T. L. and Clara Beiseker Husband's Full Name: Thomas Lincoln Beiseker Husband's Place of Birth: Muncie, Indiana Husband's Father's Name: Charles N. Beiseker Husband's Mother's Name: Kate R. Reilly Husband's Siblings' Names: Jessie (Shelby); (Mary Yelland); Henry, Elizabeth (Metzger); Arthur N., Lawrence, Loretta (Roberts) and Chester Wife's Full Name: Clara Edwards Beiseker Wife's Place of Birth: Moscow, Freeborn, Minnesota Wife's Father's Name: Daniel B. Edwards Wife's Mother's Name: Olinda Van House Edwards Wife's Siblings' Names: Henry, Ellen, Amy, Sherman Children's Names: Charles and Lila Netcher Fessenden and Wells County have been the home for many years of one of the shrewdest and most noted bankers and financers of the entire Northwest, T. L. Beiseker. Mr. Beiseker was born in Muncie, Indiana, April 8, 1867, in their covered wagon as the family was moving to Austin, Minnesota. He died in June of 1941. He was educated in the schools of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and at Austin, Minnesota. At Austin he was employed for seven years as deputy county auditor. In the spring of 1893 he came to Sykeston and organized the Wells County Bank with a capital of $10,000, the first bank organized under the state law and also the first permanent bank established in the county. He was elected president of this bank and in 1893 moved it along with the county seat to Fessenden, reaching there November 18, 1894. Mr. Beiseker is interested in several other banks of the county and also in banks in North Dakota and Montana. Mr. Beiseker purchased land in Manfred and had the First State Bank of Manfred built in 1905. In 1892, Mr. Beiseker was united in marriage to Miss Clara A. Edwards of Austin and they were the parents of two children, a daughter, Lila, now Mrs. A. L. Netcher of Fessenden, and son, Charles, now deceased, who served in the U. S. Aviation Corps in the World War. Mrs. Clara Beiseker took a very active part in Red Cross activities and on May 1918 became chairman of the Fessenden working branch. It is said by many of those who worked with her that no other woman devoted as much time as did Mrs. Beiseker to the production of the innumerable article her unit was called upon to make. Her mother, Olinda Edwards, must surely have been a great inspiration to her during those days of hard work, and a son in the service must indeed have been the incentive to perform to the most of her ability. Mrs. Beiseker took sick early in spring and died May 7, 1919. Mr. Beiseker left Wells County in the late 1920s after his banking business fell due to poor investments. Beiseker moved to Alberta where he lived out the rest of his days. . Source. The History of Wells County and Its Pioneers – by Walter E. Spokesfield 1929 The Beiseker Mansion in Fessenden, ND. This is where T. L. Beiseker resided while running his banking empire. It has been on the National Register of Historical Places since 1977.

Tennes and Anna Hauge IHusband's Full Name: Tennes Hauge Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Husband's Father's Name: Torger J. Hauge Husband's Mother's Name: Anna Erfjord Hauge Husband's Siblings' Names: Martha, Albert, Ella, Clarence, George, Martha, Leonard Wife's Full Name: Ann Rogness Hauge Wife's Place of Birth: Pierce County, ND Wife's Father's Name: Andrew Rogness Wife's Mother's Name: Liva Berg Rogness Wife's Siblings' Names: John, Sam, Selmer, Melvin Anton, Elmer, Martin, Jacob, Baby Girl, Lars, Lars Children's Names: none Tennes and Anna Hauge farmed north of Manfred for many years. They were members of the Bethel Lutheran Church. When Anna was interviewed at her 100th birthday she remembered working in a cook car. The hours were long from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. every day. She made pies and doughnuts. "The men liked the doughnuts and pies," she grinned. Hauge took care of her parents for many years. She married Tennes Hauge when she was about 40 years old. They lived in the Manfred area. When her husband died in 1962, she moved to Harvey. They did not have any children but cared for six teenage nephews. She was an active member of the Bethel Church near Heimdal where she was baptized and confirmed. She was very alert and made her own decisions, even at 100 years of age. When she was about 94 years old she decided to live in the nursing home in Harvey. Excerpts from January 8, 2002, Herald Press Article by Carrie Opdahl

August and Fredericka Schmitcke Husband's Full Name: August Schmitcke Husband's Place of Birth: Poland Husband's Father's Name: Husband's Mother's Name: Husband's Siblings' Names: Wife's Full Name: Fredericka Hildebrand Schmitcke Wife's Place of Birth: Russia Wife's Father's Name: Wife's Mother's Name: Wife's Siblings' Names: Children's Names: Albert, Emma [Fast], Gotfried [Mary], Edward, Ben [Elsie], Rudolph [Mary Kleinsasser], Anna [Fred Jungling], Otto [Emma Kleinsasser], Jacob August and Fredericka immigrated in about 1894 and were residence in Manfred in 1901 until about 1906. They are not listed in the census records so apparently came after the 1900 census and left before the 1910 census. August walked to town for candy for the children at Christmas time and never returned, having frozen to death on this trip. Most of the family grew up in McLean County, North Dakota and settled there, according to his great grandson. We have not found his grave, although there are several unmarked graves in the Manfred Township Cemetery, and very likely is buried there.

