buergi's Cafe! Mr. Charley Dunham was the Plevna barber who cut our
hair.

We went to the Plevna Baptist Church where the young

Photo John and Elizabeth Karch

Photo THE JOHN AND ELIZABETH KARCH FAMILY [front L-R] Viola, John Sr.,
Elizabeth, John [Back] Bertha, Charlie, and Ida

Page 95

folks had many outdoor activities at different homes during the
summer months.

We remember a wiener roast the kids had in the cow pasture across the
creek from the Karl Hepperle home. Some of those who attended were the
Hepperles, Weinschrotts, Angelos, Stockfishes, and Karches.

We also remember the Plevna German Band that played for some of the
community activities. Some of the band members were the Rediskes,
Shorty Bruno, Erwin Susa, George Susa, Irene Kraus, Viola Leischner,
and Ray Schuetzle. Mr. George Rediske was the organizer and director.
--Submitted by John and Bertha Karch

Photo John Karch with John, Jr. and Elizabeth

AUGUST AND LYDIA KETTERLING

August and Lydia Ketterling came to the Ismay community from South
Dakota, where they farmed for several years, and then moved to Plevna.

August was a section hand on the Milwaukee Railroad until he retired.

The Ketterlings had four sons and one daughter: Rupert of Casper,
Wyoming; Leo and Herbert of Baker; Raymond of Weiser, Idaho; and
Lillian Ketterling Thompson of Austin, Texas.

August passed away in 1962. Lydia is presently living with her
daughter in Texas.

JOHN AND LOUISA KLOS

John, the son of Michel and Anna (Stockburger) Klos,
arrived in Plevna in 1919 from Roundup, Montana, with his wife,
Louisa. They migrated to the U.S.A. from Russia in 1906. They lived in
Java and Artas, South Dakota, prior to moving to Roundup in 1914.

There were 12 children born to this union, of which only one son, Ted,
survives and lives in Roundup. The John Kloses lived in a home in
Plevna where they raised a large garden. John walked the six miles to
his son Christoph's ranch every morning -- both spring and summer --
to help where needed.

John passed away in 1936, and Louisa died in 1938.

Photo Louisa and John Klos

Photo THE JOHN AND L0UISA KLOS FAMILY
[Back L-R] Mary Schaefer, Christoph, Ted, and Ed [Front] John and
Louisa

Page 96

CHRISTOPH AND KAROMNE KLOS

Christoph, one of the sons of John and Louisa Klos, was born October
14, 1884. His wife, Karoline (Wolfer) was born May 17, 1886. They
homesteaded six miles south of Plevna in 1909.

Eight children were born to them, with two dying in infancy. The
surviving children are: Ernestine Vickery Stuckey of Great Falls;
Clara Fried and Fred Klos of Baker; Matilda Fried of Miles City; and
Lea Douglas of Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

The Klos family built a two-room house on their homestead with two
large red barns, a large machine shed, a smoke hous'e', and chicken
coop. In 1928 a tornado tore down the machine shed, but left a car
inside without a scratch. Through the years, drought, grasshoppers,
winds and beetles made life miserable and their work was much harder.
The children attended the Prairie Park School.

Christoph Klos died November 7, 1941. Karolina moved to Plevna in 1942
and lived there until January 19, 1966, when she went to join her
husband in the Great Beyond. They and their

Photo Christoph and Karoline Klos

Photo The Christ and Karoline Klos Family

parents are buried in the Plevna Cemetery. They have 22 living
grandchildren.

Fred Klos took over the farm and ranch in 1941 with his wife, Lily,
and lived there until 1980. Fred and Lily had four sons: Michael,
Larry, Keith, and Jeff. Michael passed away in 1971. Larry lives in
Fort Worth, Texas. Keith lives in Billings, and Jeff purchased his
parents' ranch and lives there with his wife, Debbie, and two lovely
daughters: Linsay and Leanne.

John and Christoph Klos were both concerned about the Klos name dying
out. They would both have been pleased to know that their son and
grandsons carried on the name and that one grandson also carries out
their vocation of farmer and rancher. There are only five men alive
today bearing their father and grandfather's name of Klos.

GOTTLIEB AND BARBARA KLUKAS

Gottlieb and Barbara Klukas came to the United States from Russia in
1908 and settled at Eureka, South Dakota. They stayed with the Karl
Hausaurs and worked for their room and board for one year.

Hearing of free land in Montana, the Klukases came to what was then
Custer County and is now Fallon County. They arrived in the year
1910, approving a homestead eight miles south of Plevna. Coming by
train, they arrived at Baker and walked along the railroad tracks to
Plevna with a box of belongings and a small baby (Caroline).

Photo The Gottlieb Klukas farm home

Photo The Gottlieb and Barbara Klukas Family

Page 97

John Wentz was there to meet them, and they stayed with the Wentz
family until they had a shack built on their land. This was a shelter
with nothing in it for furniture. It contained only the box of
belongings they carried with them when coming.

Mr. Hausaur came for a visit a short time later and found them in
extreme poverty. Returning to his home, he told his family of the sad
situation. They loaded a train car with two horses, one cow, a pig, a
few chickens, an old bed, a table, two chairs, an old cook stove, a
crib for the baby, a high chair, and some used clothing they could
spare. They also included a plow and an old drill and a few other
needed items. Such love expressed with deeds was never to be
forgotten!

Gottlieb and Barbara very carefully saved what they could, and in
1914, having had a fairly good crop, they wanted to pay back some of
their debt to the Hausaur family. At New Year's time, they packed for
a vacation trip to the Hausaur's, arriving by train with a substantial
amount of money. What a joy to show their appreciation to the generous
and loving benefactors!

Dad Klukas died in March of 1934 of pneumonia, and Mother stayed on
the farm with the children until 1937-38, when she purchased a small
house in Plevna. Many people remember her for her love of flowers,
making them grow in the hard gumbo soil or by her tireless hands out
of crepe paper. She died in 1963.

They were the parents of eight children, four of whom died in infancy.
Others were: Wilhelm (Bill), who married Irene Klein; Caroline, who
married Alex Sturtz; Ottillia, who married Otto Follmer; and
Elizabeth, who is married to Emil Schaefer.

THE KENT KNOBLOCK FAMILY

Our life was blah and colorless until 1911, when Dad saw an ad in our
city newspaper, "The Tribune". It was not just an ordinary
advertisement, for it certainly changed our whole lifestyle and
concept of living. Once Dad saw "the ad" it gradually changed him from
a brooding businessman fighting his way with the competitors, to one
who was gaining zest and becoming most impetuous as the days passed
by.

"The ad" which changed all our lives so dramatically was one that the
Milwaukee Railroad ran in 1911. It invited people to come to an
auction sale on lots in Plevna, an unknown place in Montana. The name
sounded Indian to us, and from what we had seen of cowboy and Indian
life in the theater, we children were immediately determined not to
let the hot coals of interest which were stirring in Dad to become
extinguished. Our romance with those cowboy shows was growing stronger
daily. Mother, however, was not only skeptical, but hesitant. She was
no doubt thinking (with an uncanny womanly intuition) of the lack of
electricity, plumbing, bathrooms, newspapers, teas, theater, and maybe
even stores. The thoughts in the heads of us children were running
more on the line of not having to go to school.

One day Dad arrived home and announced, "IT is finished; I have quit
my job!'' He said, "Mother, I have sold our house today. God worked a
miracle! The new man at the store was looking for a home, I offered to
sell him mine, and he took me up. We are leaving. '' The next few days
were spent getting ready to board the Milwaukee passenger train for
Plevna, where we would buy some lots, build, and establish a new life.

We arrived at the place called Plevna and were shown the location
where the auction was to be held. There was nothing but a railroad
sidetrack with a few rambling shacks! I recall the trepidation we all
felt. Father, however, was undaunted. He had talked to some of the men
and found there were opportunities galore -- free land was here, just
for the asking.

We didn't invest in lots after all, but several miles out of the
little homestead town, we built a shack. In comparative description to
our former city dwelling, it was indeed ''a shack". There was no water
at first, let alone the running water we were used to. The only
"running'' water we ever had out there was that which came with a
summer downpour, or that
which Mother Nature provided in a spring runoff.

Our bathroom now consisted of a little 4'x5' separate building with
two round holes in the sitting bench: one a big round hole and the
other smaller, so you wouldn't fall in. The building sat upon a hole
that had previously been dug to accommodate its users. When nature
called, we headed for it -summer, winter, spring, or fall. At night
time, the call became a real education in astronomy, as you could
watch the stars from the open door. In winter, the call was very
brief. God bless Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Montgomery Ward Co. for
their timely catalogs. The catalogs were for reading while you waited,
and then the softest pages were crumped and used. One must admit,
however, they had an abrasive effect. Oh, blessed day, when the peach
and apple seasons arrived. In those days, the fruit was always
individually wrapped in tissue paper. Every single wrapper was
carefully salvaged and placed in the little box next to the catalogs.

Some of mother's gourmet dishes served in our new home consists of
hossen pfeffer, grouse stroganoff, baked sage hen, sage hen
tetrazzini, and chicken fried wild rabbit. Mother became quite famous
for her strudels which she learned to make from the German women. They
were made from eggs mixed with water and flour. She also made knepples
and kass knaps. Flour was the staple in any household. Some people
laid up as high as 1500 pounds in the fall so that it would last them
the season. It was always stored in a dry place in the home.

Mother also learned to season with garlic. Some of the German families
who came from Russian settlements before coming to the United States
were noted for their sausages which were seasoned heavily with garlic
and pepper. You could always smell their presence, even if you
couldn't see them. That, no doubt, was why many of them were called
the "Russian garlic snappers".

We, as children, were somewhat disappointed when we first moved here,
so Mother and Father felt we needed to attend school. In the city
where we had lived, all the children of one age would attend school
together in individual classrooms. In Plevna, grown men and women who
were not able to read or write attended classes with the first
graders. The school buildings were one-room, and the teacher often had
20 to 30 students, with as many as eight different grades. The little
first graders often could not speak English, and the teacher, of
course, could not understand them.

Some the game we played as children were ''Button, Button, Who's Got
the Button?'', only some of the little German children would say,
"Knap, Knap, Whose Got de Knap?" We also liked to play Run Sheep Run,
or Fox and Goose, which was a snow game.

Sometimes on Sunday afternoons we would play baseball or have taffy
pulls. The young people often played games such as Post Office, and
later even played a game called Spooning.

Those were the good old days! There were no expensive water and
utility bills to pay. Of course, you were fortunate if you had a good
water well, and especially if it had soft water. Washing clothes was
something else. Muscle and a strong back were the necessary
ingredients needed to run the washboard. It was a contraption which
consisted of a board covered with metal or glass in ripply grooves.
You rubbed the wet clothes on it to loosen the dirt. Some called it
the "backbuster" machine. Later a more modem contraption was used
where you either pumped a handle or a foot paddle to agitate the
inside machinery that swished the clothes back and forth.

Our bath tub consisted of a round tengallon galvanized tub that was
partially filled with warm water, and we took turns sitting in it. No
need to mention the old kerosene lamps with the wick that had to be
ever so carefully trimmed so it would not smoke up the glass chimney
and stink. The wood box and coal pail had to be replenished every
night to keep the old Monarch range or potbellied stove going. It was
always burned empty by morning. In the winter, the water pail and
dipper which contained our drinking water would sometimes be frozen

Page 98


solid. The edibles were never thrown away just because they froze and
unthawed repeatedly. Wonder, oh wonder, that we are still alive today.

The "Good 0l' Days"? God bless you! I'll take my microwave oven,
television, automatic washer and dryer, thermo-controlled heat and air
cooler any day!

Thank you so much for asking me to share in your historical book. Our
pictures were all lost in a fire, so I cannot provide one for you. I
do, however, have two small items which you may use to embellish the
above thoughts and show how society's values have changed. I'll soon
be over the hump, but most be ever so careful . . . I would like to
die of old age.

A DIETER'S PRAYER FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Lord, grant me the strength that I may not fall Into the clutches of
cholesterol. At polyunsaturates, I'll never mutter, For the road to
hell is paved with butter. A cake is cursed and cream is awful And
Satan is hiding in every waffle. Beelzebub is a chocolate drop, And
Lucifer is a lollipop. Teach me the evils of hollandaise, Of pasta,
and gobs of mayonnaise. And crisp, fried chicken from the South--
Lord, if you love me, shut my mouthl
--Quoted by Steven A. Pickert, M.D.
in "Organic Gardening"

THE MISSING LETTER

Just want to say I'm living, that I'm not among the dead. I'm getting
more forgetful, and more messed up in the head.

Sometimes I can't remember as I stand at foot of stair, If I must go
up for something, or I've just come down from there.

Before the fridge so often, my poor mind filled with doubt. Have Ijust
put food away, or come to take some out?

And times when it is dark out, with my nightcap on my head.. I don't
know if I'm retiring or just getting out of bed.

So remember I do love you and wish that you were here, But now it's
nearly mail time; I must say goodbye, my dear.

Here I stand beside the mail box, with a face so very red. Instead of
mailing you my letter, I have opened it instead!!!

RUDOLPH AND ROSINA KOENIG

Rudolph Koenig was married to Rosina Schock. They lived
in the Plevna community, where Rudolph was a carpenter in the area.
There are several homes here which he helped to build.

Rudolph and Rosina had nine children: Johnny, Ted, Laura, Gertrude
(who died in infancy), Herbert, the twins Robert (Hugo) and Anna, then
Lola and Ruth. Robert and Anna were born in Troshu, Alberta, Canada.
They were the sixth and seventh children born to Rudolph and Rosina
Koenig.

Rosina died of the flu when Anna and Hugo were six, leaving several
small children. Herbert, who was 12, said he was going to follow his
mother. He died about a month later of a ruptured appendix. Three of
the children, Laura, Lola, and
Ruth, went to a family in North Dakota. The oldest boys, Johnny and
Ted, were old enough to be on their own. Robert and Anna were given as
foster children to Steve and Molly Hager. Molly was a cousin of theirs
and the Hagers had no children of their own. The twins lived with the
Hagers for twelve years. During that time they attended the Leischner
&hool. Later, the Steve Hagers adopted another child, Fern Leischner
Hager, after the death of her mother. The family lived southwest of
Plevna.

Rudolph Koenig left after the children were put into different homes.
He later came back to the Plevna community to see his children. He had
different jobs in Billings, Montana.

The Koenig family members are all dead, except for Robert, Anna, and
Lola.

TONY AND MAGGIE KOLL

Tony and Maggie Koll settled in Plevna about 1928. Times were tough,
and feeding and clothing seven children kept them busy. Tony worked at
any and every job, including the coal mines, setting tires on the
railroad, and helping Maggie's brothers on their farms. Maggie always
found time to help out someone else besides taking care of her own
family.

One indelible memory was the time when Tony was covered up in the coal
mine.

Bad health and poor medical care claimed Maggie's life in 1939.
Shortly thereafter, Tony became station master and postmaster in
Westmore, and the family left Plevna, eventually moving to Miles City.

Both Maggie and Tony are at rest in the Plevna Cemetery, and both
Marcus and Leonard, the oldest two sons, are also gone.

Bill lives in Kalispell; Marjorie lives in Arlee; Earlene lives in
Susanville, California; and Evelyn and Joyce live in Havre.

Tony and Maggie have 19 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and
three great great grandchildren.

HERMAN AND NANNIE KORTH

Nannie and Herman Korth, the parents of Delilas and Donald Korth, came
to Montana in the fall of 1909, when Delilas was twenty-one months
old.

The Korths homesteaded and first lived on the southwest corner of what
is still known as "The Korth Place". Herman Korth and Fred Livingood
brought their belongings in emigrant cars on the Milwaukee Railroad
from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They landed in Westmore, Montana,
which had only a couple of tar paper shacks at that time. One was a
store with living quarters.

Korth went about five miles south of Westmore, and Livingood
homesteaded three more miles south of him. Charles Millard and parents
lived not far from the Korths. A letter to Mrs. Korth stated that the
cows were at Millard's, where they were milked until a shelter was
built.

Korth put up a tent that he had bought with another homesteader who
had made use of it until his shack was built. Lumber was shipped into
Westmore by train from Marmarth, North Dakota. From Westmore it was
hauled with wagons to where a two-room house was built.

In November, Mrs. Livingood, Mrs. Korth and her little girl arrived in
Westmore. The families worked to get shelters for the stock. The
Korths hauled water from a spring almost a half mile away.

An attempt to dig a well proved futile, so they moved the house to the
north side of the section. A good well was dug. They broke some of the
new fertile land and planted wheat and oats.

A barn was built. Later some more room was needed, so the Korths
hauled logs from the "Pines" southwest of Livingoods.

Page 99

Four people laid claim to parcels of land in this section. After
Thorsen proved up, he rented his quarter to Korth. Jack Paul sold his
40 acres as soon as he could.

More homesteaders came in the fall of 1909. Pete Herbst came to Plevna
on the train. He walked over the great expanse of open land and found
a half section, five miles west of Plevna, that looked good to him. He
found the corner stones before he left for South Dakota.

In the spring, the Herbst family left Ipswich, South Dakota, and took
up the Montana homestead. They had two boys at the time: Melchior, who
was past two years old, and Earnest, who was six months old. They
built a small house at first and later added to it. Pete had been a
carpenter, barber, worked on an Iowa farm, and did whatever he could
find.

The Herbsts and the Korths lived about 21/2 miles apart. They helped
each other in butchering, threshing or building. As time went by,
there were more neighbors: Elias and Margaret Carrington, the Miles
Carringtons, the Art Schimmels, and the Harry Hokes, Sr.

Late in 1919, Pete Herbst sold his homestead to Fred Brummer, his
brother-in-law, and bought a half section 9 miles south of Plevna near
some land he was farming.

There were six Herbst children: Mel, Ernie, Wilda, Margaret, Mary Ann,
and Joe.

The Korths had two children: Dehlas and Donald. Donald was bom at home
on the farm on December 10, 1915.

In the early days, the children didn't start to school at the age of
six, since there were no rural schools. Delilas Korth stayed with a
family in Westmore and attended school. In 1916, the Korths decided to
move to Ismay to be closer to school. They rented the farm to Charles
Huber, Herman's brother-inlaw. It was at Korth's auction sale that
Pete Herbst tried auctioneering for the first time, and it became a
sideline for him.

The Korths bought a house in Ismay but, having less to do, they became
dissatisfied, even after getting a quarter of land close to Ismay.
They contacted their old neighbors, the E. Carringtons, the Herbsts,
and the Adolph Riegers, to find out if they were in favor of getting a
school. These people got busy and went about getting a rural school.
The Korths moved back to the farm and got a spot in the northeast
comer of that section and a school was built. They contacted Bessie
Collette (Millard's daughter) and hired her for the teacher. School
was held in Jack Paul's shack the winter of 1917 and 1918. By the next
fall, the school house was ready.

