Logan County, Napoleon - Diamond Jubilee - 1959

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(C)2007 Joy Fisher

Diamond Jubilee
75th Anniversary
of
Napoleon, North Dakota
June 4-5-6, 1959

Dedication

TO THE PIONEERS who came here in the mid 1880s, remained here, and many of whose
descendents continue to make Napoleon their home, this book is     DEDICATED

FOREWORD

Greetings and Thanks to All!

To the people of Napoleon- and vicinity, who furnished materials and
photographs, and to those purchasing advertising space in our Jubilee book, we
truly appreciate your co-operation and time given in preparing this history.

No one is perfect, so do not expect perfection. Perfection was not our goal. Our
aim was to collect experiences of our early pioneers who came to this area and
made it a good place for we and our children to live and grow into good American
citizens and neighbors. Our parents established and willed to us our churches,
our schools, our fertile North Dakota land, and the pattern of clean living.

We thank our pioneers! MRS. HENRY BRUNNER (MAUDE HOOF) Chairman of Historical
Committee

MRS LEW DAVENPORT (FLORENCE FITCH) Assistant Chairman


The Pioneer Mother

She had only the bare necessities, But she was happy with just these.

She cooked and baked on a big black stove Instead of a gleaming white.

She carried in wood and chips to burn, For she had no electricity, with a button
to turn.

The house was hot from cooking all day There was no fan to take heat and odors
away.

She washed on a board in a great big tub And carried in water in pails.

The water was heated on the big black stove, There were no faucets to turn for
hot and cold.

She hung the clothes out on freezing days, Until her hands were cold and numb.

But never once, did you hear her grumble, Even tho' she had no dryer, for her
clothes, to toss and tumble.

The irons were heated on the big black stove, She had no electricity to plug in
a cord.

The handles were hot on these old fashioned irons. But if a pad was used,
everything went fine.

But once in a while, you would hear a faint whisper, Then you knew the pad
slipped, and she would have a big blister.

She hooked and braided the rugs for the floor, There was no carpeting from door
to door

The dust was swept up in a pan For she had no electric vacuum.

She worked in her garden from morn till nite, And the vegetables she raised,
were a wonderful sight.

She had no thoughts of going to the store, And buying vegetables galore.

And certainly there wasn't a doubt, That the cabbage she made into sauerkraut.

She baked her own bread, And cured her own meat,

And she didn't have to take a back seat, For her bread, was light as a feather,

And the meat she fixed, wasn't a bit like leather She churned her own butter,
week after week,

She didn't buy it at a store down the street. The churn had a dasher, you pushed
up and down,

Or some had a barrel that went round and round. The potatoes weren't bought in a
bag at the store,

They were planted, and hoed and it was a chore. There was no refrigerator to
keep food cold

She went down the cellar, with all she could hold, And many a time it would be
covered with mold.

The potatoes were stored in this cellar in a bin, And a barrel in the corner,
had apples within,

She didn't buy apples, in the store by the pound They were bought in barrels,
with hoops around.

She sewed and mended the clothes for her family, And cut her own patterns, for
she was real handy.

You could hear the click of her knitting needles, As she sat by the fire, on the
long winter evenings,

And soon she would have a nice wooly pair Of socks, for some of her family to
wear.

Or maybe it would be a pair of mittens To keep their hands from being
frostbitten.

I know there are many more things to write But why take the time to bother,

For everyone knows, the work that was done, By the wonderful Pioneer Mother.

Maude Brunner


History of Napoleon By JAY A. BRYANT

It is 1884 –

As Napoleon is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 1959, we must presume that
there was a Napoleon in 1884. To find through research what was here in that
year has not been easy for the historical committee.

Starting with June 1886, we have copies of The Napoleon Homestead to compile
history. But for the two years prior to 1886, records are meager.

It is definite that Logan County was organized in April 1884, when the
appointive county officials held their first meeting in a buggy just south of
the Kidder County line. At that time they designated that the county seat be
located on the NE 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 9-135-72, a point about two miles
northeast of the present site of Napoleon.

At the November 1884 election there was a vote on change in location of the
county seat to the SW 1/4 of Sec. 17-135-72 - now the original town of Napoleon
— although the name Napoleon was not used in the balloting. Although the vote
was not given in the proceedings, first settlers told father (O.F.B.) in later
years that there were nine votes cast at the election, six voting in favor of
Section 17, where the county seat remains today.

Following the November meeting of the county commissioners, they adjourned until
spring as no settlers remained during the winter. Some spent the winter in
Steele, while others went back east.

Penciled notes by father, as a result of an interview with pioneers, show that
the three who voted for the SE 1/4 of Sec. 9-135-72 were O. T. House, Jim Weed
and E. R. Weed. Voting for the SW 1/4 of 17-135-72 were Capt. Foster, J. G.
Kroeber, John Orner, Fred B. Oliver, Sam Barry, Israel Freeze and Cyrus
Seiberts.

To show what an infant Napoleon was in 1884 — in fact we have to search to be
sure it was born that year — the history of the county began only a few months
previous. During the winter of 1883 - 84 the very first known white men to spend
a winter in Logan County were Peter August Sjaberg and Ole G. Lundy. These
trappers "dug themselves in" on the bank of Beaver Lake and gathered a bountiful
crop of fine furs such as beaver, mink, fox, coyote and badger during that
winter in which they had the whole county to themselves.

However, some white men had paid a visit to this county the previous year —1883.
Augusta J. Larson became the first white woman to visit Logan County. She came
here in company with James A. Weed to file on a homestead. Mr. Weed was the
first postmaster in the county, but after a short time he resigned and Mrs. Weed
(Augusta Larson) was appointed. The post office was on her homestead on the NW
corner of the SW 1/4 of Sec. 10-135-72, and it was named Paul. It was about
three miles northeast of Napoleon.

John George Kroeber, one of the first men to file on a homestead in Logan
County, was living at Bedford, Iowa, in the early spring of 1883. Here he became
acquainted with Napoleon Goodsill. Mr. Goodsill, in partnership with his
brothers, M. C. and A. B., owned a store at Steele. Napoleon Goodsill told Mr.
Kroeber of the many opportunities in Dakota Territory. In company with Frank
Pursian, a carpenter, Mr. Kroeber came to Steele in March, 1883.

On June 16, 1883, Mr. Kroeber, in company with Napoleon, M. C. and A. B.
Goodsill, J. R. Gage, Wm. L. Belden, Frank Pursian, Emmet N. Parker, a lawyer,
J. R. Gage, a surveyor, and George Lightfoot, a cook, came from Steele with four
loads of lumber —the first lumber to be brought into the county. They halted on
the high ground on the west side of the bank of the lake west of what later was
to be Napoleon. They constructed a shack on Sec. 15-135-72, and called the town
Gage City, named after Surveyor Gage. In the 80's, Gage City was shown on maps
as a station on the proposed extension of the Northern Pacific railroad.

In the spring of 1884, Captain Samuel Barry, Civil War veteran, and his son
Lewis drove overland from Wisconsin to Bismarck. At Bismarck they heard
favorable reports of this part of the state and went to Williamsport, then
county seat of Emmons County. There they heard glowing reports of Gage City,
just established in Logan County, so they moved on until they came upon a small
shanty and barn — Gage City.

Charles J. Hoof came here from the Red River Valley in May, 1884. When "Charlie"
stopped on a hill a mile southeast of Napoleon and had such a good view of rich
land in all directions, a lake two miles west, and numerous ponds, he decided to
make it his home. And he did until his death in 1945.

On a map Mr. Hoof had noticed Gage City, so he went three miles west of his
proposed homestead. There he found Sam Barry and inquired as to where he could
find the town. "This is the town, and you are talking to the population," Mr.
Barry answered.

The attempt to establish Gage City failed.

On June 14, 1883, Orrin T. House saw Logan County for the first time, driving
here from Steele in search of some estrayed horses. He was impressed with the
lakes filled with water, green grass, and the trees along the lake west of here.
In the spring of 1884 he came here to live, filing on the NE 1/4 of Sec. 10-135-
72.

Charles J. Hoof was joined here by his father, Julius H. Hoof, and brother, Fred
Hoof, in 1885. Julius was a veteran of the English army during the Crimean War
of 1854.

Eva Couch (Mrs. Mike Farrel) filed on a claim near where the town of Burnstad
now stands about 1885, and was described by father as "one of the heroines of
the wilderness." Her brothers, Emmet J. and Fred B. Couch, also filed on claims
at the same time in that vicinity.

We are mentioning briefly the first pioneer settlers in this county, as their
names will often be repeated in the history of Napoleon.

In the fall of 1884, John G. Kroeber moved the "town" of Gage City —one shack
—to his homestead taken in the center of E 1/2 of Sec. 22-135-72. A year later
he used the material toward a new dwelling house.

In November, 1942, I interviewed O. T. House on his 90th birthday at Napoleon.
"When you came here in 1883, how many buildings were there in Napoleon?" he was
asked, and his answer, "There wasn't a damn building in the county!"

There is some disagreement in notes taken during interviews with pioneers as to
whether the first dwelling house in Napoleon was built in 1884 or 1885. This
building still stands and is located a block east of the school house, occupied
by August Lachenmeiers. The building was put up by the Napoleon Townsite Co.

The SW 1/4 of Sec. 17-135-72 was platted into a townsite in 1885, the area
designated in 1884 as the county seat, but unplatted at that time.

The Napoleon townsite was surveyed and platted by Geo. H. Cook, a surveyor
located at Steele, D. T. The townsite company was organized and the town named
in honor of Napoleon Goodsill, president of the company, who resided on
Washington Ave., Minneapolis. Charles H. Stanley of Steele was secretary of the
townsite company.

The company built a story and a half frame structure on the townsite in the late
fall of 1884 or the spring of 1885. This was the first building of any kind
erected upon the townsite. This building was subsequently moved in 1888 by Geo.
A. Bryant a couple blocks to its present location, the SE corner of Block 19 at
the corner of Grant Ave. and Marion St.

This first building was purchased from the Napoleon Townsite Co. in the spring
of 1886 by Geo. A. Bryant, who came from Waterloo; Neb., and established here on
the prairie the Napoleon Homestead.

In later years, father wrote about his father's coming to Napoleon as follows:
"Some boomers at Steele induced him to locate in a new county, where they said
that three railroads had been surveyed through and the new county seat town of
Napoleon (on the map, only) was to build a court house, school house, churches,
stores, etc., and he could get right in on the ground floor. Father was so
excited that he immediately loaded his printing plant, household effects, three
cows and a printer in a box car at Waterloo, Neb., and shipped same to Steele.
He had the material for a print shop all cut out and ready to be set up, in that
box car. There was but one building on the townsite at that time, besides the
12x16 shack used for a court house. That one building was built by the townsite
company, and was sold to father. During the winter of 1886-87 it served for the
home of the Homestead, a hotel, post office, headquarters for county officials,
etc., as well as the abode of my father, the printer and first postmaster,
Walter M. Leonard and myself (O.F.B.) — the city's sole inhabitants. My mother
and sister spent the winter in Missouri with her folks."

Father wrote about the blizzards of that 1886 -87 winter, a blizzard every day
for 100 days and temperatures from one to 40 below zero. No mail for three weeks
at a time. They ran out of fuel and burned twisted hay and straw. Provisions got
scarce and they cooked wheat, and tried grinding some in a coffee mill.

Walter M. Leonard became the first Napoleon postmaster in September 1886, when
the post office of Paul was discontinued and moved to Napoleon. Mr. Leonard
served until the fall of 1903, a few months before his death.

In June 1887, the Aberdeen, Bismarck and Northwestern Railroad built a grade
through Napoleon. This raised the hopes of settlers that they would soon see the
"steam cars," but they had a long wait —until 1898 when the Soo Line used the
same grade and built a track.