Paul C. and Dora Christenson Husband's Full Name: Paul Christiansen Husband's Place of Birth: Denmark Husband's Father's Name: unknown Husband's Mother's Name: unknown Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown Wife's Full Name: Dora in about 1865 in Minnesota Wife's Place of Birth: Denmark Wife's Father's Name: unknown Wife's Mother's Name: unknown Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown Children's Names: Chris, Harry, Jake, Fred, Stena, Carl, Mary, Howard, Harley (per census records) Married again in 1902 and lived in Wahpeton – no children, his wife died a few years after they were married. Paul Christiansen was born in Denmark and immigrated to America in 1868 when he was 22 years old. Paul Christiansen came to Manfred in about 1910, according to the census records. He continued to be listed on the Manfred census records until 1925. He owned a farm and farmed it, later, at the age of 74 he is listed as a border at the Christ Roble place. Although we don’t know much about Paul, the Old Manfred News indicates he visited with his brother in Wahpeton in 1907, that he loaded his horses and machinery into an immigrant car in the fall of 1910 to head for Williston, where he had a brother living, and that he visited a sister-in- law in Havana, ND in 1924. He came back to Manfred to live after each of these trips. I found no mention of children other than in the census records. He died at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 21 days following a week’s illness with pneumonia. Pastor Langseth officiated at the funeral services. Pallbearers were N. O. Dovre, K. Wylie, J. J. Hustoft, O. K. Melby, J. Klev and P. B. Anderson. He is buried at the Vang Lutheran Cemetery north of Manfred.

Annual Pictorial Narratives Each year a pictorial narrative of the activities has been prepared. This section contains each of these narratives. Year 2025 2024 2023 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005c 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 c 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2018 2019

Tony and Josephine Breyer Husband's Full Name: Anton A. Breyer Husband's Place of Birth: Codington, South Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Henry Breyer Husband's Mother's Name: Mary Thinnes Breyer Husband's Siblings' Names: Susan, Michael, Margaret, Peter, Henry Jr., Mary, Kathryn, John, Mathew 1st Wife's Full Name: Josie Biever Wife's Place of Birth: Manfred, North Dakota Wife's Father's Name: Mathias Biever Wife's Mother's Name: Elizabeth Schneider Biever Wife's Siblings' Names: Joe, Anna [Mike Jenny], Albert, Ella Parries, Mathew, Frank Child's Name: Donald (Lillian Gustafson) 2nd Wife's Full Name: Josephine Janisch Wife's Place of Birth: Manfred Township, North Dakota Wife's Father's Name: Frank J. Janisch Wife's Mother's Name: Mary Koller Janisch Wife's Siblings' Names: Theresa Seil, Mary O’Neill, Annie Hillbert, and Katherine [John Smith] Children's Names: Joann [Jim Hartel], Robert [Joan Severson] Bob and Joann Tony Breyer came to Manfred as a young man and farmed for a number of years, then entered business in Manfred. In about 1926 he married Josie Biever. They had one son Donald. After Josie died, he married Josephine Janisch and they had two children, Joann and Robert. In July of 1930, Anton Breyer purchased the hotel and pool hall in Manfred and operated that business until he died in 1948. The family continued living in the hotel for several years. The children attended Manfred Grade School and Fessenden High School. Donald passed away in 1996, his wife Lillian in 1998; Joann Hartl passed away in 1986. Robert (Bob) is now retired from working with a pharmaceutical company. He and his wife Joan live in South Carolina.