There were ten children attending: Leon, Ed, and Lorene Rieger;
Lawrence and Alice Carrington; Mel, Ernie and Wilda Herbst; Evelyn
Huber; and Delilas Korth.

All the families grew larger, and the younger ones entered school. The
Herbsts moved out of the district, and three Brummers moved in.

Donald attended the Korth-Carrington School until October of 1925.

Delilas finished the eighth grade at the Korth-Carrington School with
Leo Riddle as the teacher the last year. She went to high school in
Plevna. Her folks bought a new Ford coupe for her to drive to school.
By this time, the Yellowstone Trail came through Plevna and went on
west past the Korth place. It was an all scorio surfaced road. Delilas
would pick up Mildred Brummer along the way and take her along to
school. In 1928, Delilas was one of the five to graduate in Plevn's
first four year class.

After the Herbsts moved away from the homestead, the children stayed
in Plevna with relatives and went to school. Then the Sieler-Steffes
School was built, and the children drove a horse and buggy the three
miles to school.

The girls and Joe attended high school in Plevna, as Pete Herbst was
postmaster in Plevna from 1933 to 1953.

Ernie Herbst started helping his father farm as soon as he could drive
a team of horses. There were chores to do after school before he was
old enough to take on harder jobs with more responsibilities.

He thought that gathering eggs was fun, especially if he found a next
in the barn inhabited by new kittens or sometimes he would find a
bird's nest in the comer of the barn with eggs in it. He would check
each day for fear he would miss the little birds when they hatched.

Both the Herbsts and the Korths used headers to cut grain. Ernie and
Delilas both drove "hedder box", as they called it. A team of horses
on a wagon with a box like a hay rack, with one side built high and
one side built low, to hold the headed grain as it came from the
header, up on the elevator into the box. A box to stand on was built
in front of the wagon box so the driver could reach the reins and see
the track that was the guide as to how close he could get to the
header, so the grain would land inside the rack. When the box was
full, it was unloaded. It took two grownups to do this. One to drive
the four horses on the header and stack and one to load and unload the
box. They thought this was a quicker way to cut grain than with the
binder. Then the combines came, and headers went out of use.

Dances were held at the school house, and usually someone in the
neighborhood could play a violin or an accordian and someone would
chord on the piano. When Charles Huber lived on the Moire place,
before the coal heater was set up in the fall, Mrs. Huber would have a
dance. John Howe would play his favorite piece, "Red Wing" on the
violin.

Fourth of July celebrations were held at Westmore. The grownups would
take part in nail driving contests, foot races, tug of war, and
sometimes catching the greased pig. Plevna had celebrations, too. Card
parties were held in the dining room of the Plevna Town Hall. Lots of
people turned out for these. In winter, people thought nothing of
going with horses and sled to some "get-together". Sometimes the
neighbors would go together. The women and children would keep warm
with horsehide robes and foot warmers or heated rocks or bricks to
help keep them warm. The men wore sheepskin overcoats or coats made
from tanned skins.

Wedding anniversaries were always celebrated. For the special ones,
the women would stage a "Mock Wedding". A mail order catalogue was
used for the Bible, the ring was some outlandish thing such as a
bullring or harness ring. Lace curtains were used for the veil and
vegetables took the place of flowers. There was as much fun in
preparing the "Mock Wedding" as there was in having it.

The children of the early settlers have many fond memories to cherish
because the families worked together and played together. The parents
took the children along wherever they went. The younger children were
wrapped in blankets or covered with coats and put to sleep on benches
or tables while

Photo Donald, Nannie, and Delilas Korth

Page 100

the adults continued with their fun. The grownups taught the older
children to dance.

Special occasions such as Valentine's Day, there would be box socials.
The men would try to find out which woman fixed and decorated each
box, then they bid high enough to buy it. The highest bidder had the
privilege of eating lunch with the girl who owned the box. Sometimes
some of the men would end up with more than one box.

In the fall of 1925, the Korths had a sale and rented out their farm.
They went to Missouri to visit relatives, then on to California. On
the way Mr. Korth became ill. He entered the hospital, but never got
better. After his death, Mrs. Korth and children returned with the
body to Plevna. Later on, Mrs. Korth and children went to Bowman to
live with her father and bachelor brother. The children missed their
Plevna schoolmates, so that fall (1926) they went back to Plevna.

Mrs. Korth rented a house and roomed and boarded teachers. The school
grew in numbers, so four years of high school were established.
Delilas was among the five graduates. During the time that Defilas
went to college, the Korths were in Washington for two years, and
Donald was in the grade school.

Then it was back home again. Donald was a freshman at Plevna. Delilas
taught school in Plevna and the rural area. Mrs. Korth had friends'
and sisters' children stay with her during the week while they
attended school.

In June of 1932, Nannie Korth and Joe Steffes were married, so they
lived on his farm. Then Donald stayed with friends during the school
week, graduating from Plevna in 1934.

Delilas was married to Earnest Herbst on December 27, 1932. Donald
married Elaine James (a Plevna graduate from 1937) on September 15,
1940.

JACOB AND JOHANNA KRAUSZ

Jacob Krausz was born to German parents, Henry and Christina Maveus
Krausz, on October 30, 1868, near Odessa, Russia.

Johanna Wacker Krausz was born September 12, 1871, in Freidendal,
South Russia, to German parents, John George and Barbara Himrick
Wacker.

Jacob and Johanna were married in Freidendal, South Russia, on
September 25, 1889. Soon after their marriage, Jacob had to leave his
young wife to serve in the Russian Army. During this time, Johanna's
parents, brothers, and sisters, left for the'United States. After his
discharge from the Army, Jacob and Johanna also made plans to come to
the United States.

The couple arrived in 1894 to Niobrara, Nebraska, where other
relatives and friends had settled. Jacob found a homestead, did his
farming, and because of his trade in Russia had been as a shoemaker,
he was now able to make good use of his training to build and mend
shoes for folks in the area.

While at Niobrara, three children were born to the couple: Pauline, on
January 21, 1895; Emma, on October 30, 1896; and Edward, on November
14, 1897.

In 1898, the Krausz family decided to move to Tyndall, South Dakota,
where he would have a larger trade area for his shoe business. He also
found a farm close to town where he farmed and raised cattle and
horses. While in Tyndall, three more children joined the family:
Louise, on December 22, 1899; Albert, on September 12, 1901; and
Lenora, on August 9, 1909.

In 1910, when homesteads were offered in Montana, Jacob found some
land seven miles southwest of Plevna, built some buildings, then
returned to get his family. He and his son, Edward, brought the
household goods, farm machinery, and livestock by railroad box car.
Edward told us many times of how he would feed and water the animals
and gather the eggs. Mostly, however, he talked about the beautiful
set of horses they had brought along.

The rest of the family came by passenger train and arrived
in Plevna on March 4, 1911. They built their large farm home that same
year. This house was later moved to Baker, Montana, and at the present
time is being used as an apartment house.

Doctors were not always easy to come by, so Johanna found her training
as a midwife in great demand. She delivered a good share -- if not all
-- of the children born in the South Plevna area. People would come to
get her from 15 to 30 miles away, in any weather, day or night.
Daughter Emma remembers a time when John Leischner came for Johanna
during a severe snow storm. On their way, they got lost in the
blizzard, but found their way again in time to deliver the baby.

Johanna was always there when anyone was in need, either in sickness
for the children or adults, or for any of the many other needs which
came up in those early years. She delivered over 300 babies during her
time in the Plevna area.

Worship was top priority in the Krausz household. On Sundays, the
family would get together with friends and neighbors in each others
homes to worship. It was also a time to visit and exchange the newest
happenings. Soon, however, homes were too small for all the people,
and the Krausz family decided to donate a piece of their land a half
nffle from the farm home for a church building. Together, the area
German families built a small church in about the year 1913. Their
first pastor was the Reverend Fredrick Wacker, brother of Johanna.
Another pastor later was Jonathan Weber, student pastor.

When the roads got better, it was decided by the small congregation to
disband and join their own denominations in Plevna. This is when the
Krausz family joined the Emmanuel Congregational Church at Plevna and
were faithful members until they died.

Jacob and Johanna, at different times throughout the years, lived both
in Plevna and Baker. At the time of their deaths, they were living in
Baker. Johanna died February 21, 1946; Jacob, nine months later, on
December 9, 1946. They are buried sidebyside in the Plevna Cemetery.

Photo THE JACOB AND JOHANNA KRAUSZ FAMILY [Back L-R] Louise, Pauline,
Edward, Lenora, Albert, Emma [Front] Jacob and Johanna

EDWARD AND ELIZABETH [SCHUETZLE] KRAUSZ

Edward Krausz was born to Jacob and Johanna Wacker Krausz on November
14, 1897, near Lynch, Nebraska. In 1911, at the age of 14, he moved
with his parents to their homestead seven miles southwest of Plevna.

Elizabeth Schuetzle was born to Christian and Margarett Hepperle
Schuetzle on December 7, 1898, in Neusatz, Russia, on the Crimeon
Peninsula in the Black Sea. She came to the United States in 1911 as a
young girl of 13 and lived with her parents on their homestead seven
miles southwest of Plevna.

Elizabeth Schuetzle and Edward Krausz were married on

Page 101

February 12, 1920. They built up a farm and ranch seven miles south
of Plevna and this is where they raised their five daughters. They
also fanned some land just west of Baker Times were not always easy.
Both worked hard farming and raising cattle.

Their love and faith in God was the center of their lives. The
Emmanuel Congregational Church is where they had their membership and
was not only a place to worship, but also a place to visit and enjoy
fellowship with friends and relatives. Edward had an excellent voice
and loved to sing. He sang in the men's chorus. In fact, he sang until
he died. He had memorized hundreds of songs.

The Krauszes built a house in Baker and moved there in 1952, keeping
the farm and land west of Baker. They continued to farm and ranch from
town until they sold the farm to Arlee Frieds in 1960, continuing to
farm and ranch the land west of Baker.

Elizabeth died on August 28, 1961. Edward farmed and raised cattle
until 1980. He moved to St. John's Lutheran Home in April of 1981 in
Billings, along with his second wife, Eva. Edward Krausz died May 1,
1982, and is buried in the Plevna Community Cemetery beside his wife,
Elizabeth.

Edward and Elizabeth had five daughters: Irene (Mrs. Emil Wenz of
Billings); Alice (Mrs. Rudolph Geist of San Diego, California); Luella
(Mrs. Dale Olson of Red Lodge); Maryann (Mrs. Isidor Sackman of
Fallon); Delphine (Mrs. Douglas Schwede of Evanston, Wyoming).

Photo THE EDWARD AND ELIZABETH KRAUSZ FAMILY [Front L-R] Delphine, Alice,
Maryann, Irene, Luella [Back] Edward and Elizabeth Krausz

CHRISTIAN AND CHRISTINA KRAUSZ

Christian and Christina (Dupper) Krausz, of German descent, sailed
from Friendantall, South Russia, to America in 1908, bringing with
them two children. Their destination was Tyndall, South Dakota.

Two years later, Christian, his brother Jacob, and brother-in-law
Peter Christman boarded a train for Montana. Arriving in Plevna, they
hired a stage coach to view the different tracts of land which were
available for homesteading.

The parcel Christian chose was located 14 miles southwest of Plevna.
He built a small shanty to live in and began improving the land with
the four horses and machinery he owned. A year later he returned to
South Dakota and moved his family, now increased by an additional
child, to the homestead. Needing more room, he built a tworoom house
of rock and mud, which was warm in winter and cool in summer. The
chicken house and hog barn were also built of rock.

Water wells were dug by hand, a wooden frame was built, and it was
hoisted into the well to keep it from caving in. Since some wells went
dry, they were used as refrigerators. A rope
was tied to a pail which contained milk, cream, butter, etc., and was
lowered to the bottom, thus preserving perishables. The meat was
canned, salted, or smoked.

Clothes were washed in machines with a handle and foot peddle to
agitate the clothing. Later a gas powered motor was used.

On Saturday, the horse and buggy transported the family to town. They
disposed of their cream and eggs and picked up their mail and supplies
for the week ahead. In 1938, a mail route was started, and the mail
was delivered twice a week to their box two miles from their home. The
mailman also hauled their cream to town for them.

Farming their land was hard work. The grain was cleaned with a fan
mill turned by hand, and later treated with a solution of formaldehyde
and water which was mixed in a 3gallon can. After it was planted,
they could only wait for a good crop. When it was time to harvest, the
crop was headed with a header and stacked. Christian worked on the
Andreas Schaefer threshing crew, later delivering the grain with
wagons to the Plevna elevators. He never tired of helping his
neighbors, no matter how busy he himself was.

A big thrill in the lives of the Krausz family members came in 1924
when they purchased their first Ford car. The sons did the driving, as
Christian never did learn to drive a car.

Christine, the oldest daughter, married Edward Koschel, and they moved
to Alpena, South Dakota. Some years later, a set of twins was born to
them. Twelve days after their birth, she became ill and died, leaving
six children. The children were boarded out, and 11/2 year old Arlene
was taken to her grandparents' home and was reared as their own
daughter.

The family had now grown to eleven children. They mined and delivered
coal to homes and business places in Plevna for extra money. In the
1930s they delivered some coal to the Karl Hepperles.

All the children attended the Christman country school. Clarence
wished to attend high school, so they moved to Plevna in 1938.

Christian never retired, as there were always odd jobs which needed to
be done for others. The Krausz family belonged to the Congregational
Church in Plevna, and he was the furnace caretaker there for many
years.

Although living in town, his wife preferred farm life, and she spent
many days on the farm with her three sons, who were still living
there.

Christina went to be with the Lord in 1955. She died at her home in
Plevna at the age of 72. The secret of Christian's 84 years of life
was hard work and a lot of walking. He passed away in 1960.

Photo THE CHRISTIAN AND CHRISTINA KRAUSZ FAMILY Morris, Edwin, Lorene,
Emil, Father, Theodore, Mother, Christian, Aluina, and Clarence

JOHANNAND MAGDALENA [SCHAEFER] KRUEG

John Krueg was born December 17, 1884, in the village of Neulustdorf
near Odessa, Russia. The spelling of the Krueg name evolved in the
process of translation. No doubt, it should

Page 102

have been spelled "Krieg", according to the pronunciation of the
German spelling, Krug.

Magdalena Schaefer was born May 9, 1883, in Neusatz, Russia on the
Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea. Both John and Magdalena stem from
German ancestors who immigrated to Russia from the Wurtemberg area
during the early 1800s.

They told of the beautiful lilac hedges, vinyards, and orchards they
had on their farms. The people had to be self-sufficient, weaving
their own cloth, sewing their clothing, knitting the socks and gloves
or mittens, in addition to raising all their own food. Each pair of
shoes was made to fit the individual by the village shoemaker. Along
with farming, John's father was a blacksmith.

John and Magdalena were both educated in the German language in the
church related schools. Russian language was also taught in the
schools. These people held so fiercely to their German heritage,
because in Russia their parents and grandparents had instilled this
pride into them for several generations -- not wanting any contact
with the Russians.

John and Magdalena were married in Neusatz on April 6, 1906. Within
eight days after their marriage, the newlyweds were on their way to
America. At that time, there already was great political unrest in
Russia, and many people had left their homes and loved ones, never
dreaming that many of them would never meet again.

None of John's family came to America, and there were no living sons
in the family, so the Krueg name died out at the death of John.
However, three of his cousins came, and they became like family. They
were Mrs. William Buerkle, Mrs. Fred Straub, and Mrs. Paul Straub.
Mrs. Regina (Henry) Schell and Andrew Schaefer, sister and brother of
Magdalena, came later, and this was reason for great rejoicing.

Photo John and Magdalena Krueg

The newlyweds came from New York by train as far as Artas, South
Dakota, where they had made arrangements to live and work for a
Schwigert family. Here, their first two children were born. The oldest
one, a girl, died of pneumonia. To the young woman so far from home,
the death of this baby was almost unbearable. The second child was
Magdalena, who was later to marry Henry Hepperle.

In 1910, the Kruegs moved to a homestead six miles south of Plevna.
Here Helena (Mrs. Theo Ruff) and Erna (Mrs. Karl Wenz) were born.
Three other children were born to them, but as with so many children
during those rugged times, they were either stillborn or died in
infancy.

The house from the homestead was later moved to Plevna and became the
home of Mrs. Andrew Schaefer. In 1916, they sold the homestead to the
Henry Schells and bought land seven miles farther southeast. Here they
built up a farm which now stands much as John left it. This is now
owned by Theophil Ruff.

John Krueg died November 13, 1918, during the flu epidemic, and
Magdalena died September 25, 1949, of a coronary attack. They were
both charter members of the Emmanuel Congregational Church of Plevna,
and they are buried in the Plevna Community Cemetery.

After Magdalena was widowed, she leased her farm and built a home for
herself and her three little girls in Plevna. She supplemented her
farm income by taking in sewing. In those days, there were no patterns
as there are now, so sewing was

Photo The Krueg Girls [L-R] Erna - 4, Helen - 7, and Maggie - 10 years

Photo Henry and Maggie Hepperle, Theophil and Helen Ruff,
Erna and Karl Wenz and Mother Krueg

Page 103

tedious work. Magdalena also did such odd jobs as were to be had. The
girls had to go to work for other folks who needed help at an early
age so they would learn to work and people would not say they were
"lazy".

At the time of John's death, the family owned a 1911 Dodge touring
car. Magdalena was very brave and learned to drive this monster. She
was one of the first, if not the first, woman in the Plevna area to
drive a car.

John and Magdalena Krueg had three daughters: Magdalena married Henry
Hepperle, and they lived in Baker, Montana. Their children are:
Eleanor (deceased), Burnette, Dolores, Carl, Elaine, and Edith. Helen
married Theophil Ruff (deceased). Their children are: Vivian, Evelyn,
Lyle (deceased), and Janice. Ema married Karl Wenz, and they live in
Baker, Montana. They have three sons: Warren, Douglas, and Bradley.
--Submitted by Erna Wenz

THE JOHN LEISCHNER FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. John Leischner were married in Breckenridge, Minnesota,
in 1910. They homesteaded southwest of Plevna in a sod house.

Their dowry was a horse and an ox with which they did their sod
busting and haying. Later they built a home, which burned down, only
to be re-built.

