Autobiography of Henry Mahrer Sr.
June 9, 1939
I was born in Fort Atkinson, Iowa in 1864. I came to Dakota Territory on the 22nd day of September 1880. All I had was a covered wagon, one span of horses and $50 in money. I stayed with a man at Mooreton, Richland County, twelve miles west of Wahpeton.
Winter set in and we got snowed in. Roads were impassable. We had from three to four feet of snow on the level. Burned twisted hay for five weeks to keep from freezing. Lived on potatoes and cornmeal and was glad to have salt for the potatoes. No meat, no milk, no butter, and no groceries. Coffee was made of roasted rye and barley.
I worked on Big Farms for two years. In the Spring of 1883, I took a homestead in Sargent County. I built a sod shanty covered with boards, the door hung on leather hinges. We received very few visitors, the most frequent being the black with white stripes. I didn't care for this much company as their breath or odor was quite strong. Living in this state was not very high. We fed on wild duck eggs which were plentiful in that time. Our bread drew dampness and was as many colors as the rainbow.
In 1889, I met Katherine Kulzer. We were married in Meire Grove, Minnesota. From then on I gained a home which I still call my own. We celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary January 29, 1939 and at this writing I still remain on the farm. Thanks be to God for all the blessings through the years.
Mr & Mrs Henry Mahrer Sr.
(Submitted by: Gregory Dorr #47094346)
June 9, 1939
I was born in Fort Atkinson, Iowa in 1864. I came to Dakota Territory on the 22nd day of September 1880. All I had was a covered wagon, one span of horses and $50 in money. I stayed with a man at Mooreton, Richland County, twelve miles west of Wahpeton.
Winter set in and we got snowed in. Roads were impassable. We had from three to four feet of snow on the level. Burned twisted hay for five weeks to keep from freezing. Lived on potatoes and cornmeal and was glad to have salt for the potatoes. No meat, no milk, no butter, and no groceries. Coffee was made of roasted rye and barley.
I worked on Big Farms for two years. In the Spring of 1883, I took a homestead in Sargent County. I built a sod shanty covered with boards, the door hung on leather hinges. We received very few visitors, the most frequent being the black with white stripes. I didn't care for this much company as their breath or odor was quite strong. Living in this state was not very high. We fed on wild duck eggs which were plentiful in that time. Our bread drew dampness and was as many colors as the rainbow.
In 1889, I met Katherine Kulzer. We were married in Meire Grove, Minnesota. From then on I gained a home which I still call my own. We celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary January 29, 1939 and at this writing I still remain on the farm. Thanks be to God for all the blessings through the years.
Mr & Mrs Henry Mahrer Sr.
(Submitted by: Gregory Dorr #47094346)
Autobiography of Henry Mahrer Sr.
June 9, 1939
I was born in Fort Atkinson, Iowa in 1864. I came to Dakota Territory on the 22nd day of September 1880. All I had was a covered wagon, one span of horses and $50 in money. I stayed with a man at Mooreton, Richland County, twelve miles west of Wahpeton.
Winter set in and we got snowed in. Roads were impassable. We had from three to four feet of snow on the level. Burned twisted hay for five weeks to keep from freezing. Lived on potatoes and cornmeal and was glad to have salt for the potatoes. No meat, no milk, no butter, and no groceries. Coffee was made of roasted rye and barley.
I worked on Big Farms for two years. In the Spring of 1883, I took a homestead in Sargent County. I built a sod shanty covered with boards, the door hung on leather hinges. We received very few visitors, the most frequent being the black with white stripes. I didn't care for this much company as their breath or odor was quite strong. Living in this state was not very high. We fed on wild duck eggs which were plentiful in that time. Our bread drew dampness and was as many colors as the rainbow.
In 1889, I met Katherine Kulzer. We were married in Meire Grove, Minnesota. From then on I gained a home which I still call my own. We celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary January 29, 1939 and at this writing I still remain on the farm. Thanks be to God for all the blessings through the years.
Mr & Mrs Henry Mahrer Sr.
(Submitted by: Gregory Dorr #47094346)
June 9, 1939
I was born in Fort Atkinson, Iowa in 1864. I came to Dakota Territory on the 22nd day of September 1880. All I had was a covered wagon, one span of horses and $50 in money. I stayed with a man at Mooreton, Richland County, twelve miles west of Wahpeton.
Winter set in and we got snowed in. Roads were impassable. We had from three to four feet of snow on the level. Burned twisted hay for five weeks to keep from freezing. Lived on potatoes and cornmeal and was glad to have salt for the potatoes. No meat, no milk, no butter, and no groceries. Coffee was made of roasted rye and barley.
I worked on Big Farms for two years. In the Spring of 1883, I took a homestead in Sargent County. I built a sod shanty covered with boards, the door hung on leather hinges. We received very few visitors, the most frequent being the black with white stripes. I didn't care for this much company as their breath or odor was quite strong. Living in this state was not very high. We fed on wild duck eggs which were plentiful in that time. Our bread drew dampness and was as many colors as the rainbow.
In 1889, I met Katherine Kulzer. We were married in Meire Grove, Minnesota. From then on I gained a home which I still call my own. We celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary January 29, 1939 and at this writing I still remain on the farm. Thanks be to God for all the blessings through the years.
Mr & Mrs Henry Mahrer Sr.
(Submitted by: Gregory Dorr #47094346)
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