Helmer and Annie Solheim Husband's Full Name: Helmer S. Solheim Husband's Place of Birth: Rural Manfred, ND Husband's Father's Name: Severt Solheim Husband's Mother's Name: Bertha Ramsfield Solheim Husband's Siblings' Names: Seivert, Oscar, Sam, Hilda (Georgeson), Art, Selma (Buchta), Anna (Hakanson) and Clarence Wife's Full Name: Annie Onstad Solheim Wife's Place of Birth: Rural Manfred, ND Wife's Father's Name: Ole E. Onstad Wife's Mother's Name: Gina Rogne Onstad Wife's Siblings' Names: Emil Onstad Child's Name: Audrey Solheim Helmer worked for the neighbors as a young man, and became a skilled painter, he was also well known as the fireman with the steam threshing crew. He married Annie Onstad in October of 1943 and farmed the Onstad family farm with his brother-in-law. In 1945 he bought the local gas station, operating it until 1969. He passed away in November of 1969. Annie, following her graduation from Harvey High School and Interstate Business College in Fargo, worked in offices in the Fessenden area. In 1942 she went to Washington, DC and was employed by the U. S. Department of the Navy until 1943 when she was married. Later she worked in the local post office as temporary clerk, served as Deputy County Superintendent of Schools for Wells County, and worked as parish secretary for the church. After Helmer’s death she continued to live in Manfred until 1986. At that time she moved to Bismarck. She passed away in December 2002. Helmer and Annie were active in Vang Lutheran Church, in the Fagerlund #203 Sons of Norway and in community activities. Annie was a member of the Manfred Homemakers Club. She taught Sunday School for 17 years and Bible School for 5 years. She was School District treasurer for many years. When she moved to Bismarck she transferred her church membership to Trinity Lutheran in Bismarck and her Sons of Norway membership to Sverdrup #107 attending both regularly. She was active in the church circle and in the Sons of Norway Hardanger crafts group.

Johannes and Christina Anhorn Husband's Full Name: Johannes Anhorn Husband's Place of Birth: Besesina, Besserabia, Russia Husband's Father's Name: Joseph Anhorn Husband's Mother's Name: Christine Kohler Husband's Siblings' Names: Johann, Madalena, Jakob, Anna, Joseph, Jacob, Frederik, Katherine 1st Wife Full Name: Maria Rotacker (died in 1881) 2nd Wife's Full Name: Christina Stadel 1st Wife's Place of Birth: Besesina, Besserabia, Russia 1st Wife's Father's Name: Martin Rothacker 1st Wife's Mother's Name: Anna Elisabeth Teske 1st Wife's Siblings' Names: Unknown) 2nd Wife’splace of Birth: Beresina, Bessarabia, South Russia 1st Family: Children's Names: Maria, Dorothea, Frederika and Johannes who died as an infant 2nd Johannes Jr, Fred, Mathew, Gottlieb, Christian, John, Christina (Mrs. Chris Wagner); Chris, Othelia (Mrs. John Dockter) Johannes and Maria Rotacker were married in South Russia in 1873. In 1881, after eight years of marriage, she died leaving three young children. This was his first marriage. In 1881, Johannes married Christina Stadel in South Russia. To this union, six sons, Johannes, Jr, Fred, Mathew, and Gottlieb, Christian, John , and one daughter Christina were born. In 1894, the family came to the United States homesteading two miles south of Manfred in Manfred Township where another son Chris and a daughter Othelia were born on this farm.

Frank and Mary Janisch Husband's Full Name: Franz Janisch Husband's Place of Birth: Gerersdorf, Austria Husband's Father's Name: Paul Janisch Husband's Mother's Name: Maria Koller Husband's Siblings' Names: Paul, Anna Wife's Full Name: Maria Koller Janisch Wife's Place of Birth: Gerersdorf, Austria Wife's Father's Name: Michael Koller Wife's Mother's Name: Maria Pitz Wife's Siblings' Names: Michael, Frank Children's Names: 1) Theresa “Grace” (Mike) Seil; 2) Mary (Patrick) O’Neill; 3) Annie (Joseph) Hilbert; 4) Katherine (John) Smith; 5) Josephine (Anton) Breyer; and 6, 7) twin girls who died in infancy. Frank and Maria were married on February 12, 1890. Their first daughter “Grace” was born in Austria/Hungary. They immigrated to the USA in 1892. Frank worked near Fingal for a year, where their second daughter Mary was born in 1893. Frank was one of the early pioneers of Wells County and homesteaded in Manfred where their other daughters were born. Frank was highly respected. He was a butcher, a necessary occupation not only for his family, but also for the other families in the area. Maria died in 1925, Frank in 1939. They were buried in the Hillside Cemetery in Fessenden. Source – Fessenden Centennial Book 1893 - 1993

Joe Biever's Machinery Location: Next to Renden’s Blacksmith Shop Proprietor: Joe Biever Year Started: Year Ended: 1918 (fire destroyed it) History of Business: No information of this business is known besides its location Daisy – Joe Biever's Machine Shop Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Anderson House 1905 - House on left built for Charles Fjerestad by carpenter B. Thompson and crew of Harvey. 1906 - Porch added to kitchen 1913 - House sold to Olaf Anderson. After 1913 - Caroline "Lena" Anderson started growing flowers in the garden next to her house. "Lena's" Garden continued until 1970. 1970 - Lena Anderson moves out of house. Last year of residence. 2003 - New shingles and ceiling reinforcements placed. 2006 - Porch rebuilt and installed. 2008 - Exterior prepared for paint 2008 - Lena's Garden restarted. 2011 - Exterior painting begun. 2016 - Exterior painting finished. Front view today. Future Plans: Painting upkeep Install windows Clean out interior Plaster and painting of interior