They were the parents of nine children. In 1928, in order for

Photo  THE JOHN LEISCHNER FAMILY [Front L-R] Harold, Mom, Elmer, Dad, Izzy
[Middle] Ida, Bernice, Florence, Esther [Back] Ted and Clarence

Photo The John Leischners and Family [Golden Wedding Anniversary
Celebration]

the children to get a high school education, they moved into Plevna.
They purchased the old Congregational Church and remodeled it for
their family dwelling. The house is still at its old location.

The land where the high school is located was donated by the
Leischners. They were very active in all school affairs, with all of
the family participating in some kind of affair or another. They very
seldom missed a basketball game, or a play in the local theatre.

For many years, 1918 to 1970, the Leischners boarded and roomed
teachers on the farm, as well as in Plevna. During the summer months,
Mrs. Leischner boarded children for confirmation school who came from
neighboring towns.

The Leischner family were very supportive to the church to which they
belonged.

FRED AND TENA LIVENGOOD

Fred Ross Livengood and Tena Broutie were married at Sioux Falls,
South Dakota, in 1901. They lived on a farm there while working for
the Sioux Falls Packing Company.

The Livengoods came to Montana in 1909 and homesteaded twelve miles
southwest of Plevna. After establishing their home there, they built a
log barn from surrounding timber and continued adding other ranch
buildings from time to time. Additional land was also acquired, making
it one of the best producing ranches in the county.

Tena returned to Sioux Falls and gave birth to their only child, a
son, Kermit, on January 13, 1914.

Fred was an organizer and promoter of the First National Bank of
Plevna. He was also a member and promoter of the Farmers Elevator in
Plevna.

Kermit attended and graduated from Plevna High School in 1932. He
married Marion Good on June 26, 1940. Their children are: DuWayne,
Bonita, Dwight, and Ross.
--Submitted by Marian Livengood

Photo Mr.and Mrs. FredLivengood's WeddingPicture [L-R] August Shultz, Edith
Shultz, Fred and Tena Livengood

Page 104

RUTH AND HARRY LONGNECKER

Ruth and Harry Longnecker farmed north of Plevna on McKoes place and
later south of Plevna near the Ettles farm. They lived in the Plevna
area from 1916 to the 1920s.

Harry Longnecker was the brother of Madge Wilson, a school teacher in
the Plevna area.

Photo Ruth and Harry Longnecker

THE JAKE LUDWIG FAMILY

In 1910, my father, who had farmed in Wisconsin, came to Montana to
take a homestead north of Plevna. I remember him saying he had tired
of picking rocks from his fields in Wisconsin each year.

Since Westmore was closer to our farm, my parents did their shopping
there during the early years.

Having been a dairy farmer in Wisconsin, my father continued to milk
cows in Montana, which provided a supplementary income -- especially
welcome if the wheat crop was poor.

We were one of the last families in the community to own a car -- a
new 1925 Chevrolet touring car, complete with side curtains. My father
used horses longer than most farmers in our area, even pulling our
first combine with them. Over the years, my father bought more land
adjoining the original homestead.

Obtaining good drinking water was quite a problem. After several wells
proved unsatisfactory, finally an artesian well with a flow of one
pint a minute supplied good water, but still required a windmill.

Farm work was demanding of all members of our family: my parents, my
two brothers, and me, though I don't suppose we children overdid.
Though my mother did not often work in the fields, she milked cows,
helped feed the livestock, and tended her garden in addition to her
housework.

My father dug coal in a relative's land not far from us. There was
little wood for fuel.

There were times for social life amidst the work, however. We attended
picnics and also dances at our school house. The music was furnished
by John Howe on a fiddle and by his wife or Mrs. John Ludwig on the
organ. Jake Simmermeyer played his accordian, also. Square dances were
called by Charles Huber.

When we were in grade school, the School Roundups at Baker and later
at Plevna with scholastic and athletic
competitions were really "big events".

We attended the Catholic Church in Plevna.

My older brother, Harold, worked at the Fort Peck Dam in and in
Billings after leaving the farm. In the 1940s he went to California to
work in the shipyards at Long Beach and later married. He was at the
shipyards until retirement. He died in 1972.

After graduation from high school in 1938, my brother Laurence worked
on our farm until he entered the Army. Following World War U, he was
on the police force in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and later with the
Wisconsin State Patrol until retirement. He and his wife live in
Schofield, Wisconsin. Their three children are married.

I was graduated from high school in 1933 and attended Normal School in
Billings. I taught in and near Plevna before teaching in Sidney and in
Washington. After 33 years of teaching in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, I
retired and am living there now.

In 1945, my parents sold their farm and moved back to Rice Lake,
Wisconsin, to retire. They were on a farm for a few years before
really retiring to that city in 1957. My father died in 1972 and
mother in 1973. Both often reminisced about their life in Montana and
enjoyed hearing from Montana friends.
--Submitted by Esther Ludwic

Photo Laurence Ludwig running the combine, Jake driving the horses [About
1929]

Photo Jake Ludwig Farm -- about 1940

THE MARKWARDT FAMILY

Plevna was just a spot on the rail line with a side track in 1908 when
Joachurn and Wm. J. Markwardt first arrived. They were both railroad
men. They lived in a railroad box car at first, doing the work they
were detailed to as section super and commissary men.

Seeing all the activity going on with people coming in and to take
possession of free tracts of land, Wm. J. conceived the idea that
homesteading and ranching would be a good 

Page 105

supplement to his income, and his father went along with the idea. He
acquired the land just north of the old wood school in 1909 and built
a house on the land. It was the first home in Plevna. It was 10' x 12'
in size. His wife, arriving in September of 1909, called it a chicken
coop, exclaiming, "What a Godforsaken country! It's just plain
prairie!" The section house was soon built thereafter, and Joachum and
Minnie Markwardt were the first residents for 21/2 years. Their son,
Wm. J. also lived with them briefly.

A daughter, Ann Markwardt, lived in Plevna until Joachum and Minnie
moved from the section house. She later married Reed Hale. They also
built a house here. A daughter was born to them, and she now lives in
Freeport, Illinois. Joachum first built his little house along the
railroad. It was later skidded to its place just north of the Arthur
Sieler home.

Lowell Markwardt was the first baby to be born in Plevna. Since there
were no doctors here at the time, a Miss Maher, who lived about two
miles west, attended her. Other sons born in Plevna were: Robert,
Charles, and Edward. Charles passed away at three months of age and is
buried in the Plevna Cemetery. Wilbur was born in Freeport, Illinois,
and has since been buried there.

Joachum and Wm. J. stayed with the railroad until the town began to
grow. Wm. J. later became a building contractor and built the John
Weinschrott building, homes, churches, hotel, livery stable, barns,
etc.

Church services were held in Joachum's little house, with him leading
the devotions. Many traveling pastors came through, and the Lutheran
Church was built -- the first church in Plevna. Alice, the wife of Wm.
J., was the organist, playing on an old pump type organ. Other
fixtures in the church were an old railroad stove which provided the
heat, kerosene lights and benches, which were necessities. Rev. Ted
Henning and his new wife, Della, were the first residents of the
church home. The Catholic Church with Father Roach and several other
churches were built later.

Little did the early homesteaders know about the country they were
getting into: No roads that soon became muddy and rutted, no means of
easy communication, problems with obtaining groceries, lumber, coal,
and other items of necessity, and last but not least, the terrible
winters. Mrs. Joachum made butter, baked bread, and sold them,
together with milk. Even the grain was ground for flour by family
members. It wasn't the best, but it made bread.

Plevna had a few good years, so it grew fast. By 1913, grocery stores,
an elevator, lumber yard, hotel and saloons and a bank were built. Wm.
J. was the first town clerk and also helped start the fire department.
To create new excitement, a town band was formed which consisted of 12
players. Wm. J. played the clarinet, and Russell Noggle the coronet.

Some of the names which were common then were: Plath, Schimmel, Miles
Carrington, Adolf Janz, Julius and August Zerbst, Russell Noggle,
Ehret, Sieler, Hepperle, Buergi, Conser, Mikalson, McHose, Rieter,
Rabe, Rief, Grimm, John Doyle, Frank Dietz, Steffes, Wilson, Atkins,
Dunham, Reed Hale, Himsl, Wellenstein, Chas. Garant, Thielen,
Schubert, Frank Schrieber, Marcus Youse, Ramsie (an Indian),
Weinschrott, Dr. Blackmore, Fillmores, Ruth Henzie, and her mother,
Mulgerity and Quincer.

Mrs. Blackmore, the doctor's wife, could tell many interesting stories
of the early years as she drove a team and wagon through the country,
caring for the sick with a shotgun' on her lap and a 45 in her apron
to protect herself from some of the wild boys of that time. She could
tell of the different ways they were paid  if at all  and the way
people lived.

Mrs. Weinschrott was my boyhood pal. I was always making something for
which I needed thin wood. Most merchandise came in wooden boxes in
those days, and she would always fix me up some way. How I loved
riding with John Doyle on the water wagon! Himsl's big black riding
horse was the king of horses that all the boys were going to have.
Clyde Wilson and the Atkins brothers were the cowboys we all wanted to
be like.

The story is told of Vic Himsl, who had a 1917 Ford touring car with a
brass radiator which he usually drove with the top down. He, Mr.
Plath, and Wm. J. decided to go on a hunting trip up north. Plath was
seated on the back seat with all the guns, etc. Himsl was a fast
driver, and as they went bouncing down the rutted road, they looked
back and discovered they had lost one Mr. Plath somewhere down the
road. They were about nine miles out of town, and not knowing just
where they may have bounced him out, they decided to just keep on
going.

Big cars were the rage. Schimmel bought one of the early big cars
called the "L" car, and he also had a threewheel tractor call the
Bull Dog. Miles Carrington had a Packard and he also owned a big
threshing machine and steam engine. Everyone helped each other at
threshing time.

Photo 1914 Model 10-18

Many practical jokes were played on each other in those days. Marcus
Youse, a crabby old cuss, bragged that his outhouse wasn't going to be
overturned at Halloween because he was going to sit in it with his gun
filled with buckshot. A group of men and boys thought different,
however. The boys kept Marcus occupied in front of the little house
while the men shoved the building over, door down, with Marcus in it.
He begged to get out, but everyone left. After his all-night stay, he
was very calm and glad to get out without any grumbling.

It seems Ramsie, the Indian, was not too keen on personal hygiene, and
the odor he expelled was often so strong that those around him were
overcome by it. One day it was decided to assist him in an indirect
way of action by placing some limburger cheese in the hatband of his
hat. The cheese slowly melted with the heat of his head and, mixed
with perspiration, it ran down his neck and face. The desired result
was that he took a bath!

Christmas time was something to look forward to. The families would
come to town a day ahead, bring food and whatever. Many slept in the
granaries, shop, or even barns, while the ladies and children were
given places in the homes. The Christmas trees were lit with candles,
popcorn and little cutout angels were used for trim. The highlight was
always the treats for the children, which consisted of an apple,
orange, and some candies.

Joachum Markwardt was called back by the railroad to his old job as
superintendent at Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1918. He would have a
better income and more opportunities than on the homestead. He retired
in 1954.

Wm. J., however, continued until 1922 when the Stephens Motor Car
Company offered him a position he felt he could not refuse. He was
with them until they sold to Henny Motor Company in 1926. The Stephens
Motor Company was short-lived; however, there are still approximately
25 cars running as collector's items, Wm. J. was with Henny Motor
Company until his retirement.

Page 106

Freeport, Illinois, was Mrs. Markwardt's birthplace, and it was home
to all the family. She still lives there today, at the age of 94. She
lives in a new house they built only a short distance from the home
she was born in.

Photo The Wm. J. Markwardt Home
Mrs. Markwardt with Lowell - 2, and Robert - 10 months

Photo Will J. and Alice Markwardt -- 50th Wedding Anniversary [Mrs. Mark
wardt is wearing her wedding dress from 1909.]

Photo Alice and Wm. J. Markwardt and sons Golden Wedding Anniversary

Photo Lowell and Marion Markwardt

GEORGE AND ANNA McHOES

George McHoes was born January 20, 1866, at Orangeville, Illinois.
Anna was born December 13, 1869, at Davis, Illinois.

George and Anna were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They came to
Montana in 1909, where they homesteaded three miles north of Plevna.
They made their home there until their death. The McHoes place was
known as the Custer Trail Farm. Their neighbors to the west were Louis
Larson, with Lawrence Ferrie to the east.

George and Anna were prominent for their activities in agricutural
matters and were associated with extension and county fair work for
many years. Anna was a 4-H leader and taught many girls to do canning
of vegetables, fruits, etc. Some of the girls in her club were: Mary
Geving, Anna Weinschrott, Frances Shartz, Gertie Lausch, and Helen
Weinschrott.

I Both George and Anna were of constructive nature and did much for
community living. Their farm home was noted for its hospitality, and
they were welcomed in many homes. Anna made bricks of cheese which she
put cloth on and dipped in wax to preserve them. George had a grinder,
sausage stuffer, and lard press and made lard and sausage for the
neighbors. They were also noted for their beautiful vegetable gardens
and lots of pink and white peonies.

George was instrumental in erecting the monument at Dead Man's Butte
in 1925.

In later years, in spite of their advancing age, they were still
actively interested in everything and were carrying on their usual way
of living, with little thought of retirement. They had expressed the
wish that they might leave this world together, and wish came true.

On July 16, 1941, George and Anna, while enroute to Terry, both died
as a result of an auto accident four miles west of Ismay. George died
almost instantly, and Anna died at Miles City the next morning,
without regaining consciousness. They are buried at the Bonnievale
Cemetery at Baker.

Anna left no immediate relatives. She was one of ten children, all of
whom preceded her in death. She was survived by several nieces and
nephews.

George was survived by a son, Loyal Leo McHoes, of Freeport, Illinois,
(a son by his first wife), as well as two grandchildren

Page 107

GEORGE AND RUSSELL NOGGLE

George R. Noggle and son Russell, age 14, moved fron Sioux Falls,
South Dakota, to a homestead five miles south o Plevna in 1910. For
the first two years, they rented the farmland to Wallace Ettles and
another old timer. They farmed wheat and
corn until Russell went into the Army in August of 1918. He returned
home in December of 1918, after th armistice was signed. They
continued their farming operation until 1922. Russell worked in the
post office that winter.

In 1923, Russell and Mattie Mulkey of Ekalaka were marrie in Baker. In
1924 they returned to Plevna until the next year when they moved to
Roundup and later to Hot Springs, Sout Dakota, where they lived on a
farm, raising cows, hogs, an chickens.

George Noggle passed away at age 87. The Russell Noggl family moved to
Oregon in 1936. They have seven children, all in Oregon; 19
grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and two great great grandsons.
Russell is now 87 years old and going strong.
--Submitted by Mattie Noggle

Photo THE NOGGLES [Back L-R] Richard, May, Lou, Julie, Leon, Joyce, Burl
[Front] Mattie and Russell

GERTIE LAUSCH NORDTVEDT

Gertie Lausch Nordtvedt was born March 15, 1907, at Beach, North
Dakota. Her parents were James Willard (Bill) Lausch and Mary
Gunderson Lausch.

In 1910 she moved with her parents to a homestead northeast of Plevna,
Montana, where she lived for 6 or 7 years. This is where brother
Wesley, sister Ethel, and brother Raymond were born. Later her familiy
moved to the Joe Keller farm southwest of Ismay, where her sister
Julia was born.

In 1917 she moved with her family to Ismay, where her brother Robert
(Bob) and sister Mary were born.

Gertie attended school in Ismay. When she was in the eighth grade, she
had an appendicitis attack, followed by scarlet fever, and then
rheumatic fever. She was in bed most of
the winter, so she couldn't attend school. Later she helped the
farmers in the area during harvest while they had the threshers,
and also when the women had their babies. When Gertie was 18 years
old, she went to Chicago to work for a Jewish family as a maid.
This gave her the chance to visit her grandparents, Susan and
Israel Lausch, at Orangeville, Illinois, whom she had never seen.
Gertie worked for the Savin family for eleven months, then
returned to Ismay, where she met Christ Nordtvedt. Gertie and
Christ were married on December 27, 1927, at Webster, South
Dakota. Christ and Gertie Nordtvedt lived in Pierpont, South
Dakota, where their daughter, Joyce Marie, was born on December
23, 1928. About 1930 they moved back to Montana. They moved to
Knowlton, Montana, and had a grocery store with George Green.
While living here, Ruth Christina was born on March 4, 1932, at
Ismay, Montana. In 1932 they moved into Ismay and Christ worked
for Harry Hanson in the Chevy garage as a mechanic. They lived in
an apartment above the Erlingburt Store, where Cora Luetta, (named
after Cora Askin Pierce) was born on February 17, 1934. In 1935
they moved to Jamestown, North Dakota, for one year. In 1936 they
moved to Webster, South Dakota, where Margaret Ann was born on
April 6, 1944. In 1950 they moved to Plevna, Montana, where Christ
worked for Carl Hepperle as a mechanic for four years ' They lived
at Livingston, Montana, for a short time, and in 19,54 they moved
to Culbertson, Montana, where Christ worked at the John Deere
Implement Company for Bill Krall. In 1961 they moved to Baker,
Montana, where Christ worked at the Ford Garage for Don Brengle.
Margaret Ann attended school her senior year and graduated from
Baker High School. In 1962, Gertie and Christ moved to Ismay,
Montana, and started his own business doing mechanic work. Christ
retired in 1965. After retiring, Gertie and Christ made little
chairs out of beer cans which they sold. There was an article
published in the Miles City Star about the story of their art of
making the chairs. Gertie's mother, Mary Charlton, lived with them
for a few years. Christ Nordvedt passed away on May 18, 1968, and
was buried in the Ismay Cemetery. Gertie attends the Ismay
Community Church, which was formerly the Presbyterian Church, and
is active in church work and the ladies aid. Many new residents
have moved into the Ismay area since Gertie and Christ moved back
there. Among them is Gertie's close friend, Ada Rugg. Gertie and
Ada go many places together. Gertie has ten grandchildren, 7 great
grandchildren (one deceased), and is expecting one more. Gertie
has great faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ, and feels He has guided
her and blessed her.

JACOB AND EMMA OPP

Jacob Opp was born January 18, 1897, to Daniel and Elizabeth Opp at
Long Lake, South Dakota. He came to Plevna, Montana, in 1918 and began
working for his brother-in-law, Karl Hepperle, at the Hepperle Grain
Elevator.

Emma Follmer was born May 27, 1902, to George and Catherine Follmer at
Eigenfeld, Russia. Her mother passed away when she and her sister
where small children. They lived with their grandmother until their
father remarried. Emma came with her parents to the United States, and
they homesteaded south of Plevna. They put up a sod house to live in.
Emma had to help plow the land with horses. Since she had no shoes of
her own, she wore her father's while walking behind the plow. There
was no money to buy more shoes.