Chief Engineer Richards said in 1887 that there would be no sidetrack at
Napoleon as it was too close to the point selected for the division station —
Sec. 11-134-72, seven miles southeast of here, which was later the Hans Peters
farm and Peters Siding. Mr. Richards said it would be named Lowry in honor of
the president of the railroad, and would be the most important station between
Bismarck and Aberdeen.

T. J. Butler boomed Lowry for the county seat, and started construction of a
store at that place. The town was platted and Block 12 was picked for a court
house site. In a vote in the fall of 1887, Napoleon was retained as the county
seat, 24 to 21. The store building commenced at Lowry was moved to Napoleon.

In 1888, Dwyer and Chapman bought Lots 1 and 2 of Block 25 (two blocks east of
the present school house) and erected a store building. The store advertised
"Logan County warrants taken in trade at 80 cents." The stock of groceries
belonging to Mrs. H. M. Goodsill was transferred from Napoleon's first store,
the Homestead building, to the Dwyer store. In 1905 this building was moved to
the site of the Korner Bar where it was used as a store and later as a pool
hall. The upper story was removed in the '40s and some of the lumber in the
original building is used in the bar building.

Ole T. Thompson was frozen to death on Feb. 6, 1887 while returning home from
Red Lake. He was buried upon his claim near the Thompson claim shanty. This is
at a point two miles south and one-half mile west of Napoleon, on the north side
of the road, where a plain stone marks the place but a suitable monument should
be erected. This was the first burial of a white man in Logan County. At that
time there was no cemetery, no undertaker and no doctor.

Logan County's first court house was erected in 1885 by Cyrus Seiberts upon the
southeast corner of his homestead, about where the Wentz Motel stands, outside
the city limits. It was built by Seiberts for a dwelling. In 1885, the
commissioners made a deal with Seiberts to rent the building at $10 per month
for use as a court house. Seiberts moved the building to Block 18 on the
townsite, where it marked the second building in town. In 1886, the county
bought the building from Seiberts for $150 and moved it to the old "court house
block," Block 13, east of the present baseball park. The block was purchased
from the Townsite Co. for $960. Although the building was moved to this site in
1886, the record of payment to Seiberts does not show up in the minutes until
1887.

A group of 100 persons from Pennsylvania, known as "The Pennsylvania Colony,"
were brought to this vicinity by an immigration agent in the spring of 1886.
Most of the colony left before the first of the year, due to many
disappointments — a crop failure, failure of the proposed railroad to build, and
a severe winter. John P. Sipes of this colony became the county's first resident
attorney, but he left in a year or two.

We mentioned that Ole Thompson was the first white man to be buried in the
county. He was the father of the first white child born in Logan County —Anna
Thompson, born in 1885, west of what is now the John Weber farm. She became Mrs.
Ole Edstrom and lived at Robinson, Kidder County, according to our last record
of her.

Napoleon's first Fourth of July celebration was in 1888, and included horse
racing, baseball game between married and singles, and dancing. The Homestead
commented: "The dancing was first class entertainment and for the first of its
kind ever held in the county we are highly pleased."

A few notes on farming from the early issues shows that Chas. J. Hoof and A. B.
Goodsill visited Steele and purchased an Esterly self-binder in 1887. In 1888
the best wheat yields were 19 bu., and No. 1 wheat sold for 96 cents. In 1888
the editor commented: "It looks and sounds like business to see and hear two
steam threshing rigs running within a mile of town. The whistles make us think
of the iron horse that some day we shall see on the A. B. & N. W. railroad."

But the train whistle was still ten years away! Meanwhile, Steele was the
trading point as it was the nearest place that had a railroad. We read in the
1886 Homestead that "guide posts are set on the new Steele - Napoleon road, and
parties teaming will find better wheeling as follows: Go south of Steele four
miles to Tom Wiemer's south line, then go southeast, follow mounds to guide post
on main traveled road to Napoleon. Some drivers have tried driving from Steele
during the night, but now resolve that they will not repeat their efforts. It
was intended that man and team should rest at night. They will take two days if
necessary to get home, but will lay up at night."

The first school house at Napoleon was built in 1886. It was a frame building
about 24x40 and contained two rooms. The first term of school was taught the
following year, 1887, the teacher being Mrs. Sarah Foster, widow of Capt. Samuel
C. Foster, chairman of the first board of Logan county commissioners and in
whose honor the school district is named. Only one of the two school rooms was
used for many years. The school was used for the first church and Sunday School
services. The first record we note of Catholic services was June, 1890, when
Father Ambrose of Dickinson held services at the Dwyer home. Mr. Dwyer operated
a store.

(Despite our efforts to condense and delete, the first few years of this history
is getting lengthy. From this point on we will try to cover the history by
years, starting in 1892, as taken from the files of The Homestead which have
been preserved in a fireproof safe, and a vault at the newspaper office. Items
will appear in brief, except that some stories may be covered more thoroughly in
separate stories.)

1892

The commissioners allowed bills including, Jennie Foster, quarterly salary for
superintendent of schools, $28.80; Comm. Chas. J. Hoof, one day's attendance on
board, $3.10; Comm. Peter Koenig, $5.50, and Comm. D. L. Mersdorf, $3.40.

J. A. Weed sold his cattle to Belden, getting $8 for calves, $15 for yearlings.

In January, P. J. Carr and Charles Nelson were on the road down from Steele with
heavy loads, belated by a fierce wind against them. They lost the road,
unhitched their teams and started to find home. They wandered all night, Nelson
getting home at 5:00 in the morning and Carr at 9:00.

W. J. Dwyer said that he will establish a store on Sec. 21-135-70 and that a
post office will be located there to be known as Richville. Mike R. Farrel will
take charge of the store.

The north room of the school house was fitted up for church and Sabbath school
services.

J. B. Spangler launched a little sail boat and treated several friends to a sail
on the dashing, foaming waters of Round Lake.

George Burkart, 24, drowned at Lundy Lake (east of Red Lake) July 3 after his
boat capsized.

Joe F. Helmer was mail carrier from Napoleon to Ashley.

Wm. J. Dwyer advertised the following products for sale at his general store:
top buggies, carts, wagons, press drills, discs, harrows, plows, cultivators,
corn planters, wood and iron pumps, lumber, harness, dry goods, groceries,
shoes, drugs, etc.

General election results: sheriff — Henry L. Miller 114, Harry Spangler 5;
treasurer — R. A. McCalmont 62, John G. Kroeber 61; auditor — Wm. Belden 75, J.
A. Weed 54; register of deeds — G. A. Bryant 93, John Orner 32; clerk - Oren
Parks 118; states attorney — J. W. Walker 1; judge — Julius H. Hoof 120;
assessors — S. M. Barry, Henry Mersdorf, Alfred Koenig, Henry Hendrichs, Joe
Helmer; county commissioner, 2nd dist. — Chas. J. Hoof 33.

1893

A long cold wave in January and February closed school for two weeks. It was
down to 44 below zero. Speaking of the school house, the Homestead commented:
"It would be an uphill pull to keep a shack like that warm; only single boarded
and many cracks that let in daylight."

In March, Debald Graf, mail carrier between Napoleon and Richville, said that
roads were fit for neither wagon nor sleigh. O. F. Bryant was teaching the
German district school at Richville. John Buck of South Dakota purchased several
sections in Richville vicinity to do extensive farming.

Fifty-five Russian families were to arrive in Kulm and it was exepected [sic]
several would locate in Logan.

Frank Bryant was employed to teach the Napoleon school, started teaching the
summer term in May. The fall term started in August.

The first sale of land in the county under mortgage foreclosure, Israel Freeze
homestead sold.

The July 4 celebration included a baseball game between two home clubs,
Pathfinders and Doolittles, and players included J. Weed, Frank Bryant, John
Hilliard, Wm. Dwyer, Chas. Hoof, Geo. Kroeber, R. A. McCalmont, Frank Orner,
John Spangler, W. L. Belden, Henry Mersdorf, A. F. Starr, G. A. Bryant, J. F.
Randolph, Fred Hoof and Lucas Held.

A prairie schooner camped on the townsite. The family came from Missouri and had
put in 13 days on the road. They were enroute Bismarck to visit relatives.

The editor of Emmons County Record paid a visit to Logan in search of a stray
horse. A few sentences from his lengthy article: "Mr. Dwyer is still running the
Napoleon store and will soon be on his feet, financially. The people say it was
Mr. Dwyer's dislike to say 'No' to requests for credit that brought about his
failure. Richville Flat was our objective — the part of it about 22 miles east
of Napoleon. Mr. Mathews, the former Winchester cheese founder, was the first
settler on the Flat but he pulled out for the Mouse River country. The man who
had the stray broncho said that all he would ask was $10 for catching the animal
and $6 per month. As he had worked the animal until he was skin and bone, that
was too much. At the conclusion of a speech we made on legal points, the farmer
remarked: 'Nicht ver steh — don't keeradam, nick geld, nice horse!' The farmer
said he was a Baptist and after we told him we were Baptist he threw off $10.
The bill now came within limits and the procession turned its nose toward the
setting sun."

The commissioners employed W. F. Cochrane of Steele as county attorney.

Mail Carrier Fercho of King walked from Steidl P.O. up to Napoleon after his
horse got sick at Steidl.

At a meeting of the Foster School board, J. B. Spangler and James A. Weed
resigned as members. The tax levy was set at $600, which will require a 15 mill
levy. On reduction of the teacher's salary to $30 per month, O. F. Bryant
resigned as teacher, and now we have no school, no school board and no teacher.

Seth G. Wyman, who died Aug. 30, 1893 was buried in what the paper described as
the "new cemetery" a half-mile north of town. This may have been the first
burial in the Napoleon cemetery.

The E. J. Crouch, J. F. Randolph and Geo. Bryant families made a trip to the
Missouri river and came home with large loads of wood, a big supply of buffalo
berries and wild grapes, and had all the prairie chicken they could eat. The
party returned home fat, ragged and dirty after camping out a week during a time
of high winds.

Sept. 28, 1893 there was a disastrous prairie fire that started in the south
part of the county which destroyed several horses, some buildings, a threshing
machine, hay and grain. The fire reached to within a half mile of Napoleon and
the whirl of flames and cinders reached 100 feet high.

Fred Hoof went to Eureka with a load of wheat and said he got a better price
than at Steele where they paid 44 cents a bushel.

At a special election for the First Commissioners District, P. J. Carr was
elected commissioner, receiving all ten votes cast.

1894

Mr. Ludwig and Peter Wentz of Richville went to Eureka to encourage some of the
late arrivals from Russia to locate in this county.

Sam Barry put up a new sod house on his claim.

James Hughes carried the mail to Steele, J. Rott the Richville route and Wm.
Koenig the King line.

Prof. Moore purchased a quarter of land from Sam Barry for $200.

O. F. Bryant wrote a two-column account about a trip to Fort Yates, and
mentioned: "for midnight lunch the Indians had four dogs with gravy on, but we
didn't receive an invitation to assist them in disposing of the canine."

J. H. Fitch, one of Steele's thrifty business men, came here to make final proof
on his tree claim (which is likely the present Fitch farm a mile north of town.
If so, this probably establishes a record — 65 years — for land in this vicinity
to be in one family).

An indication of the large German settlement in the county at this time was the
publication of two columns of German type in The Homestead mostly of a political
nature, and appearing only before election.

George A. Bryant sold the Homestead to his son, O. F. (Frank). In the elder
Bryant's valedictory, he said in part: "We shall many times think of the
struggle for progress that has been made. When we came in 1886 there was no post
office in Napoleon, not a school house in Logan County. Today we have eight good
school houses."

The community Christmas program at the school house started at 3:00 p.m. so that
those from a distance could get home before dark. There was a tree, recitations,
and a Santa Claus.

County Judge Julius H. Hoof reported that there were 16 marriages, 44 births and
12 deaths during the year in the county.

1895

Mike Farrel and Charlie Hoof put down a county well in the court house square
and now the public can enjoy a convenient watering place. A good supply of water
was struck at 28 feet.