Rage and Fury of Blizzards Courage and Strength North Dakota blizzards can call for courage, even now, but more so in the prairie years of the early nineties. (The following accounts show the bravery and hardships endured by our early pioneers. Even today, blizzards batter our homes, wildlife and vegetation; but it cannot break our spirit and love of the prairie.) Self-sacrifice, heroism and personal bravery, symbolic of pioneers were exemplified by Gullick Nordtorp of Manfred when he risked his life to save that of another. It concerns a young mother-to-be, who with her husband lived in the Nordtorp home. She was awaiting the arrival of their first child. During the ordeal, grave complications set in and medical aid became a dire necessity. It happened during a snowstorm when roads were blocked, making horse and sleigh travels impossible. Mr. Nordtorp decided to call a doctor by walking on the railroad tracks to Fessenden, eight miles distant. Dressed in warm clothing a grain sack over his fur cap and face he began the arduous journey. By forethought, should necessity demand he deemed it wise to arm himself with a long staff resembling a cane by which he could feel his way along the rails enabling him to follow the tracks. After he had traveled halfway, the strong wind whipped up a blinding blizzard, which proved to be a grueling challenge. Through faith and courage and determination, and the guidance of his staff, he finally reached his destination, which was Fessenden. A west bound freight train arrived just in time and carried the doctor and Mr. Nordtorp back to Manfred. The mother’s life was saved, but due to the long delay the child was stillborn. A posthumous Carnegie Medal is due this brave pioneer for his courage and noble service to humanity. Blizzard of 1891 A rather unusual blizzard incident of seventy-five years ago was experienced in the southern section of our state. Picture, if you can, a country schoolhouse built of sod and a partial earthen floor. This particular day when school was in session, a blinding blizzard struck the community without warning. It would have been sheer folly for the anxious parents to even attempt to reach their children. As darkness came on a little flame from a lone candle barely lit up the school room. At the eerie hour of midnight, the winds with added furry moaned and groaned around the eves. Presently the teacher heard a muffled commotion outside the door. At first, she became fearful but finally decided to investigate. To her great surprise she found a small flock of sheep huddled together at her doorstep. She let them enter thinking that they might shed a little warmth to the chilly room. Through the chilly and eerie night hours she stood guard over her charges, the children in winter wraps nestling among the wooly invaders and oblivious to the ordeal. When morning arrived, the frantic parents had to do some shoveling to gain entrance and though the air inside wasn’t of the purest, they found their children, the teacher and the sheep safe and sound. March Blizzard of 1906 There may be many of our older folks who recall the three-day March blizzard of 1906 which took its toll on human lives and hundreds of cattle. I shall site an instance when a pig saved the life of a man, Mr. Barreson, who was returning from McClusky to his home near Manfred. He was driving a horse drawn lumber wagon with a cow tied behind. In the wagon box was a good-sized pig grunting on a pile of straw. A blinding blizzard suddenly overtook the victims as they were in Hustoft’s pasture, about a mile west of Manfred. Travel became impossible. The only thing to do was to stop and wait. He unhitched and tied the team to the wagon. Mr. Barreson wrapped himself in available extra clothing and when night came on, he snuggled down beside the pig. After several anxious days and nights, morning dawned, clear and cold, calm and crisp. He barely managed to ride the horse back to a nearby snow-bound farmstead, which was the P.B. Anderson home. Here he was cared for until his many wants were satisfied by the ever-good Samaritans, Peter (P. B.) and Anna Anderson. At first Mrs. Anderson fed him warm milk by the teaspoonful. His frozen feet were thawed out, but several damaged toes required amputation. A close call, when a human life was saved by the presence of a lowly pig. Fury of Storms Blizzards have raged since time immemorial and will continue. The storm of March 2 and 3, 1966 in several instances was the worst ever experienced in North Dakota. Six human lives and thousands of cattle and sheep were lost. Quoting from Mr. Moses in the Fargo Form “in terms of ferocity, this storm of 1966 may well rank as the worst in recorded N D Weather Bureau history. It is doubtful if any other winter storm in history has circled on itself twice, as this one did or hit so large an area, with so much, for so long.” Source: Sennev Nertrost Whipple Date: March 1966