Jacob Opp and Emma Follmer were married November 7, 1920, at the
Plevna Baptist Church. They purchased a home in

Page 108


Plevna and reared their five children there. They became caretakers
of the Baptist Church in January of 1923 and continued their services
for many years. They were paid $100 a year. They provided the coal,
wood, and water which they carried from the city well, and cleaned the
church. The children helped.

Photo The Jacob and Emma Opp Family [L-R] Richard,Jake, Emil, Martha, and
Emma

Photo THE OPP FAMILY [Front L-R] Jake, Loretta, Emma, Ruben [Back] Martha,
Emil, and Richard

In the young days of Plevna, many families had their own milk cows and
chickens, which helped to supply their food. The children recall the
many times they went to a pasture east of town to bring home the milk
cows. The pasture was shared with other families, as well. In the
morning, the cows were returned to the pasture.

Jacob worked for the Milwaukee Railroad until 1958, when he
transferred to Miles City. While there, Emma worked at the Olive
Hotel, in the laundry department, and also did other janitor work.

Emma and Jacob celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November
of 1970 at the First Baptist Church in Miles City. Jacob passed away
at the Holy Rosary Hospital on March 18, 1971. Emma continued living
in her home for several years, then went to live at the Eagles Manor.
After her health began to fail, she went to live at the Friendship
Villa in 1982.

Their children are: Emil, who married Arla Brockel, and they reside in
Billings, Montana. Richard married Shirley Kusler, and they live south
of Baker. Martha married Rudy Sieler, Ruben married June Kusler,
Loretta married Al Schafer, and they all live in Miles City, Montana.
The Opps have 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren at the time
of this writing.

THE PARSON SISTERS

The Parson sisters (Esther Glidewell, Virginia Monroe, and Mattie
Carley) lived on Fallon Creek in the 1890s. All three were school
teachers and taught in local schools of the area.

Photo THE PARSON SISTERS
[L-R] Esther Glidewell, Virgina Monroe, Mattie Carley


Page 109

MAGDALENA EHRET PINNOW

My parents, Matthias and Katherine Ehret, and the children who were
still at home, left Russia in April of 1912 and traveled across Europe
by train, went by boat to Liverpool, England, and then by ship to
America.

We stopped in Eureka, South Dakota, to visit Father's brother,
Michael, and family. Then it was on to Plevna, Montana, by train. My
sister, Wilhelmina (Mrs. George Fried), and two brothers, Matt and
Jake Ehret, were already in Fallon County, so we moved into a 10x12
foot tarpaper shack on a homestead near theirs. This was in July of
1912. We had a barn built right away, but the shack was to be our home
until December of that year. On September 12, we had a foot of snow,
and Father and Mother decided we would have to have our house right
away. Carpenters built a two bedroom house for us for $700. It stood
on the homestead for about 30 years and is now moved to Baker.

The school was one mile north of us, and Rose O'Brien was the teacher.
On Friday night after the first week of school, the school house
burned down, and that was the end of my education in this country! Dan
O'Brien had a German-English dictionary, and he came quite often to
teach my brothers, Gottlieb and Ed, to speak English.

My father died in 1921 and could read and write in both Russian and
German, could understand Yiddish, but he said he could never learn
English. Most of our neighbors spoke German, church services were in
German, and even the banker, Mr. Himsl, spoke German, so it was hard
for us to learn English.

Church was held in houses, and finally a little , shack was

Photo Frederick and Magdalena [Ehret] Pinnow Married March 21, 1926

built, and everyone attended. In 1916 we joined the Peace Lutheran
Church at Plevna.

The Catholic Church at Plevna had carnivals, and everyone in the
community attended. On the 4th of July, a big community picnic was
held. Everyone brought their own food, and there were sack races,
potato races, foot races, street baseball, and other games. A big
event was the women's spike nail driving contest, and Mrs. John
Weinschrott was always the winner.

On March 21, 1926, I married Frederick Pinnow, who had come over from
Germany in 1913. We moved to the Sheehan place, which we rented until
1932, and then we moved to our home place. Our five children: Richard,
Lillian, Delphine, Franklin, and Arnold, all grew up there, and all
graduated from Plevna School.

In those days, we worked hard farming, and life wasn't easy. We raised
up to 24 acres of potatoes for sale, and in 1936 Fred was asked to
write an article about raising potatoes which was published in the
Montana Farmer.

Our entertainment was mostly visiting with neighbors and having them
over for Sunday dinners.

Frederick Pinnow passed away July 18, 1959, and Magdalena Pinnow died
March 9, 1981.
--Written by Magdalena Pinnow (Taken from O'Fallon Flashback)

Photo THE FRED AND MAGDALENA PINNOW FAMILY [Back L-R] Delphine, Richard,
Franklin, Lillian [Front] Fred, Arnold, and Magdalena

MR. AND MRS. HIRAM S. PROCTOR

My father, Dr. Hiram S. Proctor, was a jeweler and doctor in Baker
from 1915 to 1953. He homesteaded 12 miles north of Plevna in the year
1909.

He lived on the homestead for a year, getting his supplies out of one
store in town. He lived in a dugout in the ground, had no water, but
there was a creek just north of his property. At one time he almost
died of poison water. His mother came from Litchfield, Minnesota, and
took care of him. She died later at the Marmarth railroad hospital.

He worked in Glendive for a while in 1912, then went to Bozeman and
worked there in 1913. In the summer of 1914 he worked in Yellowstone
National Park as a stagecoach driver.

He met my mother at Lake Station, where the Lake Hotel now is. She was
from Chillicothe, Illinois, north of Peoria. They were married there
in 1915 and moved to Baker.

One evening, Dad was looking around the homestead! and found a buffalo
skull at the base of a tree, an Indian war club,

Page 110

and a knife hanging from a branch. In the tree was an Indian wrapped
in a hide. Dad said it was falling down because it had been up there
for so long. (I still have the knife and skull.)

There used to be a man by the name of Charles Clark. He had a silver
fox farm in Plevna. He was a cattle cowboy for a while. He helped
bring herds of cattle from Texas to Miles City before 1900. He spent
his later years in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, area.

My aunt and uncle had a farm one mile south of Rieger on Fallon Creek.
Their names were Melvin and Grace Wheeler.

Photo Mrs. Hiram Proctor at age 16  [She is now 93 years old.]

Photo Dr. Hiram Proctor  1905

Dr. Hiram Proctor -- 1914

Franklin, Corrine, Florence, and Eral were born and raised there.
--Submitted by Robert L. Proctor

Photo Hiram Proctor [left] and Charles Clark [right]

Corrine and Florence Wheeler-- 1915

Page 111

THE FRED QUENZERS

Fred J. Quenzer and his wife, Caroline, started their married life in
Odessa, Russia. They were of German parentage. During the time they
lived in Russia, two boys were born to them, but they both died in
infancy. They had a little girl just six months old when they left
their homeland and started out for America, the land of opportunity.
Sorrow struck them again, for it was while they were sailing that
their little daughter became ill and died. She was buried at sea.

Their first stop in America was Herried, South Dakota, where they
lived for a short period of time, before coming to the Plevna area.
They made their home about six miles northwest of Plevna on what is
now the Joe Dietz land.

Caroline and Fred were pioneers. They were also charter members of the
Plevna Baptist Church, whose beginning was in 1917. Fred was the
church's first clerk.

Caroline passed away in childbirth at the age of 39 in the year 1920.
She left behind eight children: Caroline (Sieler), Elizabeth (Sieler),
Emmanuel, Lorena (Brees), Fred, twin boys Chris and Gideon (who died
at ages 12 and 13), and Magdelina (Rediger).

Some time after Fred became a widower, he met and married a widow with
a large family, Mrs. Louisa Schell. To this new union was born one
son, Albert.

Fred lived to be 81 years old, spending his later years in Billings,
Montana. He was also a charter member of the Calvary Baptist Church in
Billings. He, his second wife, sons Emmanuel and Fred, and daughter
Elizabeth have all departed this life for their heavenly home.

Photo Carolina Quenzer Fred J. Quenzer

JACOB QUINCER FAMILY

Jacob Quincer, oldest son of Conrad and Kathrine Quincer, grew to
manhood as a stepson of Phillip Schwiegert and came to America when he
was five years old with his family. He married Anna Koenig. They moved
to a farm southwest of Plevna, and then moved to Plevna.

Jacob went to work for Karl Hepperle as a mechanic, and for Kaiser at
the Ford garage. Later he decided to go into business for himself. He
bought a blacksmith shop and was also a mechanic.

The first blacksmith in the town of Plevna was named Silvernale. John
L. Howe built the first blacksmith shop. He in turn sold the same shop
to Chauncey Ettles, and when the Ettles family left for Washington,
George P. Susa took over. George Susa also was mayor of Plevna. Jacob
Quincer bought the shop from Susa and then sold the shop to Jim Perry.

Anna and Jacob had five daughters and one son: Betty, Kenneth,
Darline, Dolores, Lola, and Carol. Kenneth died in 1937 from tetnus.
Betty married Robert Rieger and they had six children: Arlinda,
Rollin, Wayne, Kathleen, Marc, and Laurie. Darline married Leo
Ketterling and they had four children: Cindy, Rory, Randy, and Sherry.
Dolores married Clarence Schell and they had four children: Kenneth,
Julie, Angie, and Rick. Lola married Matt Thielen and they have one
child, Sam. Carol married Robert Herbst, and they have three children:
DeAnna, James, and Brandon, and also a foster child, Kay Dixon.

The girls all grew up in Plevna and went to Plevna schools.

Anna Quincer was the first cook in the Plevna hot lunch program. Later
she worked at the post office, then at the Fallon Memorial Hospital as
a nurses aide and also in Miles City. Anna now lives in Terry,
Montana, with her second husband, Ernie Netzer.

Jacob Quincer died on November 1, 1972.

Photo Jake and Anna Quincer

Photo The Quincer Children Betty, Darline, Dolores, Kenneth, Lola

Photo Carol Quincer

Page 112

EDWARD QUINCER FAMILY

Edward Quincer, the third son of Conrad and Kathrine Quincer, grew to
manhood as the step-son of Phillip Schweigert. He married Tillie Leno
from Tuttle, North Dakota. They came back to Plevna and settled on a
farm southwest of town. The section was called the school section.

Edward and Tillie had two children: Lorraine and Leonard.

The children went to school at the Leischner School until it closed.
They then went to the Plevna School.

Lorraine married Dick Schackelford, and they have three
children: Eddie, Wesley, and Kathy. Dick and Lorraine live in
Plentywood.

Leonard married Thelma Shipman, and they have three
children: Kelly, Kory, and Lance. Leonard and Thelma live in Forsyth.

Edward and Tillie retired in 1970. They bought the house
Morris Hoenke had built, where Tillie still lives. Edward died January
8, 1977.

Photo Edward, John, and Jake Quincer

Photo THE QUINCER FAMILY [L-R] Tillie, Leonard, Ed, and Lorraine

KARL WILHELM AND ELISABETA RABE

Hearing that land was free in America, Wilhelm and Elisabeta Rabe
emigrated from Germany to the United States, sailing from Bulgaria, in
March of 1906. Landing in New York, they lived there for a short time
before moving to Chicago, where they lived for approximately six
months. From Chicago, they moved to Ellendale, North Dakota.

Dad went to Montana in July of 1909 with an old friend, Ernest
Schultz. They each filed on a homestead claim. The Rabe homestead was
located four miles south of Plevna.

In August of 1910, Wilhelm brought his wife and family by train to
Plevna. The children were: Carl, age 11; Emma (Mrs. Chas. Parsons),
age 9; Ottilla (Mrs. Bill Thielen), age 6; Wanda (Mrs. Mike Thielen),
age 4; William, age 2; Elizabeth (Mrs. Fred Grieve), age six weeks.
Julius (known as Duke), Albert, and Anthony were born after the move
to Plevna.

Upon arriving in Plevna, our father rented a tent that was to be our
home until a house could be built. The first thing every morning, Dad
would go outside and kill the rattlesnacks which were around the tent,
using a big stick. We children learned at an early age to be champion
rattlesnake killers and how to outrun them. None of us were ever
bitten.

Our house was finally ready in April of 1911. While living in the
tent, the cook stove was outside, where our mother did the cooking.
When it rained or hailed, it would make the stove sizzle, and we
children thought this was great fun, but Mother sat in the tent and
cried. Our mother was very homestick for her parents and family, whom
she would never see again.

Photo Karl Wilhelm and Elisabeta Rabe

Page 113

Our father was a painter, and he painted all the churches in Plevna,
the town hall, the depot, and many other buildings. One summer he
painted all the buildings for a neighbor, with payment being a white
horse we called "Old Blitz". We felt rich, as now we could ride to
school instead of walking. One morning, Pa found Old Blitz had fallen
into the manger and was dead. It was back to walking again!

At first we didn't have a school. Classes were held in a small house
with empty nail kegs with a plank over the top for desks.

Pa would ride his bicycle to Plevna on Monday morning to catch the
train to Miles City. He would paint all week, then come home on
Saturday by train and ride his bicycle to the homestead. We kids would
walk to meet him, as he usually would bring candy for us.

Our mother took in washing that was done on a wash board.

Our brother Carl would walk two miles through blizzard and cold three
times a week to the George Huber's to get milk. For a long time we
didn't have milk.

At the age of six, when Wanda started school, they walked for miles
one way to school in Plevna. Wanda froze her feet so badly that after
Christmas she didn't go back to school until the following year. Carl
carried her for a mile until their father came to meet them and
carried her the rest of the way, due to freezing her feet. C. C.
Conser was the teacher in Plevna that

Photo Wilhelm Rabe mowing hay

Photo THE RABE FAMILY [Front L-R] Albert, Wilhelm, Tony, Elisabeta, Julius
[Back] Wanda, Tillie, Carl, Emma, Billy, and Elizabeth

year, and his sister was the second postmistress.

Our father died of "painter's pneumonia" on March 30, 1930, at the
homestead where Caroline Sturtz now lives. Our mother moved into
Plevna in 1930 and lived where Arlin Andersons now live. Elisabeta
Rabe died on March 19, 1952.

Two children died while the Rabes still lived in Europe. Diphtheria
was the cause of their deaths at the age of three and one. At that
time in Europe, a great percentage of the children died of diphtheria.
--Written by Tillie and Wanda Thielen

ADOLPH RIEGER FAMILY

Adolph Rieger was born December 18, 1887, of German parents living in
Russia. He was brought to this country as a small child and grew up in
North Dakota. In February of 1910 he was married to Lydia Freier and
they farmed near New England, North Dakota. The first six of their
family of eighteen children were born there.

The family came by emigrant train to this community in March of 1917
and made their first home on the Pepper place west of Plevna. The
children started school in Plevna, but after Korth-Carrington School
opened, they attended there.

The next move was to a place near Westmore, where the family had a
more adequate home and fondly remember it as "the growing up place".
The older children were able to help

Photo Adolph and Lydia Rieger

Page 114

by now, and they farmed with 20 head of horses and also broke horses
for other people.

Lydia's parents, the Jacob Freier family, lived here too, and her
mother was a midwife so all the children were delivered by their
maternal grandmother, except the last baby, Ted, who was born in a
hospital.

Eventually the family moved to the place on O'Fallon Creek, and with
ample water they raised big gardens. The kids remember hauling
truck-loads of watermelon to Plevna and Baker, selling them for five
cents each. In the winter, they cut ice blocks and sold them by the
truckload to Mr. George Buergi, a local grocer. There were some pretty
bad years along the way, and the year they sent a carload of hogs to
Portland and were paid less than the amount of the freight bill was
really a low point.

Adolph and Lydia, busy as they were, found time to be 4-H leaders and
to teach Sunday School and sing in their Congregation Church choir. In
1957 Mrs. Rieger was picked to be Montana's "Mother of the Year".

The girls of the family are: Lorena, Marie, Claudia, Dorothea, Lilly
Kay, Elsie, Phina, Erna, Ruth, and Ruby. Ruth died when a child of
five years. The boys: Leon, Edwin, John, Paul, Ben, Richard, Robert,
and Ted. Five of the boys served in the Army, and Paul was killed in
France. There are sixteen living children.

In May of 1959, the summer before Adolph and Lydia's Golden Wedding
Anniversary, there was a family reunion with 83 family members present
to help celebrate.

Adolph and Lydia are fondly remembered as much-loved parents and
grandparents who supported and contributed to their community.

Photo THE RIEGER FAMILY [Back L-R] Claudia, Marie, Phina, Leon, Paul, Ben,
Ed, Lilly Kay, and Dorothea [Front) Ted, Elsie, FatherRieger, Bud,
MotherRieger, Erna, Richard, and Ruby

ROBERT AND MERCY ROSE

The destination at the end of Robert and Mercy Rose's honeymoon was a
tent on a half section of land nine miles north of Plevna. Robert and
Mercy Rose built their home around and over it that summer of 1910.
Wood siding being hard to come by, a tar paper covering served the
purpose and sod blocks made a comfortable barn for the animals
arriving in an emigrant car.

Their daughters, Josephine and Carol, were born on the homestead, and
Alice was born in Baker.

One of my earliest memories of Plevna is stopping at the "flowing
well". Evidently this would be in the fall when Mother and Dad hauled
grain to town in horse-drawn wagons. Dad must have brought a large
barrel or two on top of his load. After all town business was
completed, he and Mother would
drive their teams up to the well, which had a pipe arrangement to hold
over the barrels for filling. Mother would have her wagon loaded with
the necessary groceries and supplies and us girls. The well water was
"soft", and it was such a luxury! The only other soft water available
was rain water caught off the roof of the house. Many times those rain
barrels were dry.

One time later, we were visiting friends in Plevna. Josephine,
probably six or seven at the time, persuaded Alice and me to go
walking with her. We went up and down streets, it seemed forever, and
I began to fret that we were lost. Finally, after still more walking,
we made it back to where the folks were.

There's a hill by the turns near Buerkle's place that offered such
welcome shade in the summer's late afternoons for horse and buggy
travelers. How cool it was for so short a time! Of course, the road
has been built up higher now, and the shade wouldn't be noticeable to
speeding vehicles.

The purchase of a Model T made going to town much quicker. There were
a few obstacles to overcome on the way. Larson's Hill was the biggest.
If Dad didn't get a good run at it, he'd have to back way down and try
again. There were times when it was easier to back up the hill.

