| Summary: | grandchild. Leah, their oldest daughter is married to Ed Morlock and they live at Circle, Montana. Her husband is a farmer and an electrician. They have three children. Reinhoid, the second oldest son is on the homestead,, and is married and has four children. Ted, the youngest son also is married and lives at Tacoma, where he is also a teacher. Their youngest daughter, Clara lives at Tacoma also. She is married to Murry McLeod who is a telephone repairman. They have 2 girls. In 1942 the Israel Dammeis retired and moved to Medina where they are living a very contented life. Mr. and Mrs. Dammel celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1959. THE HIGGINS FAMILY Michael Dillon, father and Mary Catherine (Crotty) Higgins, mother, with seven of their eight children — namely: Ellen Bridget (Mrs. Dr. G. D. Todd), Thomas Joseph, Walter John, Alice Lanor, Martha Anastasia, Grace Helen and Michael James, arrived in Medina, Stutsman County, North Dakota June I, 1901. A son John, died in infancy at Stanton, Wisconsin. Being born in the great State of Wisconsin we were classed as "Badgers" this being the nickname for that state. The family was blessed with a baby sister, born in Medina, and named after her Mother Mary Catherine and the only "Flicker- tail" in the family. A total of nine children were born to this union. Ellen Bridget married Dr. G. D. Todd of Medina, in Jamestown in July 1905. Mrs. Todd now makes her home at the Villa Marie Nursing Home in Fargo. Dr. Todd passed away in August 1933. Thomas Joseph married Mary Ann Naughton of Valley City, N. D. in Valley City in October 1929. They still reside in Medina and a home gathering spot for ail the family. Walter John married Hilda Thorp in May 1928. Walter passed away at Solen, North Dakota September 14, 1954. Hilda, retired as Agent for the Northern Pacific at Solen and she and her daughter Patricia live in Bismarck. Patricia is employed by the State of North Dakota in the Crime Bureau office. A twin brother of Patricia's died at birth. Alice Lanor was employed in the post office at Medina for many years and was dearly loved by everyone. She was one of the first victims of the 1918 flu epidemic. There were five deaths in Medina from the flu within a 24-hour period. Martha Anastasia was employed by the Medina Telephone Company, "The Hello Girl" for several years. Later attended telegraph school in Jamestown and worked as telegrapher for the Northern Pacific Railway Company at various locations during the war. Then as a clerk for the N. P. working in Jamestown. Martha and William H. Mason were married at Jamestown in November 1927. The Masons are now living in Great Falls, Montana. Grace Helen attended St. John's Academy at Jamestown and began working for the Northern Pacific Railway Company. She and Gerald W. Kanouse were married in December 1936, making their home in Fargo, where both were employed by the Northern Pacific. Retired they now live in Woodburn, Oregon. Michael James spent most of his life in Medina, later going to Montana and enlisted in the U. S. Engineers at Great Falls. He was assigned as Foreman at a location on the Yukon River and the family was advised by the Secretary of War that Michael had met with accidental death at Galena, Alaska. Burial in Military Cemetery at Fairbanks, Alaska September 29, 1945. At the time of death, burial was made in Ladd Field, Fairbanks, Alaska. This location was partly used as a flying field and cemetery. In 1948 the Government decided to enlarge the flying field — necessitating the removal of all graves. The families had the option of a new location in Alaska or returning the remains to the States. Michael's body was returned to Medina, with military escort and reburied in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in September 1948. Mary Catherine graduated from St. John's Academy in Jamestown and employed there for several years. She spent several years in Wisconsin, finally returning to North Dakota and now is manager of Clair's Botique Shop in the new West Acres Shopping Center, Fargo, North Dakota. Michael Sr., or Mike or M. D. as Mr. Higgins was known, was born in the State of Pennsylvania December 29, 1859 and came with his parents to Stanton, Wisconsin when just a small boy. He attended a country school and farmed with his father, until he married Mary Crotty and they farmed their own land until the call of the great opportunities of the west brought them to North Dakota, locating at Medina. The mother and family came by train, except for the father and son Walter, who traveled in the railroad car with the household goods, machinery and livestock. This method of travel is known on the railroad as an "EMS" car or emigrant and stock car. In order to entice families to the Western States the railroads had a special ticket, known as "The Land Seekers Ticket" available out of St. Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday night each week. This was the price of a one way ticket plus $1.00 for the round trip from St. Paul, to location desired. Mr. Higgins was in the Real Estate and Insurance business for many years. His work was locating homesteaders. Many of the families in this part of the State were located on their present farms by him. An 193 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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