Harry Hughes put a covered conveyance on the Steele - Napoleon mail and stage
line.

J. J. DeLaney said that prairie fires destroyed about 200 tons of hay at his
ranch in eastern Logan.

Commissioner Leischner was over from King to be present at the supposed meeting
of the board, but there was only one representative (himself) present so he
decided to adjourn and go home — which he did.

Treasurer Ott House went to Dawson with a four-horse load of grain, weighing
7,300.

Sparks from the train at Driscoll started a prairie fire that came down into
Logan, where W. L. Belden lost 275 tons of hay. The burned district from an
earlier fire between Napoleon and where the fire passed was said to have been
all that saved Napoleon.

District court was held and as the court house was too small, school was
suspended so that the school house could be used.

1896

John Orner, school board director at Napoleon, published a letter on school
matters that included this: "Let us take a glance at our school houses, or more
appropriately, school caves. The greater number are being taught in Russian
homes. These houses are what eastern people call caves or outdoor cellars; being
built of sod and covered with clay. They are heated with Russian ovens and have
no ventilation except the door. I know of a room of this kind in which there is
one bed, a lounge, and a table; the family meal is spread three times a day on
this table in the school room. No desks, blackboards or maps. True, we have a
few good school houses, the best at Napoleon. Outside of Napoleon, we had but
three months of school, the teacher receiving not more than $35 per month. There
is a school house at Round Lake but it has not been used for four years. A
petition to move the said school failed." P. Koenig answered the article the
following issue and said that Nordby, German and Hillsburg had comfortable
schools, properly furnished. He said that the "caves" had as much ventilation as
the Napoleon school. Mr. Orner came back and said that the article was not
directed toward the Russians but to the sod houses, of which there were more in
use for holding school than regular school houses in this county. In April a
Methodist Sunday School was organized with officers including Henry Mersdorf,
Mrs. J. Weed, Rev. and Mrs. W. H. Thomas, and Iva Mersdorf.

Auditor James A. Weed attended the state Republican convention and cast his vote
for Wm. McKinley.

Arthur Mersdorf and Earl Thomas worked faithfully in putting in posts and
crossbars near the school house for a place to hitch horses. Now there is room
for all to tie their horses without the fear of having to go home by foot.

The July 4th celebration included a salute at sunrise, which broke several
windows, address by W. A. Walker, horse races, dancing.

County Supt. Eva Crouch camped on the prairie while returning from Bismarck, and
during the night her pony pulled his picket-pin, and was not found until a week
later.

Postmaster Carl Kaz was a caller from King.

The Homestead editor made a trip to Ashley, making the drive of 50 miles in six
hours, and the return trip in eight.

Less than 100 votes were cast in the county at the General election, the vote
reduced by a blizzard.

It took Harry Hughes, the mail carrier, six hours to travel two and one-half
miles through the snow; and about four days to get back to Steele. Will Koenig,
the King - Napoleon carrier, walked six miles to bring the mail here. . . . At
Steele there was no train for five days! It took the railroad plow a half day to
go between Steele and Dawson.

1897

Treasurer O. T. House remained alone in his office at the court house all night
because of a blizzard.

Auditor Weed entered a homestead filing for the quarter a mile west of town and
mention was made of the "large cottonwood trees along the lake bank." . . . Sam
Barry said that he found a human skeleton near the trees in 1884.

In April the coulee in the south part of the city was a "raging torrent." The
water runs through this coulee and into Lake Hamlin (the first mention we
noticed of the name Hamlin for the lake west of town).

Father Clemmens of Bismarck conducted mass at the Dwyer home. There were a large
number of Catholics from southwest of here, many driving 30 miles.

Mike F. Farrel purchased Napoleon's store from Wm. J. Dwyer, who moved to
Medina.

While the editor was engaged at the court house in his capacity as register of
deeds, a square yard of heavy plaster fell near him.

In September 1597, an item states that Cora Christina of Mandan came on the
stage from Steele to teach the fall term of the Napoleon school.

W. A. Welsh of Bismarck said that he went through this county in 1881, that he
remembered the passage between the two lakes west of town, but that at the time
there was not a solitary settler in the county.

1898

Harry Hughes, Napoleon - Steele mail carrier, said this January was the first
time in four years that he could carry mail by buggy this late in the winter.

Foster district planned to file a claim against Logan County for $100 for use of
the school house for court purposes for the past eight years.

J. H. Fitch and family moved here from Steele.

Ray Fitch is one of the greatest acrobatic bicycle performers that the Napoleons
have ever produced.

The Napoleon school pupils and their teacher, Cora Christina, had a picnic at
Lake Hanlan a mile west of town.

Dawson Times: The fact that the Soo Line will build to Napoleon will be a hard
blow to Dawson and a worse one to Steele as it will cut off trade coming from
those towns.

Geo. A. Bryant and son Roy returned from Waterloo, Neb., making the 550 miles by
team in 18 days.

About 400 teams were working on the railroad grade between Kulm and Wishek in
July and the Homestead predicted the Soo's whistle would be heard here before
October 1st.

The "first smoke" of the Soo was seen from Napoleon September 10 when the
construction train reached the vicinity of Red Lake. (What a thrilling sight for
the settlers who had waited 12 to 14 years in this inland town for sight of a
train — or even the smoke!)

The track of the Soo was laid into Napoleon September 20, 1898. Soo officials
designated the site for the depot in Block 35. A four-pen stockyard was
completed and O. T. House was the first shipper. O'Malley's camp of 30 men and
18 teams moved to a new camp 17 miles northwest of Napoleon. The first
locomotive in Napoleon was engine 104 with. Stephen West as engineer and E. E.
Gay as fireman. This was the locomotive that pulled the construction train. The
first telegraph messages were sent out by the Homestead editor (OFB) who
announced the arrival of the Soo. A crew started construction of a water tank —
excellent water was found at ten feet. All Napoleon people were out to witness
the arrival of the construction train.

Construction of the Woodworth elevator (now the Peavey) was started.

R. H. Richey of Farwell, Minn., became the first depot agent.

W. H. Woolman, the Soo townsite engineer, surveyed town lots in the 80 acres
adjoining the west side of the original townsite of Napoleon. He laid out
business and residence lots, property of the Soo, and independent of the
townsite of Napoleon.

J. H. Fitch opened Napoleon's first lumber yard, dealing in lumber, fuel, flour,
salt and feed.

In October the Homestead published the first Soo time table showing No. 97
westbound, leaving at 12:32 p.m. and No. 98 eastbound leaving at 3:20 p.m. on
Sunday and Thursday. (The train turned around at Braddock, the end of the line).

At the General Election the proposition to move the county seat from Napoleon to
the SW 1/4 of Sec. 6-134-69 resulted in a vote of 105 in favor of removal and 50
against.

Notice of contest against the removal of the county seat was served on
Commissioners Gottfred Leischner, Michael Buck and J. G. Kroeber. The
commissioners had moved that the new county seat location was to take effect
Jan. 17, 1899, although Mr. Kroeber voted 'No' on all matters pertaining to
removal. Attorney Stanley of Steele was engaged to fight the removal. Some
taxpayers alleged there were many illegal votes cast, including some in the King
settlement who were not yet citizens.

1899

The county records and other movable property were loaded into three or four
lumber wagons January 17 and taken to King, the new county seat. Judge Glaspell
refused to grant an injunction against removal.

Over in Emmons County they were also having county seat troubles and about 200
citizens of southern Emmons entered Williamsport and nabbed the county records
and took them to Linton, despite an injunction granted against removal.

Frank Crouch was keeping bach in the old courthouse — now empty.

Frank Helmer built a new store building.

Mrs. Frank Helmer, mother of Mrs. O. T. House, died and was buried at the
Catholic cemetery 15 miles south of Napoleon.

"Clerk of Court Alfred Koenig said he is preparing to move from King to the new
county seat three miles north of there. The new town is unnamed and is perhaps
the only county seat in the United States without a name. The records are at
Ferdinand Bogner's house."

The residence of O. T. House was destroyed by fire — Napoleon's first residence
fire. The loss included $1,305 in currency. This was the fifth time that Mr.
House had been practically burned out. "But he is undismayed and will build
again." This house had also served as a hotel.

The Soo's twice a week train service was changed to "daily", going to Braddock
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and returning on following days. At that time
there was daily mail service to Steele and two days a week to King.

William L. Belden was plaintiff in the county seat case heard in district court
in September.

Attorney Stanley for Napoleon and Attorney Walter for King appeared before Judge
Glaspell in Jamestown to present final arguments. The finding was that there
were 11 illegal votes "for" removal and three illegal votes "against" removal.
The removal decision was rendered September 21, and on September 30 the records
were moved back from King to Napoleon. The party  that moved the records back
consisted of Auditor Weed, Sheriff Mersdorf, Ted McAlmont, Fred Hoof, Geo. A.
Bryant and son Frank, who was register of deeds.

At a special election November 7, 1899, Napoleon was retained as the county seat
by a vote of 137 to 74. The total vote of 211 was the heaviest polled in the
county to that date. John Wentz of Richville was elected county commissioner
over Michael Buck, 34 to 31. He was the father of the Wentz brothers who are in
business at Napoleon.

The Steele Ozone suggested that we should put a bell on the court house so
people would know where to find it should it take flight, to which The Homestead
replied that it would remain here permanently!

1900

Surveyor Piper surveyed DeLaney's Addition, two blocks on the south side of the
railroad track, and staked out a lot for the bank.

A building mover from Kulm was here soliciting business from those who wanted to
move buildings to the new addition.

J. H. Fitch sold his lumber yard to DeLaney & Church.

There was a fire at the O. T. House residence but with little damage: Ott said
the fire hoodoo is still after him.

DeLaney & Church were putting up a machinery depot and hardware store, the
building 24x90 and part two stories. (This was the Wellan - Mitzman - Christman
building torn down in 1958).

The first bank for Napoleon, and for Logan County, opened in April. It was the
Stock Growers Bank with H. C. DeLaney, J. J. DeLaney and B. E. Church as
officers. The first published statement showed $11,479.50 on deposit and $4,300
in loans.

Fourth celebration included address by J. W. Walker, horse, bicycle and foot
races. In the girls races, winners included Florence Fitch, Mamie Weed, Maud
Smith, and Hazel Williams.

This was a big building year for Napoleon, and the Homestead noted, "The hum of
the hammer is heard from morning until night."

DeLaney Brothers chartered a special train and shipped a train load of cattle.

The bank announced hours as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cashier F. E. Church dissolved partnership with DeLaney Bros, who operated the
bank and a store and left for Minneapolis.

Napoleon had two lumber yards, three stores, an elevator, hotel, livery barn,
and several pther lines of business.

Arthur Koenig and Martin Doering finished carpenter work on DeLaney Bros, new
store building.

1901

Anna Oakley became cashier of the bank.

The Home Literary Assn. was organized with O. F. Bryant as president and E. G.
Fitch, secretary.

A Mr. Stauffer (not Isaac) opened what was likely the first restaurant, and E.
E. Weber became the first barber in the same building.

The Homestead scribe was escorted through the new DeLaney Bros, store, 24x148x80
feet of which were two stories, and noticed a fine stock of groceries, dry
goods, hardware, shoes, harness, guns, cowboy furnishings, furniture, coffins,
bicycles, fur coats, blankets and bedding.

In March, "the denizens of the burg were out en masse to see the rotary snowplow
encounter a drift east of town and they encountered a beautiful sight (with the
snow flying skyward)."

"Chas. J. Hoof is owner of a new camera and has produced some good work." (Mr.
Hoof took many pictures of early days at Napoleon, some of which are found in
this book).

Stauffer sold his restaurant to J. H. Stoffel of Fairmount.

Business was improving on the Soo and an extra passenger coach was added.

In May it was announced that Logan County was to have a new court house, 40x160,
two stories, with six offices on the first floor and court and jury room on the
second floor.

