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Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" January 4, 1907:

FLASHER NEWS. Schools have all closed until spring. H. E. Cotner and family took Christmas dinner with Tom Copenhaver and family. Walter Grace found his pocket book which we reported as lost last week. Walter now wears a broad smile.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" January 11, 1907:

A number of neighbors surprised C. H. Hardy New Years evening and were right well entertained. Mr. Hardy is one of the old Hoosiers that knows how to play the violin and make them hop lively. The same crowd surprised A. J. Smith Friday night.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" January 18, 1907:

FLASHER NOTES. Literary was well attended last Wednesday evening. The audience was entertained with some good music and declarations. The question for next debate is, "Resolved, that Mail Order Houses are more of a detriment than a benefit."

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" March 15, 1907:

WADE. Our mails are running regular and on time now. The carriers never stop to sound the water in the creeks, but sail right in, and take their medicine afterwards. They have both got bad colds from taking too much creek water. R. C. Dance is busy these days getting his brome grass seed ready to sow this spring. He now has in two good sized fields of this grass and says he is going to seed his whole ranch to it. His last year's crop was a good one. Charles Ling, who was wounded during the Spanish American War in the Philippines, and who now receives a pension, has been ordered before the examining board for an increase in pension. Charles took a claim in this neighborhood a year or so ago, and has made many friends since coming here. William Chapin is buying work horses to put at work on the Milwaukee extension this spring. He is a genuine hustler, and will no doubt make the dirt fly when he gets at it. Fred Clark, who was born at Bangor, Maine, tells the following story:.....

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" March 22, 1907:

WADE NOTES. Mrs. W. V. Wade is spending a few days at Mandan paying her brother Frank Parks a short visit. Jean Allen, who has been employed by the L7 Cattle Co. for some years, was here last week. He has been spending the winter at one of the hospitals in Saint Paul. Mrs. O. M. Wade has been appointed post master at this place in place of W. L. Chapin, who resigned.

Charles McKean, G. K. Bright, G. W. Bright, Lillian Bright and Clyde Ford, all of Grand Rapids, Michigan, have located recently in southern Morton County. We understand there will be a great number of people from Michigan move to North Dakota this year.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" April 5, 1907:

WADE NOTES. The Cannon Ball River has been quite high for the last few days, and crossing with wagons at this point has been out of the question. The high wind of a few days ago unroofed one of the buildings over at the Wade post office. But there was not much damage done to the claim shacks out on the prairie. The Janesburg and Stevenson mail has not shown up at the Wade post office for more than a week. High water, no doubt, is the cause of Mr. Chalmer's non appearance with the mail. Stock in this locality is in very good condition for this time of the year, and with early grass and a good season there will be early shipments of cattle from this locality. People who have visited the construction gang on along the line of the Milwaukee survey, claim they are now at work about twenty miles southwest of this place, and that the line strikes the state line south of here, about fifteen miles. It now looks as if the shipment of livestock from the southern part of Morton County will be made over this road the coming season. Nearly every mail brings letters of inquiry from people living in the eastern states asking about the country, its chances and advantages for people looking for new homes in the west. All of which are answered, telling the inquirer all we know about Morton County, its soil, big crops, and never forget to mention the provision made for good schools by those who helped frame our state constitution.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" April 26, 1907:

Mr. Urel was one of the biggest losers in the prairie fire last week. He had about 100 tons of hay which was all burned. The range was also burned in his vicinity which will make it necessary to move his cattle to some place where they can get feed. We cannot hear of any one who lost their claim shanties. The fire was running so fast in the high wind, that it could not set fire to any building, and the consequence was the grass was burned up to the very foundation of buildings which were not set on fire. We have had quite a bit of trouble on the Stevenson and Janesburg mail route this winter and spring in not getting our mail on time. Some times the carrier has been a week behind, but it has all changed now. Mrs. George Chalmers has been driving the last few trips, which have been made on schedule time and some to spare. The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. Co. are now grading twelve miles south of the Wade post office. They are also boring for an artesian well at a point a few miles east, and about fifteen miles from us. Parties looking for good work horses have bought nearly all the stock of that kind to be had, and good prices have been paid to the ranchmen who were lucky enough to have them for sale.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 3, 1907:

H. H. Glick, who has a homestead four miles south of Flasher, went to Mandan Thursday to purchase lumber to repair his house and from there went to South Dakota to purchase some horses and will return in a few days and put in a crop on his land. Fred Schoensegle returned from Mandan with a new buggy Friday. The young ladies are now casting pleasant smiles at Fred. Green Decker has returned from an extended visit to his old home in Pennsylvania. F. Foglesong and wife, of Chatfield, Minnesota, arrived Friday and will spend the summer with their son, Harry, on his homestead near Dogtooth P.O. Last Thursday morning as Harry Hoffman and Gust Johnson with two lady friends were returning home from Snyder's dance south of Dogtooth, the team became frightened and ran away, throwing the four occupants of the spring wagon out and leaving them together with the wagon seats at the side of the road. The boys had to get another team to get the girls home and the runaway team was found later at Dogtooth. No one seriously hurt.


Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 3, 1907:

FLASHER NEWS. Cliff Grace, W. W. Woodward and E. N. Bosworth went to Bismarck Thursday as witnesses in the commutation proof of Fred Schoensegle and E. O. Brown, south of Flasher. Harold Hardy went to the state capital last week to file on his homestead that he contested some time ago. Mr. Farr and family of western Iowa are staying at Sam Connor's, southwest of town, until he can build his house on his homestead near the Cannon Ball. Mr. Farr brought a car load of stock and household goods with him. If you see Sam Connor driving a team of swan colored mules, aged one eight and the other nine, just say he bought them of the P. M. at Strain post office.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 10, 1907:

FLASHER NEWS. Fred Packard is putting down a well for C. H. Hardy. The extensive travel over the Black Hills Trail is making a hotel of every farm house. We are having too many prairie fires to be agreeable. Mr. Albright, three miles south of Flasher, lost his barn, one set of harness, four poland china hogs, and some chickens in last Wednesday's fire.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 17, 1907:

WADE NOTES. A man from Campbell County, S.D., by the name of Pierce, who claims Harry Hunter, of the Milwaukee R. R., a partner of his, has just received a bunch of cattle numbering 500 head at Mott, Hettinger County, from Mr. Pheland, who bought them among the farmers. Many ranchers and farmers who have teams are talking of putting them to work on the Milwaukee R.R., and waiting another year before trying to break up their claims. Miss Graves [Iantha Graves], a trained nurse from Minneapolis, and a friend of Mrs. Norcross has moved on to her claim on Section 10, Township 131, Range 85. Mr. TenKotte, who has been at work in the N.P. yards at Mandan, is putting up a house on his claim. The Karlson boys have the contract for building it. Mr. TenKotte has hauled several loads of lumber from Mandan.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" June 7, 1907

WADE NOTES. Sid Parkin and his cowboys passed through here with about 700 head of cattle a few days ago. They were on their way from the Parkins ranch in Hettinger County to the pasture just leased by his father, W. S. Parkins. Sid has got to be a full fledged cow man, and is well liked by all the cowboys who work under him. The Tysdale brothers have just sold to the contractors at work on the Milwaukee Road a large amount of hay. The price paid was $10.00 per ton and received in the stack at the Tysdale ranch. Mr. Flitcroft has just completed a dwelling house which is the most costly and finest house in southern Morton County. Mr. Flitcroft came from South Dakota near Watertown, where they have good farm buildings, and knows how to farm and is carrying on his farm work as he used to do in South Dakota. John Locke and George Loudner have teams breaking on their homesteads, and are going to have a large acreage put in to crop this year.

CARSON NOTES. George Kerland and Frank Mott were visitors at Carson Sunday. Mrs. S. Lane is visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl at Glen Ullin. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Peterson and Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Blowers are the latest additions to the Sunday school. A baseball club has been organized and is getting ready to take a fall out of some one on the 4th. A dance was held at the Saunders school house Saturday evening. The point made by the Judson scribe about what constitutes proper news items is well taken, and hereafter in order to get your name in the paper from this bailiwick, you will have to do one of several things. Be born, get married, have a fight, die or something on that order. No more galvinating around among the neighbors will suffice. So get busy and do the deeds, and have them recorded.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" September 12, 1907:

EAST WADE NOTES. Mrs. C. A. Lean and sister, Mrs. C. H. Rogers, of Wade, made a short call on Mrs. Teasdall last week. A number of old ranch men are going to get out of the cattle business. They are getting crowded out into such small quarters with the farmers that they say they must hit the high places. All that have sold report good prices. Mrs. Charles Rogers and son left the first part of the week for a short visit with her sister and niece, Mrs. Gus Weinrich, of Janesburg.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" September 20, 1907:

ESTHER NEWS. Sunday, September 1, the ladies of Esther had a very pleasant party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Miles, it being Mrs. Miles' birthday. All had a fine time. Mrs. Miles served a dainty luncheon at 1:30. The menu was veal loaf, potato salad, creamed cauliflower, cabbage slaw, mixed sweet pickles, beet pickles, lemon custard pie, tea, coffee, and cake. Table decorations, goldenrod, covers were laid for thirteen. The afternoon was pleasantly spent by listening to vocal and instrumental music by Miss Lillian Bright and Miss Grace Miles. Both young ladies have well trained voices. Miss Miles sings a low sweet soprano, Miss Bright a soft alto. The latter is also a fine violinist. All felt the day was pleasantly spent. Mrs. Miles makes an ideal hostess and all left wishing her many more birthdays.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" October 11, 1907:

ESTHER. Miss Parrish [Mattie Parrish] was a Tuesday passenger on the Esther stage. She came out to build on her homestead near Esther. She is staying at the home of her aunt, Mrs. George Bright.

 

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" November 8, 1907:

ESTHER. Mr. Shupe is engaged in plastering his house at present. Mr. Sooner is making final proof on his homestead this week. School opened in the McCullough district the 28th, with Miss Alice Leach as teacher. Hans Johnson is building a house for John Anderson. Now boys, listen for the wedding bells. August Linner has built a barn on his homestead south of Esther and is getting ready for winter.

Below from the �Mandan Pioneer� April 3, 1908:

LETTER FROM FLASHER. Flasher, North Dakota. February 18, 1908. Gentlemen:---It is with pleasure I give my experience of western North Dakota. Two years ago the fourth of this month I landed in North Dakota, a poor boy with a limited amount of means. I took a homestead four and a half miles from the enterprising little burg of Flasher. My first year was spent in building and getting ready to do business later on. Last year I had seventy-five acres in crop, which yielded well considering it new breaking. This country is the paradise f or a poor man. There are but few men whose environments are so poor as to be contented with nothing. This is the place for the wide awake, industrious men and women of the eastern and middle states whose time and pleasure is taken by the domineering (if I must use such slang) will and protests and a landlord. I know what renting is. I am not speaking at random. I am a Hoosier who is his own boss and independent of those who are uplifted by some poor man�s toils and earnings. Here land is plenty and at present cheap, to compare its soil and resources with the older states. But in the course of a very few years with the influx of settlers that are coming every year this land will raise in value one hundred percent. Now at present lands that are level and adapted exclusively for cultivation are selling from fifteen dollars to twenty-five dollars an acre. Then probably the renting proposition will be the same here. But why wait, why not come before the lands are all taken and share in the raise? Those who are lucky enough to get a homestead can count on much. There are a few of these left, but are being rapidly taken up. There were upwards of 50,000 acres taken up last summer in this county alone. Many people are inclined to think North Dakota is a state for hard winters. Many of them believe articles that come out in the newspapers pertaining to blizzards and snow blockades. Many of these are written and published by some southern land agencies. True, we have some cold weather here but nothing like it is as reported. This winter has been the finest winter I ever experienced. We had no zero weather until January 18, and no snow. The days were bright, sunny and warm. We have some snow now, about two inches I would judge. We have no rain in winter. The atmosphere is dry and healthful. This is a very healthy country, especially for those who are bothered with lung and bronchial trouble. North Dakota is claimed to be the healthiest state in the Union. If any are interested in North Dakota write me, I will be very glad to reply. Bear in mind I am not interested in any way in the land. It is the people that are not aware of the opportunities that await them in the broad fertile acres of western North Dakota. Yours for Homes,

Charles B. Coy

Flasher, North Dakota

Hoosier Valley Farm

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" April 24, 1908:

FLASHER. Mr. Hammond, father of Mrs. C. L. Baker, quietly passed away to the other world last Thursday at seven o'clock p.m. Mr. Hammond was nearly ninety years old. He came out to North Dakota from Ohio last summer with his son-in-law, C. L. Baker, who has had charge of the Hotel Flasher the past nine months.