Plevna was "all important" to our homestead existence. The post
office, the bank, Buergi's Store, Weinschrott Hardware, Dr. Blakemore,
the elevator, and the Milwaukee Depot were all so necessary.
--Written by Carol Rose Karch

Photo THE ROSE FAMILY Robert and Mercy Rose
Daughters Carol - 4, Alice - 2, Josephine  6

Page 115

ANDREAS AND MARIA SCHAEFER

Andreas Schaefer, of German descent, immigrated to America from Russia
in 1906 and settled at Artas, South Dakota. On March 31, 1909, he
married Maria Klos at Herried, South Dakota. During this time, he
accumulated four Percheon horses, some cows and chickens.

In the spring of 1910 he rented a railroad car, placed his belongings
and livestock in it, and came to Montana, leaving his family behind.
There were only three houses in Plevna when he arrived,.but the people
were rapidly moving in. The first night he slept on boards outdoors,
using his coat as a blanket. The next day he made a trip to the land
office in Miles City to file a claim to 320 acres of land, which was
made available by the Homestead Act of 1862. The requirements were
that you lived on the land for five years and made improvements on it.

The Schaefer land was located 21/2 miles southwest of Plevna, walking
distance from town. Andreas soon built a two-room, two-story house.
Later a barn was added and a chicken house was built into a side hill.
It was so low that one had to crawl on hands and knees to enter it to
gather the eggs.

During the first winter in Montana, Andreas lived with a neighbor,
George Huber, who was a bachelor and owned a long rectangular house.
His livestock was housed in one room, and the men stayed in the other
room.

The following spring, Maria joined him. For the next few years,
Andreas farmed by night and worked in Plevna during the day. He worked
as a general carpenter, and he also unloaded freight. Some of the
hard-earned money was used for building fences around his property. He
used four horses and a walking plow to work his soil, then seeded the
crop by hand and disked or dragged the soil so the seed was all
covered. Wheat and barley were the principal crops.

By this time, Plevna had become an official town. The streets were
laid out, and some houses had to be moved to make way for the streets.
Keeping contact with their friends and relatives was of extreme
importance to the Schaefer family. They were one of the first people
to rent a post office box after they were installed in the new office.
Their rental for the box was 20 cents per quarter, or 80 cents for the
year.

In 1913, Andreas sold his homestead to a neighbor, John Leischner, and
purchased some Northern Pacific land five miles south of Plevna. The
house was moved from the old homestead and additional buildings were
added as money was made available. In 1916 he built a new house to
replace the old one. A well 26 feet deep provided water for the
family.

In the 1930s, Andreas worked with his four sons mining coal and
hauling it to Plevna business places with horse and wagon, or bobsleds
in the winter. Often the sled would tip over, and

Photo THE SCHAEFER FAMILY (Back L-R] Otto, John, Lily, Emil, Jacob Andreas
and Maria

they would have to re-load. During the winter of 1932, Andreas helped
gravel U.S. Highway 12. He worked with four horses and a fresno. The
temperature went as low as 54 degrees below zero, and there was also a
blizzard. They were camped at the Ismay junction. The shack was heated
with coal, but during the storm they ran out of coal and had to go
into Ismay for more. They were subjected to many hardships.

Andreas and Maria were blessed with ten children, with five of them
passing away as infants. The remaining five were: Otto, John, Lily,
Emil, and Jacob. These four sons and one daughter attended the Prairie
Park School, located 11/2 miles east of their home. The children
usually went to school by horse and buggy.

In 1947, the Schaefers moved to their retirement home in Plevna. Their
sons Otto and Jake took possession of the family place. Since Otto's
death in 1983, Jake and his wife, Arlene, continue as the owners of
the ranch and farm.

Andreas passed away in June of 1948, and Maria died in 1975. Another
son, Emil, is also now deceased.

HENRY AND REGINA [SCHAEFER] SCHELL

Henry and Regina (Schaefer) Schell and their nine children imigrated
from Odessa, Russia, to Java, South Dakota, in 1909. They lost one
infant daughter on the steamship on their way to America.

In the spring of 1910 they moved six and one-half miles south of
Plevna, where they set up their home. Two more daughters were born
after their move to Montana.

The family went through many hard times during the years, good ones
and bad ones. The oldest son, Henry Jr., was killed in France during
World War I. He was killed only a few days before the War ended. The
peace treaty had already been signed when the family received notice
of his death. Jake was also in training for the Service before the War
ended.

In the summer of 1928, a tornado hit the farm and did a great deal of
damage, tearing down some buildings completely. The neighbors came in
and helped rebuild.

Henry and Regina retired to Plevna in the fall of 1938. Henry passed
away in 1940, and Regina died in 1942.

The Schell children were: Lydia (married Adolph Janz in 1920); Jake
(married Emma Heberle in 1923); Gottlieb (married Christine Gortz in
1924); Fred (married Caroline Heimbuch in 1934); Emma (married Gideon
Heimbuch in 1934); John (married Theresa Joch in 1940); Pauline
(married Christ Wiedeirich in 1943); Martha (married Don Herndon in
1952); Sam and Edward, who never married. There are presently 24
grandchildren.

Photo THE SCHELL FAMILY [Back L-R] John, Sam, Jake, Gottlieb, Edward, Fred
[Front] Lydia, Martha, Dad, Mother, Emma, Pauline

Page 116

Photo Henry Schell, Jr. Killed in action in France during World War I

JACOB AND LOUISE SCHELL

Jacob Schell was born in Odessa, South Russia, March 9, 1884. Louise
Oster was born also in Odessa, on March 9, 1883. They were married in
1904 in Odessa, and shortly after fled to the United States and lived
in Ruff, Washington. They moved from tlaere to a farm south of Plevna
in the fall of 1914.

Jacob and Louise had ten children: Jacob Jr., Pauline, Louise, Lydia,
Katherine, Minnie, Martha, Johnnie, Emil, and Lenora.

In the spring of 1916, tragedy struck the family when Katherine was
stricken with illness and passed away at the age of five. Then in
October of 1918, they again were struck by tragedy when Jacob Sr. was
stricken by the dreadful influenza and passed away at the age of 34.
This left Louise with nine children to fight the depressed times.
Lenora was two weeks old at the time of her father's death.

In 1923, Louise married Frederick Quenzer, and they
remained on the farm and continued farming. In January of 1924, her
eleventh child was born, Albert.

Mrs. Quenzer had two sons who served in the Armed Forces during World
War II: Johnnie Schell and Albert Quenzer.

Louise moved to Plevna in 1936, where she remained until her death on
August 22, 1959, at the age of 76. She had 38 grandchildren at the
time of her death.

Jacob's children are: Clarence, Lloyd, Florence, Larry, and Jim of
Baker; Lillian of Oregon; Alice of California; and Mary Ann of
Marmarth, North Dakota.

Pauline had five children, all living in Canada: Lloyd, Eldon, Loren,
Doris, and Duncan.

Louise's four children are: Harold, Mavis, Robert, and
Lavern, all of Washington.

Lydia's children are: Robert, Leroy, Gary, Donald, and Mike, all of
Billings.

All of Minnie's seven children also live in Canada. They are: Gordon,
Leroy, Jerald, Kenneth, Maurice, Beverly, and Florence.

Martha had one daughter, Lola, of Baker.

Emil has four stepchildren: Dean, Lavain, George, and Mari.

Lenora's son, Clifford Schell, fives in Billings.

Photo Jacob and Louise Schell

THE JACOB SCHOPP FAMILY

My father, Jacob Schopp, was born in Odessa, Russia, on April 11,
1876. His parents were Jacob and Margaret Klien Schopp. He came with
his wife, Caroline, nee Frier, and three children: Elizabeth,
Caroline, and Adam to America in 1903.

They lived in Bridgewater, South Dakota, for a few years before moving
to Montana in 1912. They settled on a place which was owned by Paul
May and is now the Clarence Wenz home. The Schopp family brought their
belongings by train and unloaded at Westmore. It was April, but still
winter, and there was nothing on the place except a shack.

At first the family lived in this 14x16 foot shack, where they slept
on the floor in the one room. As soon as the ground could be broken
up, my father built the sod house which was the

Page 117

family home for many years. It was larger than the shack and cool in
the summer and warm in the winter.

The first crop was 15 acres of wheat and oats which Dad Schopp had
plowed with a walking plow and planted by walking over the field and
scattering the seed by hand.

Times were hard, and my brothers helped Dad Schopp cut cedar posts for
fencing and dug coal to sell. This helped pay for the groceries.

There was also a large garden and watermelon patch. There were so many
melons that my father would bring them home

Photo Jacob and Caroline Schopp

Photo The new home of the Schopps

Photo Uncle Fred Schopp

with the buggy, and in later years the Model T was loaded. Once the
door of the car opened, and all the melons rolled out. A 36-pound
melon went to the Fallon County Fair one year.

As time went on, new buildings were added, including a big stone barn
(part of which is still in existence), and a new house built by Mr.
Melchoir, architect. This is the house now standing on the Clarence
Wenz place.

The older children attended the Plevna School when they could. This
was not very often, because in the spring and fall they were needed at
home, and in the winter the weather kept

Photo The Schopp Rumley tractor

Photo Anna and Caroline Schopp

Photo Caroline, Anna, and Rose Schopp

Page 118

them at home. Later we attended the Lincoln School, which was about
two miles away. We rode or walked. We carried water from the Charlie
Huber place for school and all drank out of on dipper. Sometimes some
children would forget and hold the dripping dipper right over the
water pail while they drank, but we tried to be sanitary. When the
district bought the school a small fountain that had a faucet on, we
were all very excited and brought our own cups and hung them on a nail
with our names above them.

Our neighbors were the John and Jake Ludwigs, Grandpa Ludwig, Charlie
Huber, Frank Shaw, and Lewis Arrnsworthy. Grandpa Ludwig had a small
barn he let us put our saddle horses into during cold weather.

My mother was sick a lot, and in 1927 Dad Schopp moved to town to be
closer to medical help and ease the load of work for my mother, My
brother Adam was on the farm. He married Lydia Craft in 1925 and they
had four children. On February 30, 1930, Lydia died at the age of 23.
Two months later, on April 30, 1930, 4-month-old Baby Jacob died. On
November 31, 1931, 4-year-old Raymond died. This was a very hard time
for all of us.

There were nine children in the Schopp family: Elizabeth (Mrs. Edward
Hoffman), Caroline (Mrs. William Wagner), Adam (married Anna Singer),
Fred (married Kathryn Christman), Anna (Mrs. Herbert Christman) died
in 1934, Christian (married Emma Singer) died in 1972, and Rose (Mrs.
Arthur Sieler).

My dad was the town marshal for a number of years, and one of his
duties was to ring the curfew bell at 9:30 each evening.

Mother Schopp died June 27, 1935, at the age of 56, and Dad Schopp
died November 5, 1955, at the age of 79.

Four of the family members have celebrated their Golden Anniversaries:
Edward and Elizabeth Hoffman in 1969; William and Caroline Wagner in
1973 (and their 60th in 1983), Adam and Anna Schopp in 1979, Fred and
Kathryn Schopp in 1980. Also, Arthur and Rose Sieler celebrated their
45th anniversary in 1983.

THE SCHUETZLES

Christian and Margretha Schuetzle came to Montana from Eureka, South
Dakota, but prior to that they had lived by the Black Sea, in South
Russia. They homesteaded on Pine Creek in Fallon County in 1914.

Their children, all of whom are now deceased, lived in and around
Plevna, except for Magdalena Schott, who continued to live at Eureka.

Christ R., the oldest of the family, was the only member of the family
to come to America alone, and it was to escape servitude of the
Russian Army. The rest of the family arrived in Montana with their
parents. Many of the family members received their education in
English in local schools.

Fred and his wife Regina (Schott) Schuetzle lived on a farm on the
outskirts of Plevna's city limits, where they had a dairy farm for
many years. Their sons were Rudolph and Raymond, who both live on the
west coast.

Mathilda. married Andrew Wenz and they lived on a farm north of
Plevna. Their children are: Richard, Jonathan, Clarence, Herbert,
Magdalena, and Esther.

John married Pauline Christman, and their children are: Clarence,
Ruth, Herbert, Thelma, Donald, and Vernie. He managed the 0 & M
Elevator for many years. They moved to South Dakota, and John passed
away there.

Elizabeth married Edward Krausz and they lived on a farm south of
Plevna, where they raised their five daughters: Irene, Alice, Luella,
Maryann, and Delphine. They sold their farm home to the Arlee Frieds
and retired to Baker. They are now both deceased.

Edward lived in Plevna and various other places, including Alaska and
finally Texas.

Christ R. married Louise Straub, and they homesteaded southwest of
Pleva after their marriage in 1916. They built a two-room house, a
barn and a few other buildings along side a hill. Six years later,
they purchased the large Charles Millard home and farm, where they
farmed and raised cattle until their retirement in 1948. They retired
to the home in Plevna, where

Photo Christ R. and Louisa Schuetzle Married February 22, 1916

Photo Grandmother Margretha Schuetzle with daughter Magdalena Schott and
daughters

Page 119

Mrs. Schuetzle still continues living alone, even though on her next
birthday she will be 90 years old. She still enjoys her flower garden.
Mr. Schuetzle died March 22, 1956, after suffering a stroke.

Seven children were born to this union: Robert of California, Elsie
Huether of North Dakota, Vernon (who was killed during the second
World War), Lillie Klos of Baker, Arthur of Plevna, Helen Oberlander
of Miles City, and Reuben of Omaha, Nebraska.

Many years of hail, beetles, and grasshoppers made for

Photo The Christ and Louisa Schuetzle Family
[L-R] Lilly, Elsie, Werner, Louise, Art, Christ, and Robert

Photo Fred and Regina Schuetzle

meager earnings. During the drought, it was necessary to put up
thistles for the livestock.

Photo John and Pauline Schuetzle

Photo Pauline and John Schuetzle and Clarence

Paage 120

Church was a vital part of their life. They were always present at
the church services, whether transportation called for horses or a
car. Muddy or snow-packed roads were no deterrent.

The oldest boy often walked the seven miles to Plevna High School and
only on rare occasions was he able to board in town. Most of their
seven children graduated from Plevna High School.

The children all loved the big house with its long staircase, where
they liked to slide down the banister. There was also a ''Domer
walkout" porch which everyone enjoyed. Ice was put in the ice cellar
for the summertime homemade ice cream.

After the parent's retirement, the farm-ranch was sold to Mr. and Mrs.
Dodd Brott.

QUINCER-SCHWEIGERT FAMILY

Kathrine and Phillip Schweigert came from Odessa, Russia, in the fall
of 1908, bringing with them their three sons from Kathrine's former
marriage: Jake, John, and Edward Quincer. Kathrine had been married to
Conrad Quincer, who died in a smallpox epidemic. She also had a
daughter, who died shortly after her father.

Phillip Schweigert had also been married previously. His first wife
died following eight months of marriage when a stone wall caved in on
her.

The family sold all of their belongings to leave for America. They
left Russia because when the boys got to be six years old, the
government took them from the family and kept them to work for the
government of Russia.

They came by ship, taking seventeen days and seventeen nights to reach
their destination. They arrived in the U.S.A. in October of 1908. They
settled in Emery, South Dakota, where Kathrine, Phillip Jr., Betty,
and Carolyn were born.

In 1914 they moved to Ryegate, Montana, where Lydia was born. They
lived there a short time, and in the fall of 1916 they moved to
Plevna, Montana, where they lived with the Jake Schopps the first
winter.

The family lived north of Plevna a short time before moving south of
Plevna to the Lame Jones Country, where they farmed until retiring in
Plevna in 1936.

Three more children were born while in the Lame Jones area: Dorothy,
Freddie, and Annie.

Kathrine and Phillip retired at an early age. Phillip did various jobs
while taking care of his father, Valentine Schweigert, after his
wife's death.

The eldest son, Jacob Quincer, married Anna Koenig. He farmed at first
and then moved to Plevna. They had six children: Betty, Kenneth (who
died of tetnus when he was five), Darline, Dolores, Lola, and Carol.
Jacob died in 1972.

John Quincer married Nettie Lewis, and they lived in the Lame Jones
Community. Nettie came from Iowa and was a teacher in the Lame Jones
area. They moved to Portland, Oregon. They had a child who died in
infancy. Later they adopted Judy Quincer. Nettie died in October of
1974 and John died in 1977.

Ed Quincer married Tillie Leno from Tuttle, North Dakota. They had two
children: Lorraine and Leonard. They farmed southwest of Plevna. Ed
died in 1977, and Tillie now lives in town.

Kathrine Schweigert married Bill Leno. They had nine children: Billy,
Lorene, the twins Lester and Lyle, Dennis, Johnny, and Ronnie.
Kathrine Leno also lost another set of twins. Her husband died in
1982, and Kathrine still lives in Tuttle, North Dakota.

Phillip Schweigert, Jr. married Martha Schell, and they live east of
Plevna. They had one child, Lola Jean.

Betty Schweigert married Eddie Christman. They lived north of Plevna
and have one daughter, Delhias. Eddie died in 1962. Betty still has
the farm, but lives in Plevna.

Carolyn Schweigert married Melhe Herbst. They lived in
Plevna at first, but now live in Billings. They have three daughters:
Joann, Jeanette, and Dianne.

Lydia Schweigert married Henry Christman. They live north of Plevna.
They have two daughters: Doris and Audrey.

Dorothy Schweigert married Harvey A. Frank. She lived in South Dakota
and then in Baker. They had two sons, Larry and Dennis, and one
daughter, Evorme. Dorothy lost her husband in 1959. A few years later
she married Albert Bratzel, and have one son, Kenny Bretzel. They live
north of Plevna.

Freddie Schweigert married Gwendolin Seeley. They lived at Plevna, and
they had two sons: Bobby and Kenny. Freddie later married Florence
Vanhous, who had a son and a daughter: Brian and Billie. Freddie and
Florence had two children: Val and Tanna. They live at Kallispell.

Annie Schweigert never married. She died in 1958 at the age of 36.

Phillip Sr. and Katherine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in
November of 1969. The family gathered at their home, where Rev. Kern
gave the sermon. Cake and ice cream were served to those present.

There have also been three other Golden Wedding Anniversaries in the
family: Kathrine and Bill Leno, Phillip Jr. and Martha Schweigert, and
John and Nettie Quincer.

Photo THE PHILLIP SCHWEIGERTS John, Jake, and Edward Quincer, Mother and
Father Schweigert, Kathrine and Phillip

Photo THE SCHWEIGERT FAMILY [Back L-R] Carolyn, Dorothy, Betty, Lydia
[Front] Phillip, Kathrine, and Fred

Page 121

THE EDWARD SIELER FAMILY

Edward Sieler was born in Scotland, South Dakota, on January 5, 1880.
His wife, Rosina Huber, was born in Russia on July 25, 1886, of German
parents. She came to the United States at the age of 19 with a younger
brother and sister. They had been left orphans when she was only eight
years old.