Herman Hardt, Kulm, made trips here to do carpenter work, and organized a local
band.

Judge Carl Kaz said he would build a house and move his family here from King;
Clerk of Court Alfred Koenig also moved here from King. Gottlieb Fercho assisted
Mr. Kaz in moving.

Two coach loads of people from Oakes, Kulm and other points came to Napoleon to
celebrate July 4th. The baseball game with Oakes was 6-4 in their favor. The
Napoleon line-up included Dan Lewis, c; Bert Noble, p; Phillips, lb; Wolf, 2b;
Stewart, 3b; Stoffel, ss; Weber, rf; F. Bryant, cf. A bowery 24x40 was built for
the dance.

A cyclone did considerable damage. The Frank Helmer residence, located on the
corner west of the present Ford garage was turned over several times and landed
where the Korner Bar is located. Mr. and Mrs. Helmer and three children were in
the house but escaped serious injury. The restaurant was moved about ten feet,
the top story of the elevator twisted out of shape, and the Soo windmill crashed
down on the water tank.

In August, bids were opened for construction of a court house, and Herman Hardt
got the bid for $2,700.

The Soo Line increased passenger service from two trains each way per week, to
three trains.

Contractor Hardt arranged a dance at the new court house, music by Kulm
orchestra, and the floor "was too slick for anything."

Dr. Fallon, dentist, put in a busy week at Napoleon and promised to return in
the spring.

Dec. 18, 1901, the commissioners, J. G. Kroeber, John Wentz and Gottlieb Janke,
accepted the court house as built by the contractor. Henry Bauer was appointed
janitor at $10 per month.

1902

Mr. and Mrs. H. C. DeLaney entertained a group with Progressive Cinch being
played at four tables.

In January the Homestead published a "cut" of the new court house, photo by
Chas. J. Hoof, and this was likely the first published cut of a local nature.

Effective February 1902, the Soo Line had daily train service.

A three-day blizzard stopped trains for a week. George Laney lost about 75 head
of cattle in the storm. John DeLaney, a brother of the Napoleon DeLaneys,
perished in the blizzard at Park River.

A new barber shop was started by Baxter Bros. A blacksmith shop opened.

June 2, 1902 the Soo Line started carrying the mail. Prior to that, all mail
from outside came from Steele via stage.

John and George Wentz captured 57 wolves which was "a good business venture and
heaps of fun."

DeLaney & Reeve sold their general store, lumber yard and bank to Judge N. C.
Young of Fargo and C. L. Merrick of Bismarck. (George Laney told me in later
years that the partners were in disagreement and that he contacted his friends
from Pembina County, Young and Merrick, and negotiated the sale). H. C. DeLaney
moved to Portal, and R. Reeve to Minnesota. Young and Merrick had extensive
cattle interests in Logan before the transfer of the bank and other businesses.

In the bank transfer, Hugh J. Watt of Bismarck became president, Judge Young
vice president and C. L. Merrick, cashier.

The Soo Line ran an excursion train to Bismarck on August 23 to mark the
extension of the line to that city. Previously Braddock had been the end of the
line. Many from Napoleon were on the special train that carried about 700
passengers. At Bismarck, there was a celebration including speeches, parades,
baseball game, and a dance.

The daily passenger trains met at Napoleon and each remained a half hour so that
the passengers could stop for lunch.

H. C. DeLaney announced in October that he would open a bank in Lehr.

Mail clerks were put on the trains, Hankinson to Bismarck.

A hunting party from Bismarck spent two days at the lakes west of town and took
home 175 ducks. While firing a homemade cannon on account of the election of his
friends, the cannon exploded and almost instantly killed Edward Kugel, who fired
it. The gun was made by Chas. J. Hoof and O. F. Bryant and had been used for
Fourth of July celebrations for many years. Mr. Kugel had overloaded the gun.
Herman Hardt, a brother-in-law, was the first to reach his side and the dying
man's last words were "Herman, I'm killed."

Modern Woodmen of America camp was organized with charter members including John
Burnstad, Henry Davis, Lewis Davis, O. F. Bryant, M. R. Farrel, E. C. Hillius,
C. L. Merrick, Geo. Payne, S. C. White, and Ernest Wellan. Former members
joining by transfer were J. H. Reamer, Herman Hardt, M. W. Kelly, F. L. Watts,
Geo. A. Bryant, Steve Blanchette, and C. W. Cornie.

1903

G. A. Dorn, physician and surgeon, located here.

There was a dance at the court house. Refreshments were served by Landlord Max
Kamenietz of the People Hotel.

Contractor Hardt built the Philip Brown building (east of the present Super
Valu). The Browns opened a restaurant in the building.

Herman Hardt planted 1200 young trees on his homestead a mile west of town.
(This was a show place and picnic site for many years).

The enrollment at school was 33 and May Hatcher was the teacher.

Contractor Hardt built the Armstrong Bros. building to be occupied as a billiard
hall and barber shop. (This is the vacant building east of Coast to Coast).

There was a moving picture show and entertainment at the court house by the
Miller Bros. who were traveling through the country.

Mrs. George A. Bryant received a two-seated canopy surry from Minneapolis.

Forty-nine Napoleonites took advantage of the excursion rate of $1.50 for round
trip and went to Bismarck to see Bismarck and St. Cloud play baseball.

Fred Schmidt was the local blacksmith.

L. W. Schnee was the druggist.

Walter W. Leonard, Napoleon's first postmaster, resigned because of ill health,
and the post office was moved from the Homestead building, where it had been for
17 years, to the "land office", now the site of Super Valu store. George Laney,
who became postmaster, purchased the land office building from O. F. Bryant. Mr.
Laney moved to provide living quarters.

Attorney Geo. M. McKenna located here.

The 12x16 court house building was moved from in front of, to behind the new
court house to be used as a coal shed.

1904

Walter Leonard died March 14. He was the first local postmaster, had been the
Homestead printer for the same period, and was elected register or deeds but did
not qualify as he did not have time to conduct the office.

Roy Bryant sold his livery barn and outfit to George Laney. A. W. Woodbury
purchased the barn and Mr. Laney retained the horses and rigs.

Father Clemens of Bismarck conducted Catholic services the last day of each
month.

C. W. Cornie opened a meat market.

George W. Anderson purchased the M. R. Farrel store and moved it from east
Napoleon to the site of the Korner Bar.

Armstrong Bros. sold their pool hall to Edward Howard and J. W. Morris, who
started a general store in the building. A few months later Morris sold his
interest to Howard.

A partition was put in the school building dividing it into two rooms and two
teachers were hired, Mrs. Hilliard and Mrs. Gordy.

A tennis court was built on the Homestead corner (where this history is being
typed).

C. L. Merrick & Co. built a 24x40 addition on the east side of their store to be
occupied by furniture. (This addition, which once faced east, is now the
Zimmerman Plumbing and Heating building.)

The Napoleon baseball players were proud of a 14 to 3 victory over Bismarck.
Bert Nierling (of Jamestown) pitched for Napoleon. Other players included Wentz,
Dan Lewis, a colored catcher, Hillius, Cayou, Frank and Roy Bryant, Noble and
Cox.

. The Methodist church, the first church building in the town, was built at a
contract price of $1,350. This is now the American Lutheran church.

1905

The Stock Growers advanced Merrick from cashier to president and J. J. Murphy
from assistant cashier to cashier.

A masquerade ball at the court house, with music by Arntz orchestra, was a big
event; and the paper commented "we are proud of the entire absence of liquor."

The Homestead erected a 24x40 building (where the post office is now located)
and moved the printing office from the original townsite to the new part of town
which was built up since the train ran through in 1898. This building was later
moved and added to, and, if you'll pardon the personal note, it is being used as
I type this history.

Dr. G. A. Mathews located at Napoleon, coming from Dresden, N. D. He became
county physician, perhaps the first to hold the office.

Eighth grade graduation exercises, the first public of its kind, were held.
Prof. Moore of Bismarck delivered the address. Graduates were Ray and Florence
Fitch, Joanne Young, Albert and Ross Kelly.

A. H. Steinhaus came from Lehr to serve as relief agent.

Carroll's Comedians gave a show each night for a week. Admission was 10c and
15c.

L. G. Scheeler and C. L. Merrick built Napoleon's second elevator. This was the
small elevator that recently was moved out to make room for the new FU elevator.

There were 66 loads of grain lined up at one time at Napoleon's two elevators.

Merchants were receiving their supply of kerosene by wagon tank from Wishek
where S. O. put in a big supply tank.

L. L. Griffin and J. Distad said they would start a creamery and work starts on
the building, part of which is now the Mitzel Bar south of the city limits.

1906

Attorney Wm. A. O'Donnell of Sterling decided to locate at Napoleon.

Sheriff Laney sold a lot between the post office and drug store for $400.

Fr. Hansen of Bismarck held services at Atty. O'Donnell's office and later at
St. Boniface.

A hardware store was started in the east wing of the L-shaped C. L. Merrick
store. This part of the building, later moved to face south, served as a
hardware until the mid-'50s.

Chase & Perkins lumber yard was started on lots now occupied by Bitz Garage.

Walt M. Nodding of Parker, S. Dak. was here to make arrangements for the
building of Napoleon's third elevator.

Mrs. Phil Brown gave a dancing party at the Peoples Hotel and donated the
proceeds toward the purchase of an altar for the new Catholic Church.

A hardware store, 24x30, two stories, was built by Contractor Ernest Harper for
M. W. Savage. This is now the Burgad Recreation.

Cafarelli's Pythian orchestra of Minneapolis played for a dance.

Napoleon's Creamery opened in March.

Julius R. Thompson and Ben Ohman formed a partnership and put up a barn to enter
the livery business. (South of the P. J. Wentz building.)

James L. Harrison built a 24x40 store building on the lot between the post
office and drug store. (This frame building was moved to a lot north of the city
hall when the Wentz Hardware was built.)

Rev. Fr. Bonaventure of Bismarck read holy mass at the new Catholic Church on
April 21. (The church was built north of the Paul Welder residence, and the
Welder house was the rectory.)

Anderson and Harper opened their new pool and billiard hall and operated a
barber shop in connection.

Joseph Marquart, Sr. was the first to have a "steam plow outfit." It was 35 h.p.
and pulled a gang of 12 14-inch breaking plows. F. W. Jenner of the Buffalo -
Pitts Co. demonstrated by breaking a fireguard around the townsite. Mr. Marquart
averaged about 25 acres per day with the outfit.

Newman, the Great, appeared then, and for about 25 years to come.

A petition was circulated to establish a rural route for the Shell Butte
settlement, also known as St. Anthony.

Bishop Shanley of Fargo blessed St. Philip's Church May 16, 1906. It was named
St. Philip Neri at the suggestion of Philip Brown, one of the first to
contribute. About 250 attended. Mrs. McKenna was organist.

The Soo Line built a new depot, two stories, west of the first one which was
later moved to Fredonia.

St. Boniface Church, built in 1905, was dedicated May 16, 1906 by Bishop
Shanley. Fr. Bonaventure Hanson, O.S.B., was the pastor.

O. T. House said that if he had known there were five Democrats in the county,
he would have had a ticket in the field. There were only five Democratic ballots
out of 517 used in Logan.

Regner and Cramer purchased a Hart-Parr gasoline engine plow and threshing
outfit.

Noddings & Merrick built Napoleon's third elevator, which still stands to the
northwest of the new FU elevator.

A second bank for Napoleon, the Farmers State Bank, was started. A building was
put up on the lot now occupied by Skogmo store, and this building is now east of
the school house where it served as a neighborhood store for a few years.

The creamery closed down due to lack of patronage by shippers who sold to North
American.

Sheriff Laney purchased the livery barn owned by Woodbury and put in a number of
new rigs. (This was on the lots now occupied by the Ford garage.)

Joseph Marquart had a 24x50 building put up to be leased as a meat market and
bakery. (This was on the Miller Hotel lot, and was located between the Peoples
Hotel and Laney's livery barn.)