THREE BUTTE. Dan Farr, assisted by his brother, Jacob, are erecting a blacksmith shop which Dan Farr will occupy this summer as a blacksmith. H. O. Mercer, who has been working in Mandan, returned home on Sunday, bringing a fine work team with him. He will work on his farm this summer.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 1, 1908:

Miss McKane [probably McKean] was quietly laid to rest in the Flasher cemetery last Sunday night. The deceased was a victim of diptheria. She was fourteen years of age. Her parents reside near the Cannon Ball at the present time.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 8, 1908:

WADE. John Schaller has been appointed postmaster at Schaller, this county. Mr. Fields, who has been driving the stage from Howe to Wade for Charles Locke, has gone to Alabama, where he has secured a good position on a plantation. W. L. Chapin, the Milwaukee railway boomer, was in this locality this week looking up horses, which he turned out to grass last fall. He found them in good condition and ready to be put to work, which speaks well for our range. Charles Flitcroft raised about two thousand bushels of speltz last year from less than eighty acres and has sold what he had to spare for sixty cents per bushel at his granary. A crop of this kind is no unusual thing and would pay for the land as it is now selling in one year. Our mail service between here and Stevenson has been nearly at a standstill for the past three weeks. We should have had three mails per week from Mandan by the way of Stevenson, but owing to the mail contractor throwing up his contract, we have been having very poor service of late. Charles H. Rogers took the contract to carry the mail twice a week from Stevenson to Janesburg, the pay being six hundred and ninety-six dollars for a distance of fifty-five miles each way. Mr. Rogers sold out his line to another party, and since then the mail has been carried by four different subcontractors, the pay coming to them through R. C. Dance and S. D. Cummings, who were supposed to be the first contractor's bondsmen. Mr. Cummings has long since left these parts, and Mr. Dance says he never signed Roger's bonds. The postmaster at Stevenson has been ordered to hire someone to carry the mail over this route and has permission to pay for such service. Mr. Dance has called for an investigation, which no doubt will create a surprise.

FLASHER. Maria Redding has come home from Medora to bid her folks good bye. They will soon be afloat on the Missouri River in their new flat boat. J. N. Albright went to Mandan with the Redding family to see them safe on board. Mr. Albright is expecting his sister from Iowa to Mandan and he will bring her out with him. She will keep house for him this summer.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 15, 1908:

There came to our desk last week a copy of a brand new paper called the Carson Press and it certainly was a neat and clean sheet. It is almost beyond belief that a paper so full of news, advertisements, and up to date hints can be published out in the country about thirty five miles from the nearest railway station, but it shows grit and energy of the publisher as well as of the people in the community in general, and we must say that we wish the paper, its publisher, and the thrifty people about Carson who have made this enterprise possible all kinds of success.

Below from the "Mandan Pioneer" May 29, 1908:

THREE BUTTES. Miss Mattie Wookey has taken Ike Bratton's cattle to herd for the summer. We understand that the Dogtooth post office will be closed on Sundays after May 10. Mr. and Mrs. E. Carner intend to start in the near future for San Bernardino, California. George McAllister [or George McCollister] and Miss Okey Reynolds were business callers in Flasher on Monday. Wallace Darrow and wife, Mrs. Norris Clapp, and Fred Clapp made a trip to Mandan on Monday. Mr. Schmidt, father of William and Albert Schmidt, died at the home of Albert Schmidt on Sunday, May 10. The funeral took place on Monday. We understand that Miss Hilma Roberg is talking of selling her place with the intention of leaving this part of the country. She has a prospective buyer from South Dakota, a brother-in-law to Charles Pehl.

Below from the "Mandan" Pioneer September 25, 1908:

We present a picture of William H. Brown, president of the William H. Brown land company, one of the institutions that has made Mandan and Morton County famous throughout the nation. Mr. Brown is a successful land dealer. He came here some six or seven years ago and saw the great opportunities there were in Morton County land. He purchased over a hundred thousand acres of this land and started in to put a farmer on every quarter section of it. A constant stream of land seekers from Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois was the result of Mr. Brown's activities and today many are the contented happy homes that dot Morton and Hettinger counties and thousands of dollars worth of wheat, flax and other grains are grown from the result of the foresight of William H. Brown. Mr. Brown lives in Washington Heights, a suburb of Chicago, and has an office in the great city and also at Mott, Haynes, North Dakota, and at Moore, Montana. The head office of the company is located here at Mandan. Without doubt the secret of Mr. Brown's great success in the land business has been to foresee the future of a country, to go after the people who would toil the soil and make homes in that country and above all he surrounded himself in his business with live energetic men who were enthused with the progressive twentieth century spirit that permeates his make up. Mr. Brown is a firm believer in advertising and spends great sums each year in printer's ink telling of the opportunities that are out here waiting for the men and women in the congested older states to come out and secure them.