Emmons County history : compiled for the bicentennial, 1976

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library 2014
• Subjects: Bismarck; Garry; Hay Camp; Homestead; McAllister; Talmadge; Beaver Creek
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/13441

Mr. and Mrs. Bart Lee with their grandchildren: Anna Carley, Carl Woods, Laura Kyes and Sarah Carley. W. B. "BART" LEE (1850-1922) and ELLEN RICHARDS LEE (1853-1919) A covered wagon was the means of transportation when W. B. Lee, his wife and three small children, Flora, Will and Maria, moved from Iowa to Dakota Territory in 1884. Within a few days' travel of their distination, a sudden sleet storm tore the canvas from the wagon and drenched the entire contents. Dry firewood was unavailable, so bedding and clothing could not be used. They realized that they would have to find shelter for the night, so they struggled ahead until a farm was sighted. Imagine their dismay when the farmer answered their plea for assistance by telling them his children had diptheria! They were faced with freezing on the prairie, a certain death, or exposing the family to a possible illness in a frontier country without a doctor. They chose to stay, so the host moved his family into one room and permitted the Lee's to use the other. A roaring fire was built, bedding and clothing dried, and beds improvised on the floor. The next day, after repairing and repacking the wagon, the group continued on their journey. The first night in Emmons County was spent near Winona, which was then a flourishing city. Mrs. Lee thought the Indians were on the warpath because there was so much noise and confusion. The next morning Bart went to the store to replenish the grocery supply, and thinking they would reach their destination before night, spent the rest of his money for candy for his children. Travel was slow, but they arrived at the Beaver Creek bridge before nightfall. Much to Mr. Lee's surprise, a toll was to be paid before they could cross, and he had no funds. However, Mr. Archambough knew his brother "Top" Lee very well, so they were permitted to cross free of charge. (In 1884, just as today, it paid to know the right people). HERBERT C. LILJA (1903-1966) Herbert C. Lilja was born near Groton, S. Dak. As a young boy he came to Emmons County and attended grade school north of Kintyre. Later he attended barbers' school in Fargo. He married Catherine McAllister on November 28, 1933, and moved to Linton where he practiced the barber trade. As a young man, Mr. Lilja was well-known as a boxer in this area. Later he established himself as a sportsman and gained considerable recognition as an amateur photographer. The Liljas were the parents of two daughters: Mrs. Answar Aziz (Kathleen) Chaudry, Lahore, West Pakistan, and Mrs. Alfred (Shirley) Schainblattof Reston, Va. TALMADGE P. LEE (1852-1936) ANN TAUGER LEE (.1914) T. P. "Top" Lee, one of the earliest residents of Emmons County and one of its first county officers, was born in New York. When he was 24 years old he came to Dakota Territory and worked as a freighter at Cannonball. Coming across the river to Emmons County, he hauled water at Winona for several years and with his father, William S. Lee, who came from Iowa in 1895, he acquired considerable land. He operated a ranch just north of Linton and another ranch down on the river. He owned the Central Hotel in Braddock from early 1899 to 1911, when he traded.it for a farm north of Braddock. Married in 1880, he always referred to his wife as "Lady Anne". They had no children, but raised two foster children: Roy J. Lee and Mrs. J. B. (Mary) Rott. WILLIAM H. LEE (Story written by Mrs. Garry O'Callaghan, Sr.) William H. Lee was born May 24, 1873 to Mr. and Mrs. William B. "Bart" Lee in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. In 1884 he, with sisters and parents, traveled to Dakota Territory in a covered wagon drawn by a team of oxen, settling in Emmonsburg. In 1897 he married Janie Devena Clark of Bismarck, a daughter of the John Clarks. They were the parents of four sons; John W., Elwood, William Jr. and Curtis F. Beside farming and dairying on his homestead, he drove the stage from Bismarck to Winona for a time. After selling their property they moved into Linton where they continued in the dairy business. In 1925 they moved to Rapid City, S. Dak. Mr. Lee died in 1963 and his wife in 1960. JOHN C. LEACH (18 -1929) (From a letter written by Lydia Stevenson Townsend) "John C. Leach was a giant of a man in his prime, and it seems I can see him yet swinging a bullwhip that resounded like a crack of a pistol as the creaking old wagons hauled by sturdy oxen weaved and swayed out onto the hazy Dakota prairies. "When Leach was running the hay camp for one of the Fort Rice contracts and camped in a lonesome country, a band of Sioux swooped down on the camp, stampeded the horses, and a fight ensued. The Indians stole nearly every horse in camp, owing to the fact that it was Sunday, most of the men were hunting and nearly all the firearms were gone. However, it was always thought that Hans. P. Christianson was the one who wounded Rain-In-The- Face that Sunday so long ago". JACOB A. LANG (1878-1950) LILLIAN MEWING LANG (1887-1955) Jacob "Jake" Lang, born in Clarence, N. Y., went to South Dakota as a young man to become manager of the Lamb Lumber Company. In 1904 he came to Linton and managed the Lamb yards here, a position he held for 22 years. In 1926 he was elected Register of Deeds and was still serving in that capacity at the time of his death. Always interested in sports, he was well-known as a baseball pitcher for the Linton team. He never lost that interest, even in later years. Children, especially, always came in for extra attention from Mr. Lang. Many a youngster can recall how he was treated to a free ticket to football, baseball and basketball games; others benefitted from Mr. Lang's generosity through candy bars and soft drinks. He was married May 10, 1905 to Lillian Mewing. The couple had one son, Charles V., of Linton. The Linton Hatchery, now operated by "Chuck", was founded by his father in 1929 and operated by him until 1931. -134 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.