Druggist Hardy moved his stock to Oakes and Napoleon was without a drug store.

Geo. A. Bryant and son O. F. started construction of the city's first telephone
system.

O. F. Bryant placed a two-ton safe in his office. (This has kept early editions
of the Homestead, such as this 1906 volume that I am now copying items from.)

The Howard and Ahmed store closed and the stock was moved to Howard's store in
Burnstad. Erick Oman and Emil Hardt announced they would open a store in the
building.

1907

No trains from the east for three weeks. The snow blockade was broken by a
rotary plow.

Emil H. Hardt established a cement block factory.

"In spite of the show at Cornie's hall, a large congregation gathered at the
church."

E. M. Oman sold his store to the C. L. Merrick Co.

The Farmers Eelevator Co. was formed with Mike Savage, H. E. Perkins and W. M.
Nodding as officers, and Napoleon's fourth elevator — still the Farmers Co. —
went up.

The first Field Days held at Burnstad, which featured horse racing, was in
charge of C. P. Burnstad.

By a vote of 45 to 1, Foster district favored bonding to raise $5,000 to build
three school houses, two in the country and a two-story school in town. Ernest
Harper received the contract for the town school at $3,800 and started work in
the fall of 1907.

T. K. Mork of Zembrota, Minn., installed a stock of drugs in the Anderson
building. He operated a grocery store in connection.

Landlord Max Kaminietz of "The Little Inn" installed a gasolene lighting system.

The ladies of St. Philip's Church sponsored a fair that netted nearly $300.

The school gave a program Christmas Eve at the court house hall.

1908

Clerk of Court, Herman Hardt, estimated that 200 Logan people would take out
citizenship papers during the year. It was estimated that 1,000 votes would be
cast at the elections.

C. W. Cornie filled his ice house with 200 tons of ice harvested at Round Lake.

Sylvia Thompson, Soo Line section foreman, lost his life as the result of an
explosion. A can of gasoline had been in the Thompson house over night and it
was thought that escaping fumes caused the explosion. The house burned, and Mrs.
Thompson and her sister, 4, escaped without harm.

Ads in The Homestead indicated the following local business places: C. L.
Merrick Co., general mdse. and hardware; C. W. Cornie, meat market, Edison and
Victor talking machines, school books, Stock Growers Bank, C. L. Merrick and J.
J. Murphy; Dr. G. A. Mathews; C. L. Merrick lumber yard; M. Savage & Co. Hdw.;
Estate Oak stoves; T. K. Mork, druggist and grocer; Johnstone Elev., W. M.
Nodding, mgr.; Farmers State Bank, W. S. Young, cashier; O. F. Bryant, notary
public and land attorney; The Little Inn and Max's Meat Market, Max Kaminietz;
City Dray Line, J. R. Thompson; Geo. A. Bryant, abstractor of titles; Ernest
Harper, contractor; J. A. Weed and D. L. Anderson, law and real estate; Atty.
Geo. M. McKenna, Atty. William A. O'Donnell; E. S. Cafrey, well driller, and P.
A. Paulsen, barber.

Royal Neighbors Camp organized in March, 1908.

Barber Paulsen organized a band.

A third bank, The Merchants Bank, opened here in the building now occupied by
Barber Jake Streyle and Mayor B. W. Meier. This building has never been moved.
Bank officers were H. C. Tunnell, president; M. Savage, vice president; cashier,
G. V. Holset, and H. E. Perkins and T. K. Mork, directors.

The Napoleon Cemetery Assn. was formed in March with the following officers:
James A. Weed; president; Geo. A. Bryant, secretary; John G. Rroeber, treasurer.

The Farmers State Bank was sold by W. S. Young and others to N. C. Young and Gus
Hasvold.

A mass meeting was held to determine whether Napoleon should incorporate as a
village. Up to this time it was unorganized; a part of the township. O. F.
Bryant was chairman and J. J. Murphy, secretary of the meeting. Reasons for
incorporating included need of sidewalks, fire protection, better sanitary
conditions, control of livestock.

Margulies Bros, opened a general store in the building which later became the
first city hall, was sold to the Knights of Columbus and is now owned by Wm. G.
Draeger.

A second meeting on incorporation showed 15 against and ten for.

Druggist Mork announced that he would operate an ice cream parlor (a first) at
the drug store during the summer.

C. L. Merrick bought an International high-wheeled automobile. (The first auto
for Napoleon.)

George Wentworth of Bismarck re-opened the Peoples Hotel (located where Miller
Hotel stands).

Real estate was moving. Sam Tappen sold his homestead to Geo. Laney who in turn
sold it to Geo. Morgan and he to Porter Lehr. The last consideration, $1,600.

Dr. G. A. Mathews built a small office building where the Red Owl is now
located. The latter served as a cream station, electrical shop, etc.

Construction of the Catholic rectory got underway, now the Paul Welder house.

Total of deposits in the three Napoleon banks totaled $105,000.

S. E. Donahue had a portion of his claim adjoining town on the west platted into
town lots.

Election night was an exciting one; news was received by telephone and bulletins
posted in Gene Anderson's pool hall. It soon became apparent that Taft had
carried everything "except Canada."

1909

C. W. Cornie sold Iris meat market to A. S. Betzer.

C. L. Merrick Co. secured the Buick agency and thus became the first automobile
dealer in Napoleon.

"The Homestead is still firm in its belief that benefits will come to our town
in no other way than by incorporating."

Cashier Murphy bought a 1909 Buick and the editor acknowledged a pleasant spin
at 30 miles per hour.

In April the Stock Growers Bank assumed control of the Farmers State Bank and a
consolidation was perfected. (Some people thought Farmers Bank had been started
to ward off starting of the third bank, The Merchants.)

The Napoleon Creamery was opened by L. Griffin.

Owners of autos were reminded that a state law provided that the driver of a
team may signal the driver of an auto to stop and a failure to heed the signal
subjected the auto drivers to a heavy fine.

The blacksmith shop operated by Vrooman & Comes was sold to John Wierschke.

A rural mail route, the first for Napoleon and for the county, was established
July 1 with Chas. R. Bitner as carrier for Route 1 south of Napoleon.

The Napoleon Implement Co. was formed, using the Merchants Bank as headquarters.

Citizens sought an injunction to stop the Soo Line from building the new depot
on the section line (now highway 3).

In September Agent A. H. Steinhaus was occupying the new depot, and the old
depot was hauled to Fredonia.

The Little Inn closed and Ed Howard said he would open a store. "The guests of
the Little Inn lament that Mr. and Mrs. Max Kaminietz have retired."

Carl Feigum was the new barber, buying Henry Ader's shop.

The Johnstone Elevator was purchased by Joe Meier and Walt Nodding.

The C. L. Merrick store was purchased by E. A. Wellan and Sever Ellingson.

"King Alcohol has claimed another victim whereby an otherwise strong and big
hearted man has been laid low as the result of its use. The unfortunate man
received a freight shipment of 12 quarts of whiskey. . . . He slept outside for
two hours and his feet were frozen . . . he died when lockjaw set in."

Napoleon post office advanced from fourth to third class.

1910

Ed Howard moved his stock of merchandise next door to Cornie's and Kaminietz
moved into his Little Inn to use it for his meat market.

A survey was made for extension of the N. P. railroad from Edgeley, through
Burnstad, St. Anthony and to Fort Yates, but building of the road never
materialized.

. A Commercial Club was organized with J. L. Harrison, T. K. Mork, G. V. Holset
and M. Margulies as officers.

The firm of Nodding and Meier dissolved, and Meier continued the elevator
business. Nodding became manager of the Woodworth elevator.

The creamery whistle was heard at 7 a.m., 12 m. and 6 p.m.

Katie Sabraw succeeded Bertie Jones as telephone operator.

Bitner Bros, purchased the livery stable from Geo. Laney.

Willie O'Donnell bought a Brush auto. He hung a mattress in the garage to absorb
the shock when he would hit the wall while driving in.

St. Philip's Church ediface was moved to the lot adjoining the parsonage. (We
erred in placing this as die original location.)

Supt. Derrick said the Soo would move the depot to the west so as to open up the
section line. At that time the crossing was north of the depot so that the track
was crossed between the Peavey and Farmers elevators.

Dentist Hunter advertised fillings at 50c, best 22K crowns at $5.00.

Ole Nelson succeeded Bitner as mail carrier.

Dr. C. P. Buzzell, M.D., located here.

NOTE —Up to this point I have found that after spending many hours during the
past year in going through old Homesteads to compile Napoleon history, the time
is drawing near for a deadline when the copy should be in for the Jubilee book.
I have tried to picture pioneer days and early settlement after 1900. For the
next 49 years of the city's history we are forced through lack of time and space
to cut short the items.—J. B.

1911

Bitner Bros, hack line was available to carry passengers to and from the court
house for the entertainment of the Virginia Jubilee singers.

A dozen Italians were shipped in to work on die section at this point.

The Stonediggers, local baseball team, included C. Nord, Hillius, Lark, England,
Keevey, Hoof, P. Nord, and Kelly.

C. W. Cornie sold his meat market to W. O. Smith.

The old "blind pig" building was sold to Sven Dahlberg.

J. R. Thompson and D. P. Bitner brought a grading machine from Dawson used by a
railroad outfit and, using 22 horses, a roadway was made across the lake bed a
mile west of town. Banker Holset was in charge. The lake was practically dry at
the time.

School faculty: G. V. Dill, Alice Sullivan, Anna Hoof and Margaret Hartnett.

An Italian, alleged murderer, was taken from the train and held for Morton
authorities. He broke away and started running across the prairie toward the
Fitch farm, but was captured by Jailer Geo. Schuchard, who was on horseback.

Joe Weibusch of Scotland, S. D. opened a tailor shop.

James W. Foley, North Dakota's poet laureate, spoke here under the auspices of
the Wednesday Study Club, and was a guest of the Homestead publisher.

E. M. Holmboe operated a photograph gallery here for a year.

1912

A Logan County man was sentenced to 14 years in the pen on a charge of rape. The
case attracted statewide attention and the man was found guilty after a second
trial. The jury was out 70 hours. The Homestead devoted several columns to the
trial, including pictures of the farm home.

Bryant Township, which included supervision of the town of Napoleon that was
unorganized, was formed. As *it was named after a pioneer Napoleon family, O. F.
Bryant was elected as the first chairman. Other first officers were W. E. White,
J. H. Fitch, W. M. Noddings, Chas. J. Hoof, M. W. Kelly, R. A. McCalmont, Max
Kaminietz, L. G. Scheeler, Joe Marquart, Sr., Joe Meier, Geo. Schuchard, John
Wierschke and A. F. Sheldon.

Joe Marquart, Sr., bought a 45-h.p. gas engine and a gang of ten breaking plows.

Christy's "high class" moving pictures were shown at the Woodmen Hall. (This was
the writer's first view of electric lights. The movie concern carried their own
light plant, and the electric light bulbs strung outside the hall was quite an
attraction).

O. F. Bryant went to Fargo after a new Ford and wrote about "plowing gumbo and
shooting through miniature lakes" for two days in coming in from Fargo. Mr.
Bryant later became Ford dealer. . . . C. L. Merrick purchased a "big Velie."

The Logan County Development League was formed with McKenna, Laney and Holset as
officers.

Napoleon now had two lumber yards, two banks, two hotels, two blacksmith shops,
five stores, four elevators, restaurant, drug store, three lawyers and two
doctors.

Ringling Bros, circus bought 188 head of horses which came from the Gilfillan
ranch.

George Laney repurchased the livery barn and feed stable.

Otis Bryant may have been the first to receive a broken arm while cranking a
car.

Geo. M. McKenna was elected states attorney in a campaign marked with much
bitterness and personalities, A. B. Atkins being the opposing candidate.

Minnie Folske opened a "confectionary and fruit store" in the old Howard
building, west of Merchants Bank.