Edward came to Custer County (now Fallon County), Montana, in 1910.
The following year, he brought his wife and four children to this
vicinity and they located ten miles southwest of Plevna, on Pine
Creek, where they established their home. More children were born to
them, with 13 growing to adulthood: Walter, Edwin, Arthur, Hulda, Leo,
Emil, Edward, Tony, Simon, Hable, Ruth, Benjamin, and David.

Life on the homestead was not easy. The first home for the Sielers was
a tarpaper shack. Sage hen and wild rabbit were plentiful, so they
were usually the meat for meals. There were no hunting licenses, and
no specific seasons for hunting game.

The fields were worked with horses and crude farming implements. It
was while father was working in the field that his horses became
frightened and ran away with him. He fell underneath the drill and was
seriously injured with a broken back. This created additional hardship
for the family.

Trips to town were made only for food and medical necessities. Buggy,
wagon, or sled pulled by a team of horses was the transportation.
Father later became the proud owner of one of the first threshing
machines in the neighborhood, but lost it through fire in 1924,
together with several stacks of wheat.

In 1923, the Sielers purchased the Wallace Ettles ranch located eight
miles southwest of Plevna. They continued living there until 1939,
when Edward and Rosina retired and moved into Plevna. Hable now owns
the home place.

The family's only entertainment was visiting with neighbors and
relatives. Many long evenings were spent playing checkers, dominos,
some other game, or reading. Sometimes traveling missionaries stopped
overnight at the already overflowing home and encouraged the family.
Whenever possible, they attended the little Congregational country
church which was located four miles away. In the absence of a pastor,
one of the laymen filled the pulpit.

In later years the family attended and were members of the Baptist
Church in Plevna, where Father served as a trustee and Mother taught
Sunday School classes for many years. The family took an active part
in the church, and all have assumed responsibilities in their churches
-- no matter where they located in later years.

When the car became our mode of transportation, there was never enough
room for everyone to go along, but as many as could piled in. Space
was at a premium! On special occasions at the church, Fourth of July
celebrations, or the Fallon County fair, the Federal Scout truck was
used to transport everyone.

Photo THE SIELER FAMILY [Back L-R] Walter, Edwin, Arthur, Hulda, Leo,
Edward, Emil, Simon, Tony [Front] Hable, Benjamin, Father, Ruth,
Mother, David

Mother and Father and the little ones were in the driver seat, and the
rest rode in the open back.

We were always leaving earlier than necessary on Sunday mornings, but
there usually was a little excitement along the way. We looked forward
to coming to a certain point on the road when the driver would race
the car to pick up speed, then put it in neutral and switch off the
ignition so we could coast for miles to save gas. Sometimes we would
barely make it up a hill, but would pick up momentum as we went down
again.

During the depression years of the 30s, the dust storms were so dense
that Mother often used a scoop shovel to remove the sand which the
wind blew into our home. Times were very difficult, and flour was the
number one item on the grocery list. The only income was from coal
which was mined several hundred feet from our home. It was an open
mine with a 12-foot vein. The coal was delivered and sold for $2 a
ton.

On November 17, 1932, tragedy struck the family. A coal mine cave-in
claimed the life of Leo, age 20. Another brother, Arthur, was
completely buried in the earth. Brother Tony, who was 14 at the time,
was standing away from the cave-in but remembered approximately where
Arthur was standing when it happened. With his bare hands, Tony
scraped the dirt away to save Arthur from death.

Tragedy claimed another brother, Edwin, in March of 1938. Edwin was
deaf and mute as a result of having scarlet fever in early childhood.
He died several hours after being hit by a train in Peoria, Illinois.

During World War II, members of the family served in the Armed Forces;
two were infantry men overseas. Edward was one of the first draftees
from Fallon County. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in
action on Luzon and served during the entire war. Benjamin, the other
infantryman, was stationed in Hawaii. Tony and Simon were military
policemen in the United States.

Heart attacks claimed the lives of four members of the family. Father
died in 1949 at the age of 69 while fishing west of Plevna. Mother
died at her home in Plevna at the age of 69 also, in 1955. Walter
passed away in 1955 at the age of 51. Edward died in 1957 at the age
of 43, and Tony died of myeloma in 1968 at the age of 52.

All followed their father's occupation of farmer and rancher in the
Plevna vicinity, except Benjamin, who is an interior decorator and has
his own drapery business, and David, who is an industrial arts
teacher. Both Benjamin and David live in Billings, Montana. Hulda is a
homemaker, and Ruth is Plevna's postmaster.

Walter married Caroline Quenzer. Their children are: Emmanuel, Frieda,
Verna, Loraine, George, Leona, Tabitha, and Carol.

Arthur married Rose Schopp, and their daughters are Ruth and Naomi.

Hulda married George Huether, and their sons are Arnold, Victor, David
and Spence.

Emil married Albina Straub, and their children are Loretta, Emil,
Thomas, and Lanette.

Simon married Hilda Ehret, and they have two sons- Steve and Mark.

Hable married Ida Graf, and their children are: Darlene, Daniel,
Irene, Fred, and Betty.

Ben married Amalie Graf, and their daughters are Monica and Dorothy.

David married Leah Weber, and they have two sons: Nathan and David.

WITH THE 25th INFANTRY (Tropic Lightning) DIVISION
[Newspaper clipping]


Private First Class Edward A. Sieler, Jr., Rt. No. 4, Plevna, Montana,
infantryman with the 161st Regiment, has been awarded the Silver Star
by Major General Charles L. Jullins, Jr., commanding the 25th Infantry
(Tropic Lightning) Division,

Page 122

for gallantry in action on Luzon.

Before the 161st Regiment attacked a strongly defended town in central
Luzon, a reinforced patrol, which Private Sieler volunteered to
accompany as a wireman, attempted to gain vital information concerning
the powerful enemy garrison and to establish a foothold on the town.
When the patrol reached the outskirts of the vfflage, it was ambushed
by machine gun and rifle fire from at least two machine guns and a
platoon of infantry and was pinned down.

Under cover of an 81bb mortar barrage, the platoon was finally able to
begin withdrawal. Private Sieler, seeing that an officer had been hit
by Jap fire and lay helpless in an exposed position, helped evacuate
the casualty on an improvised litter across 75 yards of open ground
covered by intense enemy fire.

Twenty yards from cover, a machine gun raked the carrying party,
wounding the officer again, wounding two of the litter bearers, and
killing another. In the face of withering fire, Private Sieler
fearlessly continued to drag the wounded officer to safety.

Private Sieler, who has been fighting on the front lines of Luzon for
more than four months, was with the 161st Regiment's drive across
central Luzon and its slow, uphill battle for Balete Pass in northern
Luzon.

Photo THE SIELER BROTHERS
[Back] Simon and Edward [Front] Benjamin and Tony

PETER AND EMMA [WACKER] SIELER

Peter and Emma Sieler and their four oldest children, Bertha, Albert,
Robert and Erwin, moved from South Dakota in 1912 and settled on Pine
Creek, ten miles southwest of Plevna. Five daughters were born while
living in this location: Alma, Esther, Louise, Loraine, and Arley
Jean.

Peter and his sons farmed in this location until moving to the
Carrington place, located five miles west of Plevna, in 1935.

We survived the drought and depression, as many of our neighbors also
did. We attended a rural school on Pine Creek which was located
approximately one fourth mile from our home.

Our mother passed away in February of 1927 and Father in August of
1937. In addition to our parents, one sister, Bertha,
and a brother, Robert, are also deceased. All living brothers and
sisters still reside in the state of Montana, except the youngest
sister, who resides in Kentucky.

Our mother had three sisters and two brothers, and some of them were
early residents in the Plevna area: Mrs. Jacob (Katherina) Freier,
Mrs. Jacob (Johanna) Krausz, Mrs. Fred (Christine) Beuchler, Fred and
Edward Wacker.

Father also had several brothers and sisters living here about the
same time: Mrs. Edward (Pauline) Wacker, Mrs. Simon (Elizabeth) Huber,
Edward, and Adam Sieler.

Photo Pete and Emma Sieler

Photo THE SIELER FAMILY [Back L-R] Loraine, Louise, Alma, Bertha, Esther
[Front] Ervin, Albert, Robert, Arley Jean

Page 123

WILLIAM AND KATHERINE STEFFES

William and Katherine Steffes moved from Iowa to South Dakota, where
they lived for a short while before coming to Plevna in 1911. They
began homesteading in 1912.

William ran the meat market in Plevna for a while, and later they
purchased the hotel. Katherine served 35-cent roast beef dinners to
her boarders at the Steffes Hotel.

The Steffes helped to build Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in Plevna.
The altar in the local church came from Saint Anthony's Church in
Iowa.

William and Katherine Steffes celebrated their Golden Wedding
Anniversary in 1928. William passed away in the Miles City Hospital in
1931. Katherine passed away in 1944.

Photo William and Katherine Steffes -- Golden Wedding Day, 1928 [Picture was
taken in front of their hotel.

JOSEPH AND ROSE STEFFES

Joseph M. Steffes traveled from Iowa, his birthplace, to South Dakota,
where he met Rose Doonan. He began homesteading south of Plevna in
1912. In 1913 he made a trip back to South Dakota, where he married
Rose Doonan, and then brought her back to his homestead, where their
family of nine children grew up.

Joe was very active in the community. He was a County Commissioner
from 1952-58. He was also Plevna's mayor for three years. During the
depression, he was foreman of the W.P.A. (a work program) and helped
build roads and dams. He helped put in the new telephone line in the
area in 1931.

Joe was also very family oriented. He was a 4-H leader for 24 years
and also served on the school board for several years.

He helped build the Catholic Church for the community. In 1962 Joe
built the U.S. Post Office for Baker.

Rose passed away in 1930, and Joe died in 1977.

The children of Joe and Rose Steffes were: Gertrude, Bernard, Leo,
Raphael, Marie, Lawrence, Francis, Joe, and Margaret Mary.

Gertrude married Vern Weber, and their children are: Joe, Jerry, Kay,
Karen, and Pat.

Photo Joe and Rose Steffes

Photo THE JOSEPH M STEFFES FAMILY [L-R] Joe, Francis, Marie, Gertrude,
Bernard, Joseph, Raphael, Margaret, Leo and Lawrence

Page 124

Bernard married Totty Bums. Their children are Mark and Clark.
Bernard is now deceased.

Leo married Betty Russel. Their four sons are: Jim, Robert, Tom, and
Jeff. Leo is now deceased.

Raphael and his wife, Cora Madsen, had two sons: Michael and David.

Marie married Billy Angelo. They are the parents of Rose Anne, Kathy,
and Stella.

Lawrence married Dorothy Thielen, and their children are: Janice,
Carol, Judy, and Larry.

Francis married Tillie Neiffer. They have five children: Bryan, Patty,
Francis, Kent, and Keith.

Joe married Arlene Boucher. Their children are: Debbie, Brenda,
Bernadetta, Stephanie, Marty, and Tiffany.

Margaret Mary and her husband, Albert Gapp, have two children: Susan
and Bret.

PAUL AND JOHANNA SOPHIE STRAUB

My parents, Paul and Johanna Sophie (Krueg) Straub, were both born in
a small village named Neu Lustdorf, near Odessa in the Ukraine of
South Russia. My father was born January 20, 1893, and mother was born
November 15, 1891.

Father learned from his uncle, Henry Straub, who had come earlier to
America, that he could better his fortune by migrating to the New
World, so he decided to come to America. Dad, his brother Fred and his
wife, and Johanna Sophie Krueg, a sister of Fred's wife, whom Dad
later married, started out together.

Photo THE PAUL STRAUB FAMILY [Back L-R] Erna, Johanna, Albina [Front]
Father, Helmut, Mother

They all received their passports, except my father, who discovered he
could not secure his because he had by then reached draft age. He also
learned that the Underground Agency could and would assist him in
getting from Odessa to Bremen, Germany, upon payment to them of $72 in
American money, or its equivalent in Russian money.

The adventure began on July 7 by train, carriage, wagon, on foot, and
by boat, undergoing many delays and hiding in the woods. They finally
arrived at a Russian port, where he was separated from some of his
traveling companions, who were also trying to leave Russia. They went
from there to Bremen by ship, and met the other relatives who had come
on by train from Odessa.

After completing arrangements, they boarded an ocean liner, "Fredrik
der Grosse" (Fredrik the Great), and landed at Baltimore, Maryland, on
July 23, 1914. From there, they went by train to Eureka, South Dakota,
where they stayed with Dad's uncle, Henry Straub. My father worked
there as a hired man on a ranch.

Father and Mother were married in June of 1915, while living at
Vananda, Montana. They took up a homestead there. When they first
moved there, they did not realize how poor both the soil and water
were. Things were not going too well. In the summer a cyclone struck
down the house and barn. Father was not home at the time, but Mother
saw the storm coming and took me down to the cellar until the storm
passed. I was just a baby then, and it was only God's providence that
spared me, for after the storm, Mother found the pot bellied stove
laying in the baby crib. They began to build up again what they could,
with rock.

They lived about 30 miles from Vananda, and it would take Dad one day
to go there, stay overnight, and return the next day when they needed
groceries or feed for the stock.

In 1918, they moved to the Plevna vicinity, where they leased land 12
miles south of Plevna on the Krueg place. The next year they moved
northeast of Plevna on the Wenz place, which they also leased. About
this time, I remember my sister and I herding pigs so they wouldn't
get into the grain stacks that still needed to be threshed. It wasn't
a pleasant chore.

In 1926, our parents purchased land 14 miles northwest of Plevna. How
well I remember moving days, for they were very exciting to me. One of
our neighbor boys, Icky Breen, offered to trail Dad's cattle to the
new location with the saddle horse. I rode on the back of his saddle.
It was a long, spring day, trailing those cattle. As we were coming
down the lane near our

Photo Paul and Johanna Sophie Straub Albina and Johanna

Page 125

new home, our friendly neighbor lady, Miss Minnie Youngs, who lived
with her father and brother, came out to welcome us and invite us in
for black coffee and bread with dark syrup. It was a treat that I
shall never forget!

Later the Rony Tunbys were our close neighbors. It was during these
years that they applied for and obtained their American citizenship.
They raised their family of four on the farm.

I, Albina, married Emil Sieler, and our four children are: Loretta,
Emil Jr., Thomas, and Lanette. Johanna married Jonathan Wenz, and they
have one son, LeRoy. Erna married Albert Stickel of Fallon, Montana,
and their children are Synneva and Elton. Helmut married Edna Schmidt
of Fallon, and they have two daughters: Chyrell and Louetta, and one
son, Lester. Lester lives on the home place.

Mother passed away in March of 1960, and my sister Johanna died
Septemer of 1978. My father is now 91 years old, and still lives at
his home. He likes to recall the blessed times they had, the many
times they went with the sled or buggy until the Model T came out, and
the blessed times at the German Congregational Church at Plevna. He
also recalls the difficult times they had in learning to write and
speak the American language.
--Submitted by Mrs. Emil (Albina) Sieler

FRED AND MAGDALENA STRAUB

Fred Straub was born March 14, 1885, and Magdalena (Krueg) was born
May 23, 1889, in Neulustdorf, near Odessa, Russia.

Fred came from a family of eleven children. His father, Fredrich, was
a farmer and blacksmith in Russia. Magdalena came from a family of
nine. Their parents had taken advantage of the offer of Kathrina the
Great, Queen of Russia, to leave Germany and settle in the vast
prairies in colonies or Dorfs in south Russia.

Fred and Magdalena Krueg were married October 4, 1911. Two daughters,
Rosalie and Louise, were born in Odessa, Russia.

The Straubs came to this country July 23, 1914. They first traveled to
Bremen, Germany, from Odessa, Russia, and sailed via ocean liner
"Fredrick der Grosse", landing at Baltimore, Maryland, in July. From
there, they went by train to Eureka, South Dakota. They lived with
Fred's uncle, Henry Straub. Fred got a job digging basements for $4 a
day. A son, Richard, was born at Eureka.

In March of 1916, the Fred Straubs moved to Vananda, Montana, to take
up a homestead. The soil was poor, and good water was hard to find.
They finally dug a well by hand, built a

Photo The Straubs at the Charley Clark place

dam, and then raised a good garden. While at Vananda, Fred worked on a
ranch. A daughter, Emma, was born there.

September 1919, the Straubs moved again, this time the move was to a
farm northeast of Plevna, the former Charley Clark place. They rented
the place. It is now owned by Dan Thielen. Rosalie and Louise started
school at the Clark School, and they had to learn the English language
along with their other classes. Another son, Arthur, joined the family
in 1922, and Rudolph arrived in 1924.

The men in the community enjoyed rabbit hunts, taking sides north and
south of Pennel Creek. The losers had to serve an oyster stew dinner
at the school house.

The Straubs attended church at Plevna Congregational. They drove the
seven miles to church with horse and buggy. Later Fred bought a Model
T.

In 1926, the Straubs bought a farm and ranch 16 miles northwest of
Plevna. Reinhold was born the next year, and Herbert in 1929. Reinhold
and family now live on the home place. This home place was a house
that was originally a Westmore church moved in and remodeled. The big
red barn was a grocery store. They torn down the store, hauled the
lumber home, and rebuilt it into a two story bam.

In 1947, when the sons were able to handle the farming and ranching,
the Straubs purchased a home in Baker and tried to retire. They often
came to visit and helped with the work.

October 1, 1961, relatives and friends helped Fred and Magdalena
celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary with an open house at their
church in Plevna.

The Straubs lost their son, Richard, in 1933, and Rudolph and Emma in
1950. Fred died in November of 1966. Daughter Rosalie died in December
of 1966, and Magdalena Straub died in 1971.

Living family members are Louise Scheuffele of Baker, Arthur and
Reinhold of north Plevna, and Herbert of Baker.

Photo Rabbit Hunts

JOHN AND BURNETTA [BERGMAN] THIELEN

John Thielen came to Montana in February of 1917. He homesteaded north
of Plevna on Pennel Creek. John decided he needed some extra company
and a cook, so on January 26, 1926, he had found a wonderful lady, and
he was married to Bumetta Bergman. Burnetta came from a family of nine
girls and one boy. She was the daughter of Ernst and Amelia Bergman.
The Bergmans migrated here from Cresco, Iowa, and lived north of
Plevna on the farm presently owned by Mrs. Betty Buerkle.

John came from Templeton, Iowa, and was the son of Peter and Susan
Thielen.

John and Burnetta raised three children: Ambrose, Dorothy, and Pete,
all of whom still live in this area.

During their years of marriage, they went through some very joyous,
exciting, and trying times. The 1930s were the bad

Page 126

years, as the whole country felt the effect of the depression. Many
times, to ease the problems, they would get together with their many
fine neighbors and have dances or card parties.

During the 1930s, John worked as a foreman for the WPA. They built
many dams in the area, some of which are still in use today. John was
also a committee member for the ASCA.

John and Burnetta lived on the homestead until 1950, when they bought
the old Himsl house in Plevna. They made this their home in the
winters and bought a farm in Nebraska for their summer home. After
they bought the home in Plevna, Ambrose and Pete took over the farming
and ranching duties.

In 1963, John and Burnetta tired of the long distance between Montana
and Nebraska. In 1965 they journeyed back to Nebraska to visit some of
their many friends and had a tragic accident-- one which nearly
claimed their lives. They both pulled through with a lot of luck,
love, and prayers.

John and Burnetta lived in Plevna at the time of their deaths. John
passed away on April 26, 1976. Burnetta was a very lonely person after
this, as she dearly missed her John. She passed away very shortly
after, November 17, 1976.

Ambrose, the oldest son, married LaVonne Varner, on October 18, 1947.
LaVonne is the daughter of William and Annetta Varner. They lived on
the Evans place, not far from John's farm. In 1950, when John moved to
Plevna, Ambrose and LaVonne moved over to the homestead. They farmed
and ranched with brother Pete until 1983. In 1957, Ambrose bought the
Bill Thielen farm in Plevna. In 1963, they moved back to the homestead
to make their home. In 1975, Ambrose and LaVonne decided to change
their pace. They bought the Plevna Bar. which they operated along with
the farm.

They have had an industrious life and reared eight children and nine
grandchildren. They have six girls and two boys:

Photo John and Burnetta Thielen Their Wedding Day -- January 18, 1926

Nancy, Peggy, Mary, Patty, Cindy, Johnny, Lorrie, and Bobby. All their
children are very close to the family and still love coming home to
see their parents. They all still think Grampa and Gramma should be
with them -- but in their hearts, they've never left.

Dorothy, the only daughter of John and Burnetta, was "quite the girl".
She was her dad's right hand man, as Ambrose was his mechanic, and
Pete, the youngest, was Momma's little boy. Dorothy enjoyed working at
home with her parents. In 1949, she married Lawrence Steffes, the son
of Joe and Kate Steffes, also of the Plevna area. After their
marriage, they farmed west of Plevna on the Joe Steffes farm, where
they are presently living. Dorothy and Lawrence raised four children.
They have three girls and one boy: Janice, Carol, Judy and Larry. They
have four grandsons.

Pete, the youngest son of John and Burnetta, lived and worked with his
parents until he went into the Service. From 1954-56, Pete was in the
Army. This tour took him to the

Photo Ernst and Amelia Bergman [Parents of Mrs. John Thielen]

Photo Burnetta, Ambrose, and John Thielen

Page 127

atomic plant in Fort Hampford, Washington. After his line of duty for
his country, he returned to Plevna. On August 4, 1956, Pete married
Ruth Anderson, the daughter of Arlin "Pete'' and Lillian Anderson,
also of Plevna. Pete and Ruth lived on his parents' farm in Nebraska
for a short time. In 1957 they moved to the old homestead. In 1963,
when Ambrose and Pete bought the Ervin Heuer place, they moved to this
farm north of Plevna. Pete and Ruth raised five children, one girl and
four boys: Diane, Steven, Gary, William, and Mark. Pete and Ruth are
presently living on this farm. They have three grandchildren.

The Thielen family is a very ''close-knit" family and would want it no
other way. They still enjoy getting together and reminiscing old times
that only seem like yesterday.

Photo Ambrose, Dorothy, and Pete Thielen

Photo Threshing crew at the John Thielen farm

Photo Stacking Grain

Photo Butchering at the Herbst Farm

THE MIKE THIELEN FAMILY

Approximately 1907, before Plevna was a town and before barbwire was
around, old-time rancher Charlie Clark freighted lumber in by team and
wagon to build a town (possibly to be called Plevna). The railroad was
originally staked to come down Pennell Creek, so Charlie built a
three-story hotel with steam heat throughout and a big barn as a
livery stable. The barn is still in good shape. The house has been
remodeled and is where we live.

In earlier years, a school house was built across the creek, which in
turn was washed away by the creek. Another school, Clark School, was
built on its present location and is still there today.

The railroad later changed the route to its present location, and the
town of Plevna had its start.

Earlier it was the days of open range. Charlie's neighbor was Pierre
Wibaux, and the winter of 1886 almost wiped them both out.

Various renters and owners lived on the place until 1929, when Mike
and Wanda Thielen leased the Clark place until 1944, when they
purchased it.

Mike Thielen was born and raised in Iowa. In 1912 he came to Montana.
He established a claim for a homestead on the


Photo THE MIKE THIELEN FAMILY [L-R] Dan, Mike, Betty, Matt, Pearl, Wanda

Page 128

south half of Section 4, south and west of Plevna. This was later
sold to his brother Bill.

In 1917, Mike and his brother, John, moved north of Plevna to land
that is now owned by Ambrose Thielen. This land was rented, and they
farmed there during the spring and summer, but spent the winter months
in Iowa with family.

On July 1, 1929, he married Wanda Rabe. Four children were born to
Mike and Wanda: Matt, Pearl (Mrs. C. R. Leach), Betty (Mrs. Chas.
Neumann), and Dan.

Mike was a World War I veteran and was also a member of the "Last
Man's Club". Mike died on September 29, 1958, of a heart attack in
Holy Rosary Hospital. Wanda resides in Miles City and has for the past
14 years.
--Written by Dan Thielen

Photo THE THIELENS [Back L-R] Dan, Matt, Mike [Front] Betty, Wanda, and
Pearl

THE HERBST AND THIELEN FAMILIES

This is the story about the Herbst and Thielen families in Montana.
They were from the state of Iowa and the "very idea of a homestead" was
an American Dream for any farmer who had tried to get started farming
in Iowa. The land was very rich and expensive. The ordinary young man
could not buy his first farm, but had to rent and give the owner a
share of the harvest It always added up as a short crop for the
renter.

Peter Herbst and Mary Thielen had farmed in Iowa and to better their
lot moved to Ipswich, South Dakota. Their reaso for stopping there was
a good one: a relative had large holding and could always help a young
couple to get a start in life.

The call of ''owning their own land'' kept echoing in thei hearts, so
once again they moved on to Montana, to the homestead and the right to
have land acquired by the energetic young farmer. The necessary amount
of acres had to be tilled and planted. An abode and occupancy for a
certain amount of time was necessary.

Peter was a good carpenter, and the early years subsidized their
income by helping build some of the structures in Plevna. Mary was a
wonderful housekeeper. She utilized everything within her reach. She
could cook like a gourmet chef with very little ingredients. Her
patches were so neat they looked like a piece of art. We always joked
about Aunt Mary's "rag. bag". The rags were all ironed and some of the
rags were even hemmed. This was the first time May had lived away from
her family, and she was very lonely.

Bill Thielen and Catherine Herbst were farming in Iowa and
renting where the land was so wet and soggy, with an extra amount of
rain, their crops would rot in the ground. They were discouraged, so
they borrowed some money and moved to Ipswich, South Dakota. They had
a couple good years of fanning in South Dakota, but the letters from
Montana kept coming, and they too were lonely for some of the family.

A railroad boxcar was ordered, and Bill loaded it with pigs, chickens,
a couple of cows, and a good work team. These boxcars were called
"immigrant cars", as they were supplied by the railroad at a low fee
to help people settle west. Bill had to ride in the immigrant car with
the animals, to make sure they had water and feed. These animials
could not be purchased in Montana, and they were very necessary to
start any kind of a farm.

Catherine and her baby had a ticket and rode in the coach and were in
Plevna long before the boxcar and Bill. Mary and Peter Herbst were
there at Plevna to meet her with a lumber wagon.

In the mean time, Bill was "switched" to a side track in Marmarth,
North Dakota, and had to stay there with his animals to water and feed
them. The food that Bill had to eat was cold: bread and butter, ham,
and hard-cooked eggs. 
Three days later, he was met by Peter Herbst. They were very happy to
load Bill's belongings from the train and head to his sister's home in
Montana. Many times he would tell us how wonderful it was to enter
"Mary's kitchen", where there was warm food and home-baked bread. They
were very happy to be together and on the threshold of a new life.

It was too late to get a homestead that year, as they could not
complete all the necessary things before winter set in. Catherine and
Bill got a job at the Bickle ranch. Bill helped with

Photo Bill and Catherine [Herbst) Thielen, married in 1910 Attendants were
Ed Herbst and Margaret Thielen

Page 129

the cattle, and Catherine cooked. This was a year they could save
their wages for buying the necessary things to get started with their
new home.

The Bickle Ranch had vast holdings and a lot of free range to feed his
large herd of livestock. It was very hard on him to have his free
range land cut up and fenced by settlers who were able to buy a piece
of paper, and then fence one-hundred-forty acres of land. They always
fenced the land with springs or what ever land which had water
available.

Bill found a good water spring, and this is where the lines for his
homestead were drawn. The next year he proved his abilities to care
for the land. Bill and Catherine quit their jobs and lived in a tent
on their new land.

It was a rainy spring. Bill went to the "pines" and cut large logs for
his "soddy". The logs were really too heavy for him to handle, but his
sheer determination put the logs in place so he could put down a
sheath of lumber and tarpaper for his home with a sod roof. It was a
good roof, but the sod would blow away, only to be replaced again.

The land was very hard to cultivate the first time the plow went over
it. The plow shares would dull very fast, and each man had his own
fashion of sharpening them. Each evening was spent getting their plows
ready for the next day. The plows were of a single furrow, so it took
many man-steps behind them to get an acre of land ready to plant.
Shoes were hard to keep in one piece, walking all day on that hard
terrain.

Some land they had chosen to be cultivated had to be "Rocked" (removed
of rocks). This was an arduous task, as it was done by hand. A "stone
boat" was fashioned so the rocks didn't have to be lifted too high.
The stone boat was a platform of lumber on two logs, and it would be
skidded to the edge of the plot, where it would be emptied of rocks.
This same stone boat was also used to haul water from the spring in a
wooden barrel, as this was the source of water used in the home. The
spring water was very soft and good, pure water.

Bill and Catherine were now ready to start a new life. Those first
years, the crops grew well, and they put down their roots in Montana
forever.

Pete Herbst sold his homestead to his brother-in-law, Fred Brummer and
Kate Herbst, also from Iowa. Pete felt he needed more space, so he
bought the Koogner land. It was just a mile from Bill and Catherine
and their land adjoined on many places. Life was hard and good at
times for both families. They had their children on their land -- land
they owned!

Ed Herbst and Anna Stark came from Iowa and homesteaded south of Bill
and Peter. He did not have much progress as a farmer. The times were
not favorable toward his progress. Ed did not struggle long. He sold
out-- lock, stock and barrel. He then moved to Baker and became a
barber, in addition to many other occuations. He is still living there
today.

The children raised by these families were very happy, with a good
social relationship with each other. They grew up well adjusted, with
a love of family and still love to have family reunions.

Mike and John Thielen were too young to come out to Montana and were
at home with their parents. As the years went by, they were old enough
to come out and get a homestead for themselves. Mike got his first and
had just completed the necessary requirements to prove ownership when
he was called by the Army to report for duty in World War L He didn't
know how long he would be gone, so he sold his land to his brother,
Bill. John was still too young, so he went back to the family home in
Iowa.

When John and Mike returned to Montana, they farmed north of Plevna
and would plant and harvest their crops and return to Iowa for the
winter months. This life went on for them until they would put an end
to their bachelorhood and get married. John married Burnetta Bergman,
and Mike married Wanda Rabe. Mike bought the old Clark place. It had
at one time been a stage coach stop, with a mansion that was able to
accommodate overnight stops. John bought land adjoining Mike's. These
ranches are still owned by sons of John and Mike.

All of these events I have described in my previous statements took
place in the era of the one-room school. Eight classes with one
teacher, who lived at the school, did janitor work and tended the
fire. Somehow there was much good in this type of education, because
the offspring of these families were able to go on to higher education
without any problems.

Bill Thielen had a tragic accident happen to his family the year of
1927, on October 25. He buried his wife, Catherine, son William, and
daughters Marie and Geraldine. They all died of food poisoning caused
by canned corn infected with the botulism bacteria. This put an end to
this family, but the rest rallied around Bill and the two daughters he
had with h Earline went to live in Iowa with Bill's mother, and
Elizabe was never far from her father.

The relatives were very good to Bill and Elizabeth. She at one time or
another lived with all of them. Her numerous years were spent with
Peter and Mary. Elizabeth was a very happy child. There was always
love for everyone in this generous family, and everyone was ahead of
the times with their warm show of love.

Bill later married Tillie Rabe. Two children were born to them:
Frederick and Velva. Bill died in 1963.

Now our older generations are gone, with the exception of Edward, and
each of us feels a great love and respect for him. He is the ''hub" of
our family unit, and every one of us is aware of him for the wonderful
person he is today.
--Written by Elizabeth Thielen Rabben Daughter of Bill and Catherine
Thielen

JOHN WEINSCHROTT FAMILY

John Weinschrott was born December 1, 1886, at Bachover, Hungary. In
1897 he came with his parents to the United States and settled at
Lefor, North Dakota, where they engaged in farming. He attended St.
Mary's College at Richardton, North Dakota. John and his father were
partners in a grain elevator and hardware business at Regent for two
years.

In 1911 he came to Plevna, where they established a hardware and
implement business. In 1914 John built his second store building, a
two-story structure with office space on the second floor for Dr.
Baskett and others. The family also moved into some of the rooms.

Photo THE JOHN AND FRANCES WEINSCHROTT FAMILY
[Back L-R] Ann, John, Mary, Joe [Front] Helen, John W., Charles,
Frances, and Agnes [probably taken in 1924]

Page 130

In the late 20s, John turned to farming, which was his chief business
interest until his death in 1943.

John was mayor of Plevna a number of years, a member of the school
board for 17 years, president of the Plevna Commercial Club and the
Farmers Cooperative Elevator, first president of the local wheat
production control association, and later vice chairman of the county
AAA committee, a member of the executive committee of the Fallon
County Chapter of the Red Cross, the county planning board, charter
member of the Montana Grain Producers Association, church trustee for
many years, director of the SEMCA, member of the state Land Advisory
Committee, member of the War Savings Committee, and county chairman of
the Republican Central Committee. In the early years of his residence
in this county, he was instrumental in getting the Yellowstone Trail
run through this section.

John was Fallon County State Senator from 1937 until his death in
1943. While he served in the Senate, he was noted for writing three
bills: The Grass Root and Rock Dams Bill, the Delinquent Taxes Bill,
and a bill which led to the building of the new normal school at
Billings.

He achieved high honors in 1940 when Secretary of Agriculture Wickard
invited him to Washington, D.C. as representative of the Montana Grain
Producers Association. He spent a month there, conferring with Wickard
and other agricultural officials while the U.S. Congress was in
session.

In 1906, John Weinschrott married Frances Herold at Lefor, North
Dakota. Frances was born at Josefalva, Hungary, on October 21, 1887.
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Herold, came to America and
homesteaded at Lefor, North Dakota, in 1898. Frances was one of the
original members of the Plevna Boosters Club. She and John were very
active in the St. Anthony Catholic Church. One of the heritages John
and Frances passed on to their children was involvement with the
community.

Frances moved to Baker in 1946 and then to Miles City in 1977 after
she suffered a stroke. She passed away in 1983 at 95 years of age. She
enjoyed crocheting and quilt making for her family, friends, and
Catholic Missions. She loved people and helping others, especially the
Catholic Daughters, St. Anthony Altar Society, and Baker Senior
Citizens, of which she was a member.

The couple had eight children: John Jr. of Billings (later of
Indianapolis, Indiana); Anna Hannah of Seattle, Washington; Mary Muth
of Santa Ana; Joe of Whitefish; Helen Buzzetti of Billings; Agnes
Munsell of Miles City; and Charles of Billings. Frances died when she
was young. There were 24 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren.
--Submitted by Agnes Munsell

NICK AND MERVA WELLENSTEIN

Nick and Merva Wellenstein were married in St. Anthony's Catholic
Church in 1922. Nick arrived in Plevna in 1916 from Albany, Minnesota,
after attending business college. His first job in Plevna was in the
Bank of Plevna. A.V. HimsI, who came to Plevna from Minnesota, ran the
bank.

Merva came to Plevna in 1916 with her parents, Jake and Anna Ridgway.
Her mother was born in Norway, and her father was born in West
Virginia. They met in the Black Hills. Jake ran the freight from the
Black Hills to the newly-forming community of Camp Crook and later
owned a bar and the telephone exchange. However, when Camp Crook voted
to become dry, he found it difficult to make a living. The family
decided to move to the thriving railroad town of Plevna. He owned a
meat market for a few years before moving back to Camp Crook. Jake
also had a half interest for a short time in the famous bucking horse,
Tipperary.

Nick played for many years on the good baseball teams that Plevna had
in the early years. All the surrounding communities
at that time had a baseball team, and wagers between riva teams
created great interest and drew big crowds for the games. During one
of the war years when there was a shortage of coaches, Nick acted as a
basketball coach.

At the time the Bank of Plevna closed, Nick was cashier and served as
Receiver after its closing. The bank had one asset which was a section
of land. The grazing fees paid the taxes until oil was discovered on
the land in the 1950s. The Plevna Bank was noted for being one of the
few banks which, after closing, paid off all the depositors with
interest and gave a return to the stockholders.

Nick purchased a grocery store from Adolf Hoff, who had closed the
business because of financial problems. He continued to sell
insurance, which he had started to sell in 1917 for the bank. The
store served as a focal point for the replay of many sporting events.
Nick and Merva ran the store and sold insurance until they retired.

They had five children. Gene was born in 1923. His wife, Catherine,
passed away in 1983, and he now lives in Baker. Patsy was born in
1925. She lives in Glendive with her husband, Sam. Jim was born in
1930. He lives with his wife, Harriet, in Dickinson, North Dakota.
Dick was born in 1935, and married the former Dolores Ehret. He lives
in Overland Park, Kansas. Bob was born in 1937 and was killed with Bob
Ehret on March 7, 1965, in a car accident.

Nick passed away at the age of 82 in 1979, and Merva died at age 85 in
1983. They are remembered for the enthusiasm they showed for Plevna's
sports and community. They will be

Photo Nick and Merva by the railroad water tank

Page 131

greatly missed at the reunion.

Nick and Merva Wellenstein celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary
with an open house on June 27, 1972.