There was excitement when a vendor of booze dropped in off the train and
commenced operations. Sheriff Christian Baltzer quizzed the man who started to
run. "The sheriff fired his walking artillery at a shooting star and the way the
visitor vaulted fences and made his way through back alleys to the outskirts of
town would have set a hot pace for Dan Patch in his palmiest days."

Joe Marquart, Sr., was Napoleon's biggest farmer, farming 1,550 acres and
raising 25,000 bushels.

F. G. Pomeroy opened a drug store in the old Farmers State Bank building. His
stock included Edison phonographs. Druggist T. K. Mork closed out his drug
store.

The parcel post law became effective and Thomas Schwartzenberger was the first
to send a package.

1913

Dr. Buzzell moved from here to Cleveland.

A medicine show conducted a popular lady contest, Mrs. Orin Winjum was first and
Anna Kaz second.

J. C. Ryan and W. O. Smith opened a pool hall and barber shop in the hall above
Smith & Baer Meat Market (Coast to Coast).

An opera house and dance hall was opened by Gene Anderson in the building
vacated by T. K. Mork (Korner Bar location). Hank Sutton was manager.

The Soo Line inaugurated an exclusive passenger, mail and baggage service April
15. There was also a daily freight train each way.

J. A. Kelly became agent for the Krit automobile, and G. V. Holset was Ford
agent. Sheriff Chris Baltzer and Clerk Jake Rott were driving new Buicks.
Auditor Kaz had an Overland. R. L. Washburn had a R-C-H.

Gus Scheeler's Ford turned turtle south of town in probably the first auto
accident in the vicinity. He was slightly hurt.

The Homestead building, which also contained the telephone office, was moved
from the present site of the post office to its present location on the corner
to afford "more light and cheaper insurance." A 24x24 addition was built for the
printing machinery.

Dr. Lloyd Erickson opened a dentist's office.

Elmer Ackerman and Bill Engel bought Martin Dillman's blacksmith shop. M. Savage
hardware was purchased by Mesick and Stanheland.

Frank J. Last had a photo gallery.

Faculty members: Sol Eilert, Charlotte Kretschman, Florence Fitch, and Margaret
Hartnett.

A WCTU organization was formed with Mrs. J. H. Fitch and Mrs. M. W. Kelly as
officers.

Ed Norling bought Gene Anderson's pool hall and lunch counter.

Anton Gardner opened a shoe and harness repair shop.

The Anderson pool hall changed hands a second time in a week; this time
purchased by Gregory Koegel.

"Geo. Laney has the appreciation of the populace for the large bright street
light installed at the front of his livery barn. In the annals of the history of
the burg his name will certainly be recorded as a benefactor." (And it was 46
years later!)

Chas. Gay sold his barber shop to Christ Nobel. A. J. Sherman bought the
Wentworth Hotel. O. F. Bryant purchased the Ford agency from Holset.

George Sabraw was in the show business and was here with the Waverly
Entertainment Co. who showed movies at Anderson's hall for several nights.

Jake Balliet purchased Max Karninietz's meat market.

The Railroad Commission denied an application by the Soo to change from
passenger to mixed trains here.

1914

The Washburn - Merrick Lumber yard (located where Central Lumber is now) was
destroyed by fire, which was Napoleon's first fire in the business district. For
a time the Wentworth hotel and all buildings on north side of the street were
threatened, but lack of wind helped save them. There was no local fire
department, and hand extinguishers and buckets of water were used. The Wishek
Fire Department brought two chemical engines here by special train from Wishek,
and they stayed until morning to guard the fire. President Ray Washburn
announced that the firm would rebuild at once. The fire brought out the need for
protection and revived the idea of incorporating.

A special meeting voted 28 to 22 for incorporation and a committee was
appointed. The committee selected Sol Eilert to take the census and it showed
361 inhabitants here.

Hollis Davenport opened a drug store in the building vacated by Pomeroy.

By a vote of 40 to 32, Napoleon favored incorporation. At the first village
election, May 12, 1914, C. W. Cornie, R. L. Washburn and Joseph Meier were
elected trustees; M. Savage, treasurer; T. K. Mork, clerk; M. W. Kelly,
assessor; George Schuchard, marshal, and Geo. Laney, justice.

Jim Ryan bought Smith's interest in the pool hall and moved same to Anderson's
hall.

Larsen & Drews succeeded Davenport in ownership of the drug store.

A special train made up of two engines and 12 passenger cars, carrying
Minneapolis Civic and Commerce members, passed through town at a 50-mile clip.

The Yankee Robinson Circus arrived by train and was the largest to show here
before or since.

Joe Marquart, Sr., was the first to put in bulk oil tanks (located near the
stockyard). The same year Standard Oil established a bulk station.

Druggist O. J. Larsen, a prisoner in the county jail, committed suicide by
drinking poison. He had been charged with manslaughter in connection with the
death of a person who drank carbolic acid in the drug store.

1915

D. P. Bitner and Geo. Sabraw built a 60x100 ft. skating rink enclosed with a
high board fence. (This was on the lot where this writer now lives, a block
north of The Homestead).

The Napoleon Elevator, managed by L. G. Scheeler and son Gus, was sold to John
Heisler.

Joseph Meier sold his machinery business to John Heisler and Joe Daschle.

Napoleon received its first fire protection, a large pump, powered by hand,
about ten on each side of the pump mounted on a wagon. The only use we ever
heard of the outfit was for the men to playfully squirt water at each other, and
as we recall George Schuchard got quite a ducking.

An Auto Club was formed with Kelly, Bryant and Holset as officers.

The Soo Line was authorized to operate a mixed train instead of a passenger
train.

The curfew rang at Napoleon for the first time, at 8 in the winter, 9 in the
summer and the children had to be off the streets. The Methodist church bell was
used.

Carl Miller, who had been working for C. W. Cornie, opened a butcher shop in the
building east of Coiture's Store (now Coast to Coast).

Thompson Yards bought the Wells - Thompson lumber yard.

A gasoline street light was tried out.

Napoleon's baseball players included Hoime, Whitlow, Jackson, Nord, Crecelius,
Teigen, Teegarden, Oakes, and Houser. Three were "Hoosier" teachers brought here
by Sol Eilert. The town's first baseball tournament was held, with Napoleon,
Dawson, Kintyre and Burnstad taking part. Umpires were Noddings, Geil, Washburn
and Wurm.

The county population was set at 7,110, and for Napoleon, 423.

Brown's Tennessee Rats, a colored baseball team, played two games here and won
both (also some side bets).

The Napoleon Gun Club, held a tournament. The traps were located west of the
present Mitzel Bar location.

Wm. Laney was appointed marshal, and was regarded as the best enforcement
officer our town ever had.

John Gaschk, who operated a jewelry and watch repair shop, moved to Wishek.

Mary Kane operated a restaurant in the building east of the present Super Valu.

1916

The Homestead editor visited Steele and Bismarck to gather data for an electric
light plant for Napoleon.

The explosion of a kerosene lamp set the Laney livery barn on fire and it was
destroyed. (Located where Ford garage is now.)

The congregation of St. Philip's Church bought Lots 4 to 24 in Block 22 from O.
F. Bryant for $1,200 to erect a church in addition to a parsonage and school.
(The school did not materialize until about 40 years later.)

The first high school commencement exercises for Napoleon, and for the county,
were held with Mabel Hoof the first graduate of the local high school.

The first meeting of the Napoleon Parent-Teacher Assn. was held.

The first motion picture theatre was opened by A. W. Canterbury, Homestead
printer, in the hall above Couture's store.

The Napoleon Light & Power Co. was organized with officers including Joe Meier,
Noddings, Heath, Laney, McKenna, Marquart and Wellan. The contract price for
wiring the village and equipping the power house was placed at $7,500. A
building was started. (The cement building that stands south of the main
Builders Supply building.) Art Goodwin and Frank Johnson started wiring various
homes and residences. The lights were not ready to turn on until 1917.

1917

The Napoleon band, directed by Albert Wierschke and managed by A. J. Olig, gave
a concert at Gaskin's enclosed skating rink.

Block 20 was donated by O. F. Bryant, board president, as the site for the new
school building. The bid was slightly less than $20,000 for the six room three
story brick building, the original part of the present building.

Work on the new Catholic church started in June, estimated to cost between
$14,000 and $18,000. Father Ludwig was pastor.

W. C. Mowery purchased the drug store from Carlson.

Farmers Elevator Co. organized and purchased the Marquart Elevator. Officers
were Ole Nelson, Peter Weber, Ole Thoreson, Ole Mennes and Joe Marquart, Jr.

Fred Sherman, Mac Houser, Fred Norling, Sever Nord, Frank Johnson, Frank
Weibusch, Adam Kroeber and Lou Davenport were the first to enlist in WWI.

Napoleon's electric light plant began operation, with all day service on two
days a week—for washing and ironing.

Grover Barry was killed in action Nov. 11, 1917. The Legion post bears his name
and that of Chas. V. Hoof.

1918

First troop of Boy Scouts organized.

Sebastian Burgad bought Claude Cornie's meat market.

The first basketball was played, but on outside courts.

The new church of St. Matthew's was dedicated with Rev. J. P. Klauser, the first
pastor, honored pastor. Rev. Reidel was local pastor.

Logan County went over the top in Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives.

Twenty-nine young men entrained for Camp Lewis, Wash. The band and Boy Scouts
were in the parade leading to the depot as the soldiers-to-be left for camp.

Bishop O'Reilly conducted dedication services for St. Philip Church, Sept. 4,
1919, assisted by Rev. Poettgens of St. Anthony and Rev. George of Napoleon.
Sixty-one were confirmed. Between 60 and 70 families resided in this parish.

Pvt. Chas. V. Hoof was killed in action Sept. 25, 1918. The Legion post bears
his name.

Flu epidemic closed schools. Deaths were so numerous that The Homestead printed
a column headed "Necrological" and listed deaths, as many as seven in a week
from Spanish influenza.

Following Armistice, Napoleon soldier boys start returning home, and were given
warm receptions.

Stock Growers Bank moved to its new brick building, the one occupied now.

1919

The Wentworth Hotel, operated by A. J. Sherman, burned to the ground. It was 50
feet wide, two stories, and occupied space where part of the Miller Hotel
stands. Kane's restaurant to the west of the hotel was also destroyed.

Dr. John Simon located here, coming from Kintyre where he has practiced since
1913.

The Community Club organized and sought the building of a hotel.

An Army truck was on display here to help promote the Victory Liberty Bond
campaign.

Napoleon Hotel Co. organized and sale of $20,000 worth of stock begins.

Stock Growers converts to national bank. Officers were Merrick, Young, Heath,
and assistant cashiers were Joe Daschle and Mike Geifer.

Ted Brunner and Martin Fischer built a cement garage, part of the Ford garage of
today.

Carl Miller starts excavation for building a store, 25x60, with hotel rooms on
second floor. This is the east one-third of the present Miller building.

Application made for a charter for Barry-Hoof post of the Legion. The post held
a dance and supper at Sharer's hall (the former Catholic Church building).

1920

Women organize Auxiliary unit for Barry-Hoof post.

May 19, 1920 marked the first time that an airplane landed here. It was piloted
by Lt. Cameron of Bismarck.

1921

Napoleon high had its first indoor basketball game, played in the upstairs of
the old school building, losing to Kulm, 9-16. A week later the team played at
Wishek and Kulm, making the trip by train. Supt. Philips was coach.

Couture sells his store to Ed Tilson of Venturia.

Wishek baseball team loaded up with six Hankinson players and defeated the Naps
15-4, only after Steve Meier's pitching arm gave out.

The new brick county building was accepted by the commissioners. It was the
south unit of the present court house, and was used by District Judge Geo. M.
McKenna, elected judge in 1920; States Attorney A. B. Atkins, Clerk of Court
Rott, and Sheriff Andrew Baltzer, the first sheriff of this county to have a
place for an office. The old jail building was moved to a spot near the new
county building, not yet referred to as a court house.

Sam Reich purchased the former Couture Store and Sam's brother, Dave, was placed
in charge.

The Houser & Mesick stock of hardware, furniture and farm implements was sold to
a man from Iowa and the building vacated.

Napoleon Baptist Church was dedicated Oct. 30. There were only 19 members at
that time.

1922

Napoleon High took part in the district basketball tournament at Mandan. Teams
included Ashley, Bismarck, Mandan, Steele and Wilton.

The Legion post fixed up the building now used by the post office, for a hall.
It was used for basketball, dances, shows, and public events such as graduation.

The town was hearing its first radio programs. Court Reporter Olson was believed
to be the first owner of a set, and citizens took turns listening on the ear
phones.

1923

Due to lack of room and funds, the board threatened to discontinue high school.
The PTA appointed a committee to devise ways and means to keep high school open.

AOUW Lodge was formed, with officers including Leo Hunkele, Ed Carlsten, Ralph
Davenport, Art Brown, Palmer Hayden, Pete Meier, Bernard Schwan, Ben Meier and
Milo Calkins.

The Christmas issue of The Homestead indicated the following were in business:
Merchants Bank with Frank Simon, Adam Kroeber and Joe Greitl as officers; Fred
Wentz store, Mowery drug store, Houser & Co., Karl Miller Co. general store,
John Busch & Co. general store, Ole Nelson store, Orley pool hall, Reich's
store, John Heisler implements, Washburn - Merrick Lumber Co., Napoleon Hardware
Co., E. A. Wellan store, First National Bank with C. L. Merrick, F. B. Heath, M.
E. Geifer and Adelaide Claeys.

George Gaskin and A. J. Olig opened an enclosed skating rink, 30x100, north of
where the Frank Wald house is located.

1924

C. C. Lowe of Kulm showed movies here.

E. A. Moline was awarded the contract for an addition to the court chamber,
doubling its size, for use as the court house. The general bid was $27,830.00,
while wiring and plumbing came to about $5,500.

A 30x100 machine shed of Rohrich and Kelsch and a nearby residence occupied by
John G. Rohrich were completely destroyed by fire. Marshal Laney went to ring
the bell at the Methodist church to sound, the alarm but the outer doors had
become swollen and he could not gain entrance.

The new court house was completed and occupied in November, and the county paid
for it without issuing bonds. The new building is about nine blocks closer to
town than the old frame building.

1925

Frank Simon sold his interest in the Merchants Bank to W. A. McCulley, A. E.
Riese and Jacob H. Schatz.

D. H. Houser sold his interest in the hardware store to Joe Daschle and Joe
Greitl.

The county commissioners and village trustees asked the Soo Line to move the
depot from the section line so that the state highway could run straight through
town.

The Napoleon Oil Co. was organized and was to handle Texaco products.

John Rohrich built a brick and tile shed (the present creamery) to replace his
machine shed destroyed by fire.

The Napoleon Light Co. installed more equipment so that light service could be
extended from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Napoleon won the Emmons - Logan baseball league pennant. Pitcher Stete Meier
pitched nine games without a defeat. Others in the Nap line-up included Calkins,
Solien, Hoime, France, Schatz, Pete Meier, Ben Meier, Bill and Herb Krebsbach,
Dutch and Mac Houser and O. Bryant. Meier's record was 11-3 for the season,
losing twice to Bismarck, once to the All Nations.

Dakota Central buys telephone exchanges at Napoleon, Burnstad and Wishek from O.
F. Bryant.

Napoleon had a resident dentist when Dr. Ackerman occupied rooms in the Stock
Growers basement.

1926

At a public meeting held for the purpose of discussing the erection of a town
hall and the purchase of fire-fighting equipment, it was decided that because of
Karl Miller's intention to erect a hall, the village would not at present carry
out their plan of building a city auditorium.

Karl Miller built addition to the hotel, providing 24 additional hotel rooms,
20x60 space for Merchants Bank (now the cafe), hotel lobby and hall (now Miller
Theatre).

By a vote of 189 to 28 Foster District favored a levy increase so that an
addition to the school, including a gym, could be built. E. A. Moline was
awarded a general contract for $33,750.

Four-day chatauqua was held, including ladies orchestra, speaker, comedian and
play.

Miller Theatre formally opened Sept. 8 with grand opening dance, Philip
O'Brien's orchestra of Aberdeen, free movie for a half hour during dance.

The Merchants Bank, after being in the new Miller building for only a few weeks,
failed to open Oct. 27, making the first time a bank had closed in Logan County.

Northern Power and Light purchases light plant of Napoleon Co. and arranges to
run highline into Napoleon.

1927

The school addition was dedicated Feb. 4. The program included a talk by. Mrs.
Jennie Ryan, board president and the school history by O. F. Bryant. School
officers included Mrs. Ryan, Rudolph Hochhalter and L. H. Engelking, directors;
Mrs. Engel-king, clerk and A. H. Steinhaus, treasurer. There was an enrollment
of 229 in the grades and 61 in high school.

Merchants Bank opens Sept. 8 after being closed for nearly a year and Joe Greitl
was cashier.

Highline service starts in October and Napoleon has 24-hour light service for
the first time.

1928

Phil Belzer purchased the first combine in the county.

Dr. John Simon had the Frank Simon house moved here from Kintyre. John Sehr used
two steam tractors to have the house moved over the 26-mile route; the 11-mile
highway route could not be used.

Martin Job bought the meat market building from George Rohrich. Fred Wentz
operated a meat market there in what is now the Joe Roehrich store.

Christmas greeting ads included Wentz Motor Co., Chevrolet and Buick, Napoleon
Hardware, Merchants Bank, Jake Streyle, Ben Bauer, The Watkins Man, Al Plum,
Merrick Lumber, Aug. A. Becker Cream Station, Thompson Yards, C. A. Zimmerman,
Mgr., Kane's Restaurant, Derouin Store, Napoleon Farmers Elevator, Jim Ryan Pool
Hall, Ed Orley Pool Hall, Napoleon Elevator, G. S. Benshoof, Mgr., Rohrich &
Grenz John Deere, Martin Job, J. R. Thompson, Whippet dealer, Bryant Motor Co.,
P. J. Wentz and G. G. Grenz Store, Karl and Mary Miller — Hotel, Theatre, Store,
Daschle & Co., First National Bank, C. L. Merrick, H. C. Young, F. B. Heath, W.
D. Heupel, Harriet Ritchie, Olive Collier.

Christ Dewald bought Kane's Restaurant.

1929

Community Days were held and a Community club organized with C. A. Zimmerman as
president. Seventy business men and others attended the first banquet.

Napoleon High placed second in the district tournament at Mandan, defeating
Mandan. They beat Ashley in the semi-finals in five overtime periods. NHS team
included Tush Daschle, Jack Greitl, Kenneth Shafer, Ben Steinhaus, Willie Meier
and Henry Elhard. Ed Doerr was coach.

The village board bought the old Margulies store building and remodeled it for a
city hall and a place to house fire equipment. A fire department was formed with
Otis Bryant as first chief, C. H. Kelson, assistant and S. A. Meier, secretary.

The Methodist church building was sold to the Evangelical Lutheran congregation
and a basement was built to be used as a Methodist Church.

Carpenter Co. bought the Merrick Lumber Yard. Steve Meier was retained as
manager.

Fred Wentz purchased the building and John Deere Implement business from George
Rohrich and Otto Grenz. H. Mitzman bought the Merrick building and moved his
store there. O. F. Bryant bought the cement garage which he had rented for
several years from Mrs. Mary Meier, for the Ford business.

The post office was moved from its location for 28 years at the east end of main
street to the Miller building where the Merchants Bank was located.

The Lions Club was organized with 27 members, and the first officers were J. A.
Solien, J. L. Greitl, F. B. Heath, C. H. Kelson, W. D. Heupel, J. E. Grenz, Otis
Bryant and John Simon. Of the charter members, the following are here for the
30th year of the club: P. J. Wentz, Jay Bryant, John Simon and Ben Meier.

1930

The village bought its first fire truck, mounted on a Ford chassis, for $1,725.
The truck is still in use as an auxiliary unit.

Wm. Jahraus purchased the Napoleon Hardware, managed by C. H. Kelson.

The fire truck and new siren were tried out the first time when a prankster blew
the siren. Fred Norling and Dan Heupel piloted the fire truck.

Walt Sheldon purchased the Rohrich meat market.

The Emanuel and Salem congregations united under the name of First Lutheran and
made plans to build a church basement south of the school house. Peter Fluvog
was pastor.

Napoleon lost about 40 acres of land when petitioners on the south asked to be
excluded from the village. The petitioners included John Busch, John Simon, Mrs.
Margaretha Heyd, E. W. Orley, Fred Pfeifle and Mrs. Anna Lundgren. The village
denied the application but Judge Hutchinson overruled as there were no "sewers,
watermains, pavements, sidewalks or other improvements." (The same situation was
true for most any part of Napoleon at that time.)

1931

H. J. Roth of Pettibone started a creamery in the west part of the Wentz garage.

Walton League was instrumental in bringing 100 pheasants into the country.

The town board and local citizens backed the Lions Club project to start a park
and thus was the beginning of Napoleon's park that now contains a swimming pool,
exhibit hall, picnic grounds and the water tower.

Central Lumber bought 125 yards, including Napoleon.

Merchants Bank closed by voluntary action of the board of directors August 31.

Napoleon's first Corn Show, sponsored by the Lions Club, was held.

1932

Steve Meier, G. S. Benshoof, Isel Staples, P. J. Wentz and Otis Bryant were
named golf club officers. Land was leased two miles east of town for a course.

Central Lumber bought the Thompson Yards (located on the Bitz Super Service
garage block) and closed the latter yard.

1933

Joe J. Roehrich bought the Sheldon meat market building and started operation of
a general store which he has continued.

Wm. Jaharaus sold his hardware store to Fred Zerr who moved here from Artas.

Edwin Wentz and Robert Heath opened the Gamble Store.

The body of Ed Caffrey, well driller who was missing for a month, was found on a
straw pile near town.

Atty. T. A. Thompson, well driller and promoter, located here.

1934

Thirty-two residents of the vicinity underwent operations for appendicitis in a
short time. A chemist made a test of Russian peanuts, and decided that the seeds
were free from poison.

Napoleon Creamery closed in March.

Highway No. 34 was oil surfaced through Napoleon.

About 4,000 attended the celebration Sept. 26 to commemorate the 50th
Anniversary of the organization of Logan County. Gackle, Fredonia and Burnstad
united with Napoleon in staging the Golden Jubilee.


1935

Walter Wellan became the first Logan resident to own an airplane, but after a
short time he traded it for an auto.

The Legion purchased the old light plant building for use as a Legion hall.

1936

Forty-seven below Feb. 15 was the second coldest day in the history of the
weather bureau. Schools were closed for a week to preserve coal. The average
temperature for January and February was 12 and there were only six days that it
was above zero. From Dec. 15, 1935 to March 2, 1936, the mercury did not get
above 32 degrees.

A crew of 40 volunteers went out with shovels to open highways north and west of
Napoleon. The highways had been blocked by snow for several days.

An all-time high temperature at Napoleon was set July 16 when it was 118. Ducks
west of town left the lake bed and waddled into town.

Wm. Pritzkau opened a breakfast food factory in town.

After being located in Gackle for a year, the relief office, was returned to
Napoleon.

The Stock Growers Bank changed back from a national to a state charter.

1937

Seventy percent of the county's population received some sort of relief due to
adverse economic conditions and a near crop failure the year before.

A court house addition or "fill in" between the two wings was completed, WPA
furnishing part of the funds.

Eight carloads of fruits and potatoes were distributed by relief agencies in the
county.