Photo Nick and Merva Wellenstein's wedding day -- June 27, 1922
[L-R] Nick, Merva, their attendants Anna Engles & Otto Meyer

Photo THE NICK AND MERVA WELLENSTEIN FAMILY [Back L-R] Gene, Jim, Patsy,
Bob, Dick [Front] Nick and Merva

ANDREW AND MATHILDA [SCHUETZLE] WENZ

Andrew Wenz was born February 8, 1895, at Anindahl, South Russia, the
son of Andrew and Margareta (Lindemann) Wenz. He was baptized in
infancy in the Lutheran Church in Russia.

In 1906, he came to the United States with his parents and settled in
Eureka, South Dakota. They moved to Plevna in 1909, where he worked in
his father's butcher shop and creamery.

Mathilda Schuetzle was born in Krim, South Russia, on July 30, 1894,
the daughter of Christian and Margaretta (Hepperle) Schuetzle. She was
baptized in infancy and confirmed on May 17, 1909, in the Lutheran
Church in Russia.

She came with her parents to the United States in the fall/ winter of
1912 and settled in Eureka, South Dakota. In 1913 she and her family
moved to a farm west and south of Plevna.

Andrew and Mathilda were married on March 21, 1915, and settled on a
farm west and south of Plevna. Their immediate neighbors were Mr. and
Mrs. Peter Sieler, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bohle, Mr. and Mrs. Christ
Schuetzle, Sr. (her parents), Mr. and Mrs. Christ Schuetzle, Jr. (her
brother).

In March of 1934 they moved to a farm north of Plevna, from where they
retired to Plevna in 1953. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wenz now reside on
that farm.

Mathilda and Andrew were the parents of six children: twins Richard
and Magdalena, Esther, Jonathan, Clarence, and Herbert.

Photo Andrew and Mathilda Wenz

Photo THE A. A. WENZ FAMILY
[L-R] Andrew Wenz Jr., Caroline Freier, Father, Mrs. Schrott, Mrs.
John Fried, Mother, Mrs. Guttmiller

Page 132

Richard Wenz lives with his wife and sons north and west of Plevna,
where he farms.

Magdalena (Wenz) Ludwig and her husband reside in Billings, Montana.

Esther (Wenz) Heuer resides with her family in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Jonathan Wenz and his wife and son farm north and west of Plevna.

Clarence Wenz, his wife, and son farm north of Plevna.

Herbert Wenz and his wife reside in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he is a
pastor in the United Church of Christ.

There are 15 granchildren, one of which is deceased.

Mathilda died on July 6, 1967, and Andrew died November 28, 1967.

Photo THE ANDREW AND MATHILDA WENZ FAMILY [Back L-R] Esther, Richard,
Clarence, Jonathan, Magdalena [Front] Andrew, Mathilda, and Herbert

JOHN AND JOHANNA WENZ

As with so many others,the Wenz family ancestors left the Wurttemberg
area, or Schwabenland, of Germany in the year 1805. The Russian
government had invited the Germans to come to Russia to cultivate the
vast areas of untilled land and serve as models for the Russian
people. The Manifesto of the Empress Catherine Il implemented the
legal conditions that regulated their immigration to Russia.

The Manifesto granted free practice of religion. They were not to be
required to pay taxes and were not liable for military service. They
were to be alloted some land, with permission to buy more land from
private individuals. Another right granted them was the right to leave
Russia if they wanted to do so.

The hardships these emigrants endured are beyond our imaginations. By
the time several generations had lived in Russia, life was much better
for them. They had comfortable homes, raised all their own food, made
their own clothing, and educated their children. The schools were
church schools, and everyone in the German villages learned to read
and write.

Attempts at Russianization were made by the government, but German
continued to be spoken at home, church, playground, and any meetings
of the people. As we know, all nationalities value their heritage; so
it was with these people who wanted to remain German in a foreign
land.

The time of self-rule for these Germans in Russia came to an end in
the 1870s. They were made subject to the Russian Ministry of the
Interior, which brought about stringent controls. At the same time,
migrations to the United States, Canada, and South America began. Many
people left Russia as soon as possible. The great emigrations of
Germans from Russia began in 1873 and continued for many years.

John Wenz was born August 9, 1879, in Annethal, Russia, west of
Odessa, on the Black Sea. His wife, Johanna Blum, was born October 15,
1882, in Neu Lustdorf, Russia, in the same area. They were married in
Annethal on February 12, 1904.

John served in the Russian Army during the Japanese Russian War,
1904-06. After his discharge from the army, they made plans to go to
America with their two children, John Jr. and Louise.

They arrived in New York on the ship named "Smolensk" on October 6,
1907. John told of the homesickness and hardships on shipboard. Many
people suffered seasickness. (In 1979, when John was living in the
Baptist Retirement Home in Bismarck, North Dakota, a woman living
there heard that a 'John Wenz' had moved in, so she looked him up and
told him that she remembered him as the jolly young man who had taken
care of the sick people during the ocean voyage. This woman was a
child of seven at the time, and she remembered John as the man who
held her head while she was vomiting. Also while there, John met a man
whom he had not seen or heard of since they stood in line and were
drafted into the Russian army.)

The Wenz family spent their first year in this country in Eureka,
South Dakota, with relatives. He came to Baker ahead of his family to
make arrangements for a homestead and to find living quarters. John
spoke of a Frank Collins who ran a livery stable here and was very
helpful. While their homestead house was being built, John moved his
family into a shack owned by Collins in 1909. Another helpful person
who could speak German was an itinerant minister, George J. Buergi,
Sr., who later operated a grocery store in Plevna.

John and Johanna built their farm on the site which is now the east
side of South Sandstone Dam. All of the buildings were moved from this
farm when the dam was built. The only sign of the place is a lonely
tree which stands northeast of the dam. This tree is visited often by
members of the family, bringing back precious memories.

On this farm, John and Johanna raised their family of ten children.
Edward, who had been born while they lived in the Collins shack, died
in 1917 of pneumonia.

Life on the homestead was not easy, but they always had enough to eat
and were able to clothe their large family. Life was made good because
of good neighbors who helped one another with many tasks and were
always ready to assist in

Photo John and Johanna Wenz

Page 133

times of trouble.

At first, church was held in the homes. The families woulc go many
miles in their buggies or sleds. Sunday became a day of visiting as
well as worship, as each family would bring food to share at noon,
returning to their homes later in the day.

John and Johanna were charter members of the Emmanuel Congregational
Church of Plevna. He served the church in various capacities for 43
years. John was church deacon for 38 years and served as moderator of
the Eastern Montana Conference of Congregational Churches for 15
years.

John set a record of married life which is not easily matched. He was
married to Johanna, the mother of his eleven children, for thirty
years. She died February 22, 1934. He married his brother, Andrew's,
widow in 1936, and they shared 18 years of married life. She was the
mother of Martha Wenz Brandt of Tacoma, Washington, and of Emmanuel
"Monty" Wenz, who was killed June 14, 1944, when his plane was shot
down over Cherbourg, France. Rosina died in 1954. While John was
married to this lady, they retired into Plevna. He later sold the farm
to his son, Emil and his wife Irene Krausz Wenz. John married Rosina
Diegle of Denver in 1955. They continued to live in his home in Plevna
until September of 1967, when they moved to Baker to be near his son,
Karl. Rosina D. died in November that year, after the couple had been
married 12 years.

John spent the next years living in the Fallon County Nursing Home, at
the Freier Boarding House, and visiting his children. He moved into
the Baptist Retirement Home in Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1968, where
he died January 23, 1970. He is buried in the Plevna Community
Cemetery, beside his wife, Johanna.

The eleven children of John and Johanna Wenz are:

Louise (Mrs. Phillip) Huber of Spokane, Washington. Her children are
Merleen, Ruth, and Reuben.

John Jr. of Fairfield, Montana. He married Melesina Sackman and they
had two children: Ella (deceased) and Sylvia.

Edward -- deceased

Karl, who married Erna Krueg, lives in Baker, Montana. They have three
sons: Warren, Douglas, and Bradley.

William lives in Spokane, Washington. He and his wife, Tillie Fried,
have one son: Loren.

Emil married Irene Krausz, and they live in Billings, Montana. Their
children are Linda and Diane.

Andrew married Martha Bechtold, and they live in Chico, California.
They have two daughters: Carla and Barbara.

Erna married John Stout. They live in Spokane, Washington, and have
one son, Merlin.

Fred lives in Glendive, Montana. He married Bertha Phenning. Their
children are: Sheila, Marcia, Daniel, and Patricia.

Ernest married Dorothy Starkle, and they live in Spokane,

Photo The John and Johanna Wenz Family

Washington. Their children are: Pamela, Brian, Peggy, and Jeannie.

Arthur is married to Betty Ellis. They live in Moses Lake, Washington,
and have two sons: Brian and Sam.

KARL AND ERNA [KRUEG] WENZ

Karl Wenz was born to John and Johanna Wenz on their homestead south
of Plevna on May 30, 1911. He was the fourth in a family of eleven
children. Karl went to school at the Prairie Park School. The teachers
he remembers best are: Mrs. Pat Crow and Mrs. Madge Wilson. There
often were as many as thirty-four children in school.

It is a miracle they learned to read and write, since the teacher
could not possibly get to each of the children in all eight grades.
The students would help one another. The older boys and girls often
did not get to go to school more than three months out of the year.
They had to stay at home in the fall to help with the threshing, pick
the corn, haul coal from a nearby coal mine, and in the spring they
had to plow the fields and help seed the crop. It took many hands to
get all of these jobs done.

Because there were so many in the family, Karl was hired out to do
various jobs for other farmers in the area, which he continued to do
until 1931, when he went to work for the grocer, George Buergi, Sr.,
in Plevna. Mr. Buergi also owned a farm, a hotel, a garage, and a
restaurant. Karl clerked, cleaned, kept the fires going, worked on the
farm, and butchered beef for use in the restaurant and for sale in the
store, working from six in the morning until as late as eleven at
night. He was paid $36 a month. From 1933 to 1937, he drove truck for
R. B. Freight Lines. (R stood for Richard and B for Buergi). This line
was based in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was later sold to Barber
Truck Lines.

Erna Krueg was born on her parents' homestead south of Plevna on
February 2, 1914. After her father's death, her mother had a house
built in Plevna, just across the street and south of the Baptist
Church, where she moved to town with her three girls. This house was
later sold to Buerkles and is now a part of the Fred Buerkle home.
Neighbors for many years were Mr. and Mrs. John Klos, Anna Engels and
her mother, and the V.S. Himsl family.

There were no telephones, radios, televisions, or cars -- but there
were many good memories of those growing years. The church was a great
part of the family lives, with the church school, young people's group
activities, and the choir. Many an evening the teenagers in town would
gather at the "Yellowstone Trail" sign and use it for base and play
games, the main one being "Run, Sheep, Run".

Erna remembers some of her first basketball trips being made by train.
The players would each bring a sack lunch, as they boarded the train
in the afternoon for Mildred, played a girls' preliminary game
followed by a boys' game, and then took the train back to Plevna at
11:00 p.m. after they had been served lunch by the hosts.

Some of the teachers Erna remembers best are: Bessie Collette - first
grade; Leo Riddle - seventh and eighth grade; A.V. Himsl, Ray Bjork,
and Pauline Sather in high school.

After she graduated from high school in 1931, Erna worked a year at
housework for hire, then went to Eastern at Billings for a year. She
finished a second year by going to summer sessions.

Erna's first teaching job was at the Dry Fork School north of
Westmore, from 1933-36. Her first graders were Reinhold Straub, Marie
Louise Tunby, and Albert Oswald, and the eighth graders were Emma and
Johanna Straub. She remembers receiving her first warrant for $70 a
month, of which she paid $12 for room and board at Paul Straub's. From
1936 to 1939, she taught Prairie Park School south of Plevna. These
were the years of the great depression, and the school houses were the
center of many enjoyable cummunity activities.


Page 134
						

During Christmas vacation while teaching at Prairie Park School, Erna
and Karl were married on December 27, 1936, in the Emmanual
Congregational Church, by Rev. Albert Hausauer. In the fall of 1939,
Erna started teaching in Plevna under Supt. Herman Yeager. In 1941,
Karl took a job managing the 0 & M grain elevator at Baker. That
brought an end to their residency in Plevna, and also to Erna's
teaching years.

In 1946, they started farming north of Baker. From 1949 to 1954, Karl
served as County Commissioner and as Senator from Fallon County in
1955-57. Erna went to work for Fallon County in various capacities,
retiring in 1976. Karl retired then also, and son Douglas took over
the farm.

Karl and Erna Wenz have three sons. Warren C. was born in 1943. He
married Susan Judge, and they have two children. Warren is an attorney
in Great Falls, Montana. Douglas J. was born in 1946. He married Randi
Bergstrom, and they have one child. Douglas farms in Fallon County.
Bradley W. was born in 1949. He married Sharen Mirehouse, and they
have two children. He is manager of the Western Montana Federal Land
Bank.
--Submitted by Erna Wenz

Photo Erna and Karl Wenz

JASSAUD AND WILLMAN

In 1907, Mrs. Jassaud came from Minneapolis to visit friends, who met
her train at Terry. She liked the country so well, she filed on the
location of the creek where the John Willmans now live. In 1908, Mr.
Jassaud, daughter Maud, and grandson John came in an emigrant car on
the newly constructed Milwaukee Road. The car was set off on the
siding where Westmore was to grow, and Mrs. Willman and son continued
on to Ismay.

Mr. Jassaud stayed with the car, as there were horses and a cow to
tend. He got everything unloaded and set up a camp in a tent. They
spent the summer building a homestead.

This appealed to Mrs. Willman, so she filed on an adjoinin piece and
had a one-room "shack" built, in which she and John resided for five
years. When the land was hers, she built the house which is now ours.
They had lost Mr. Willman in a
railroad accident in 1903, and this looked like a new beginning. Many
settlers were flocking in with enthusiasm in response to

Photo Mrs. Jassaud and Mrs. A. M. Willman

Photo Mrs. Maud Willman and son John

Page 135

railroad advertising.

In spite of the ups and downs of drought, hail, and recession, she
spent the rest of her long life here. The Jassauds were here about
seventeen years before returning to Minneapolis. Mrs. Jassaud returned
periodically until her death in 1939. Mr. Jassaud passed away here
during the flu epidemic of 1917.
--Submitted by M. Willman

Photo Setting up camp with the Jassauds -- 1908

MADGE WILSON

Madge Gregerson, a young widow with two daughters, Evelyn and
Genevieve, arrived in Plevna in 1915, where she built a two-story
house near the creek and planned to use it as a boarding house. The
house was built next to that of her sister and brother-in-law,
Isabelle and Fred Dugan. Mr. Dugan was the proprietor of a general
store on the west side of the main street, not far from the post
office, in a building which probably is no longer standing.

Running a boarding house, among whose patrons were Jim Pepper and Dr.
Vinsel, did not prove to be a profitable venture in so small a town,
and she sold it after a short time and went back to teaching. However,
during the time she lived in Plevna, Madge worked as substitute
postmistress for Miss Letta Conser

Photo The boarding house built in 1915 by Madge Gregerson.

and as a practical nurse and midwife, assisting Dr. Baskett when
necessary.

In 1916, while still owning the boarding house, Madge left the running
of it to her parents, Samuel and Evelyn

Photo Madge Gregerson's boarding house today.

Photo Isabelle Dugan and son Kenneth

Photo The wedding of Madge Gregerson and John Wilson -- Jan. 1920 Johnnie
and Elmer Wilson, Chris Ross, Archie Wilson [Front] A. Doggett, Effie
Doggett, Madge and John Wilson, Evelyn Gregerson, Mrs. Ross, and Guy
Wilson

Page 136

Longnecker, and taught the Hidden Water School, south of Baker. This
was the beginning of a long and rewarding teaching career in Montana,
which ended in 1943 because of ill health.

Her second school was north of Plevna, the Ohlrich School, where Madge
taught the Holbrook girls, the Fred Fuchs children, and her own two
girls.

In January of 1920, Madge married John Wilson, a farmer north of
Baker, and moved to his farm. However, she continued to teach schools
in the Plevna area at various times until she retired and counted
among her dearest friends many of the Germanspeaking families who
lived south of Plevna. One of her fondests memories was of being a
guest in their homes and of going to church with them on Sundays when
bad weather prevented her getting home.

Schools which she taught include Hidden Water, Ohlrich, Wills Creek,
Morris, O'Donnell, Ehret, Prairie Park, Clark, and Christianson.

When ill-health forced her to retire in 1943, she lived in Baker for a
while and then moved to California to be near her two daughters in San
Diego.

She lived to be 97 years old and was active and alert until a few
months before her death in 1978. At that time, her family included her
daughters: Evelyn Wilson and Genevieve Welch; her step-daughter, Ethel
Soderling; and step-son John Wilson, as well as ten grandchildren,
twenty-four great grandchildren, and seven great great grandchildren:
a family of which she was a very active and important part, much loved
by all of them.

Photo Madge Wilson and students at Prairie Park School [1923 or 1924]

Photo Madge Wilson and daughters Genevieve and Evelyn [1978]

Photo The Ohlrich School -- 1918-19

A little girl took much too long returning from the store where she
had been sent on an errand by her mother and she was asked, "What on
earth took you so long?"
"I was watching the devil's funeral, " she replied.
"What do you mean -- the devil's funeral?" her astonished mother
asked.
"Well, I was watching the cars of the funeral go by and counting them,
and a man next to me said the poor devil was only sick about a week. "

Page 137

Photo WINTER OF 1905-06 X I T Camp on Fallon Creek [Photo loaned by Arthur
Schuetzle.]

THE GUY IN THE GLASS

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself And see what that guy has
to say.
For it isn't your mother, your father, or wife Whose judgment on you
must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the guy staring
back from the glass.
He's the fellow to please, neuer mind all the rest For he's with you
clean to the end;
And you'ue passed your most dangerous and difficult test If the guy in
the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum And think you are a
wonderful guy,
But the guy in the glass says you are a bum If you can't look him
straight in the eye.
You may fool the whole world -- down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass;
But the final reward will be heartaches and tears If you'ue cheated
the guy in the glass.
--Unknown

Page 138

Pages 139-146  GOLDEN ANNIVERSARIES

Pages 147-154  ARMED FORCES

Pages 155-162  CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

Pages 163-166  1959 CELEBRATION

Pages 167-176  EXCERPTS FROM HERE & THERE

Pages 177-187  SCHOOLS

Pages 187-232  CLASS ROLLS STARTING WITH 1928-1984

Pages 232-234  TEACHERS

Pages 235-241  COUGAR SPORTS ACTIVITIES

Page 242  JUBILEE CELEBRATION

Pages 243-251   SOUVENIR ADS

Page 252----- of making of books, there is no end-
Ecclesiastes 12:12