1938

Ryder J. Scheffelbine, a WPA laborer, drove to the Woodbury farm five miles
southwest of Napoleon and murdered his mother-in-law, Mrs. Albert Woodbury, with
a revolver. He wounded three of her children, Fred, Edward and Margaret
Woodbury, who recovered. After committing the murder, Scheffelbine drove to a
point west of Napoleon where he blew out his brains with a shotgun.

Harry Potter landed at Napoleon with the first (and last) mail to be brought
here by airplane. The stop was made to promote Air Mail Week.

1939

Business and professional men and places as listed in The Homestead Christmas
edition were Farmers Co., Dr. W. C. Heringer, Al Plum, Dr. John Simon, Jake
Streyle, Napoleon Hardware — Fred Zerr, Al Doerr Drug, Joe Meier Elevator, Jake
Delzer Shoe Shop, Livestock Dealer Archie Sheldon and son Jim, Fur Dealer Hap
Regner, Mgr. Steve Meier of Central Lumber, Mgr. Paul Welder of Creamery, Oil
Dealer Al Klein, Beauty Operator Violet Ketterling, Otto M. Grenz Garage, Mrs.
Mary Miller Hotel, Theatre, Beer Parlor, Postmaster Peter Meier with Walter
Sheldon assistant and Lenore Kroeber clerk, Miller Cafe — Anna Wurl, Chevrolet
Dealer John J. Wentz, Felix Zeigler Dray Line, W. C. Brown Truck Line, Oil
Dealer Otto Sayler, Wendelin Fettig Dray Line, Fred Norling Service Station,
Bryant Motor Co., Theisen Dairy, J. E. Lubbers Cafe, Mgr. Wm. Draeger of FU Oil
with Ray Tergeson and Arnold Michaelson as assistants, Cliff Spotts Repair Shop,
Blacksmith Herman Timm, Beauty Operators Edna Sieler and Lydia Mueller,
Electrician Owen Thompson, Atty. O'Donnell, Joe J. Roehrich Store, John Daschle
operator of Napoleon Implement, Jake Heisler Service Station, Smith's Place
operated by John A. Smith, Martin Mitzel Beer Parlor, Hugo Moeckel Body Shop,
Ole Nelson Grocery, H. Mitzman Store, Stock Growers Bank — Geo. Laney, F. B.
Heath, W. D. Heupel,  Bob Heath and Mildred Hellmuth, P. J. Wentz and G. G.
Grenz operators of Wentz & Grenz, Ed Graf - Napoleon Oil Co.

It was estimated that 5,000 Logan residents received some form of relief.

Daily bus service was established here for the first time.

. A Corn Show Exhibit building was constructed in the park, with the largest
share of the cost being contributed by the Corn Show committee.

The county built a road machinery shed.

Eighteen houses were moved to town during the year as many farmers left the farm
and moved to town where they "got on" WPA roll.

1940

Napoleon's population was placed at 985.

A dial telephone system was installed.

1941

Wentz and Grenz built a grocery store building now used by the Super Valu.

Tony Bitz bought the Super Service Garage and became a Studebaker car dealer.

Logan citizens prepare to do their part as the attack by Japan brought us into
WWII. W. D. Heupel was named chairman of a drive to raise

$1,100 for Red Cross war relief. Sale of defense bonds takes a spurt. A defense
council was formed with John Daschle as chairman.

1942

Napoleon turned out to see a special Soo Line train taking Japanese aliens from
Bismarck to an unannounced destination.

1943

By a vote of 77 to 73 a proposal to change to city form of government was
defeated.

A. H. Steinhaus, depot agent here since 1905, retired.

The city hears about its men in the service being killed, wounded or missing in
action.

1944

Napoleon Oil Co. was bought by Ed Graf. Adam and Edwin Wentz purchased the Ford
Garage from Otis Bryant.

About 2,600 attended Napoleon's third annual horse show.

Joseph Meier retired after 35 years in the grain business.

1945

Cpl. Gotlieb Neigum's return from the Philippines, bringing three children with
him, and the story of his escape from the Japs drew statewide attention.

Floyd Miller bought the Schirado blacksmith building and remodeled it for a
locker plant.

Napoleon staged a victory parade as the war ended. Twenty-two Logan men were
killed or died in service during the war.

1946

Edwin and Adam Wentz built a furniture store east of the Homestead office. Chris
and Carl Leier started the Coast to Coast Hardware. Fred Wentz started Builders
Supply Yard and Tony Kuntz started an implement firm.

Napoleon voted 210 to 124 in favor of installation of city water.

Atty. C. Francis Swanke located here.

Walter F. Sheldon received the appointment as postmaster.

Wentz and Grenz Grocery was bought by Janke brothers.

The school board bought the Thompson house and moved it to the school house
block to use for a teacherage.

1947

Hildegard Roehrich, 15, was killed when struck by a car on highway in Napoleon.

By a vote of 285 to 57, Napoleon became a city instead of a village. John Mitzel
was elected first mayor. Elected aldermen were Joe Roehrich, Ludwig Mitzel, Ed
Ketterling, Paul Welder, Tony Bitz and Carrol Starkey. Andrew Sperle was elected
treasurer.

Wentz Hardware erected a new building to replace the frame structure.

GI Day, sponsored by the Legion, included a parade and talk by Governor Aandahl.

Edwin Christman bought the H. Mitzman store.

G. A. Klefstad and Ben Meier purchased the Stock Growers Bank from
Bancorporation. Meier later sold his interest to Klefstad.

John Daschle and John Mitzel form a partnership and announce plans to build an
implement building the next year.

City buys the block south of the baseball park.

1948

August Doerr bought Napoleon Hardware from John Heisler.

Seven miles of highway from Napoleon south was oil surfaced.

1949

Walter Bauer bought Carrol Starkey's truck Line and Starkey bought interest in
the Daschle Implement.

Mrs. Margaret Mitzel announced that she would build a dance hall, The Octagon.

Northwestern Engineering of Rapid City was awarded the contract of $127,900 for
city sewer system.

G. G. Grenz and P. J. Wentz, partners in local store since 1926, dissolved
partnership.

Al Plum building and Wentz Motel are among new improvements.

1950

Napoleon High placed second in the district tournament at Wishek, and both
Linton and Napoleon went to the regional at Dickinson. Napoleon lost to Regent
in the first round, Linton went on to the state. Imperials included Andy Mitzel,
Jack Schnaidt, Don Draeger, Vic Schwartzenberger, Byron Lubbers, Joe and Willie
Scherr.

Sleet storms knocked out light and telephone service several days in March.

Considerable flood damage occurred during the spring when heavy snow cover
melted. Dr. Simon suffered heavy loss. A May 5 blizzard dumped 11 inches of snow
and the city was completely isolated for a day.

About 500 packed the Exhibit Hall to honor Dr. John Simon, who had served the
community 37 years.

Napoleon accepted the sewer system installation and Jake Wagner was the first to
hook up to the line.

1951

Martin Wittmier purchased the former Red Owl building from Frank Marquart and
remodeled it for a pool room.

Vernon Baltzer and Lawrence Bitz formed a construction company.

Miller Theatre installed cushioned seats and an inclined floor.

Edwin Wentz constructed an ice cream stand east of the depot.

Emil Zimmerman succeeded Albert Klein as bulk agent.

A road was constructed around west lake which was covered by high water in 1950.

1952

A. J. Olig, rural carrier for 32 years, retired.

Napoleon was without train service for eight days.

Bismarck men buy Janke Super Valu.

A new city hall was built.

George Werre and Duane Fischer bought the Bauer Body Shop.

1953 Alex Dilger and Reuben Zimmerman bought the plumbing firm from Ervin
Schuchard.

Dan Schnabel bought the cafe from Bert Kleppe.

Napoleon opened its new baseball park with Mayor Vance Kroeber throwing the
first ball.

Marilyn Wentz won the Miss North Dakota title at Bismarck and represented the
state in the national contest at Atlantic City.

Ray Zerr bought the Super Valu; James Hugelen was new owner of Wentz Motel and
Vance Kroeber bought the Sand and Gravel firm from Walter Brown.

Television reception on here for the first time.

1954

Nilo Strom operated the Miller Cafe; Martin Wittmeir bought the pool hall from
Martin Fischer; Mr. and Mrs. John Grenz opened Irene's Cafe and Albert and Ray
Bauer re-entered the body shop business.

The Legion post has their first meeting in the new hall.

Ben Meier became the county's first elective official for a state office at the
capitol.

A swimming pool, constructed at the initial cost of about $5,000, opened in
August. Committee members were Gordon Plum, Francis Swanke, August Doerr, Chris
Leier and George Heitmann.

Contracts were let for an addition to Napoleon school and enlargement of the gym
in the amount of $85,000. The project was completed in 1955.

Rt. Rev. Ignatius Hunkler, native of Napoleon, became the youngest abbot in the
United States.

John Wurl, proprietor of Miller Theatre, installed cinemascope equipment.

1955

The enlarged gym was used for the first time in February.

A Commercial club was organized with Frank Wald as president.

Ed Christman bought the Super Valu from Ray Zerr.

Anton J. Schmidt was appointed State Land Commissioner.

August Doerr purchased the abstract plant from Oscar France who had operated it
for 30 years.

Farmers Union built a new 75,000 bushel elevator.

Mrs. Ida Spotts was appointed Register of Deeds following the death of R.
Hochhalter, register for 32 years.

Strasburg and Napoleon battle 15 innings as climax to dedicating Nord Park with
Pete Nord taking part in the ceremony.

Consecration services were held for the new Methodist church. Work was begun on
the new Evangelical church.

Napoleon high school held its first homecoming. The new Legion hall was
dedicated.

1956

Vance Kroeber became International dealer, the contract was formerly held by
Mitzel and Starkey.

Dilger and Zimmerman bought the old hardware building and sold their former
location to Cliff Spotts.

Elmo Nickisch bought the Feigum-Doerr Funeral Home.

John Wangler closed his local jewelry store.

Napoleon prepared for a face lifting of main street —new lights, sidewalks,
curb, gutter and paving.

Dwain Draeger entered partnership with Marvin Wentz in the operation of Wentz
Furniture.

Evangelical UB church, valued at $50,000 was dedicated.

Retail sales at Napoleon went above the $2,000,000 mark for the first time.

1957

No oil shows were reported at seven test wells in the vicinity.

Red Owl constructed a new building on the lot west of their former location.

Napoleon's main street was paved, using the soil cement type of pavement.

Al Doerr, owner of Doerr Drug for 20 years, sold his store to Keith Schick.

Total cost of about 40 blocks of curb, gutter and paving was set at about
$129,000, following the opening of bids. This work was completed in 1958.

St. Philip Parochial school was blessed Sept. 2 by Bishop Dworschak. Enrollment
was 213 when school opened for the first time. This brought the enrollment of
the two Napoleon schools to 612.

1958

Erwin Siewert, associated with Wentz Chevrolet 17 years, started an implement
firm.

Wentz Clothing had $25,000 damage and P. J. Wentz moved the store to his large
building.

Dr. Glen Maisey opened a dental office.

Bennie Fettig opened a new Mobil station.

Dr. Edward H. Goodman set up a medical practice.

A bowling alley was opened by Walter Wentz.

Highways No. 3 to Dawson and No. 34 to Hazelton were paved and contract awarded
for paving No. 3 from Wishek to Napoleon.

First steps were taken to celebrate Napoleon's Diamond Jubilee.

(In concluding this history, I realize the margin for error has been great. I
have reviewed 3,796 issues of The Homestead. At an average of eight pages per
issue, that is 30,368 pages. Often, items could have been missed that should
have been included. Also, there are items copied that one person may consider
trivial and another may consider important. To the 99 percent who have reason
for complaint, and do, I ask forgiveness; to the one percent that are satisfied,
thanks. In order to conserve time and space, I have tried to confine the
history, especially after 1900, strictly to Napoleon. Notes were made on county
history and we hope to eventually review that in The Homestead. -J.A.B.)