| Summary: | In North Dakota the range lines are counted from the fifth Principal Meridian west of Greenwich, longitude 91 degrees 93 minutes 42 seconds. This north and south line runs through eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. The townships are numbered from a base line, latitude 34 degrees 44 minutes 00 seconds north of the Equator. This east and west line cuts across southern Oklahoma. Section 16 of each township was set aside for support of the Public Schools by the Federal Government. Additionally, the State of North Dakota set aside Section 36 of each township for the same purpose. The homestead records to be published later do not show the disposition of the school sections, nor do they include the recipients of the tracts of land that were set aside for the various State institutions. This information may be found in the local county records. A record of homesteads is maintained in the Bureau of Land Management, Division of Field Services, Status and Records Section 1728 L. St., N.W., Washington, D.C. The information is compiled in tract books which list the homesteaders name, description of the land, claim numbers and dates. The books are available for public inspection. The individual homestead files are in the National Archives. They contain the original homestead application, final proof certification, and various other supporting documents, many of a personal nature. Photocopies of the contents of these files may be obtained for about $2.00 depending upon the contents of the file. Requests should be addressed to The National Archives, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, Washington 25, D.C. Those interested in a map of their farm or other area, may obtain a topographical map of any land in the Maddock vicinity from the Denver Distribution Section, Geological Survey, Federal Center, Denver 25, Colorado. These maps are approximately 15 inches by 23 inches and cover about 40 square miles. They cost 30 cents a piece. Twelve maps are required to show the complete nine townships around Maddock. Additionally, any person in this area may obtain an aerial photograph of their land by forwarding a request to the Western Laboratory, Compliance and Aerial Photography Division, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 2505 Parley's Way, Salt Lake City 9, Utah. The individual photographs range from 70 cents for a 10 by 10 inch image to $5.50 for a 40 by 41 inch image. The Skram Family by Mrs. John M. Fluke (Lyla Skram) For years I've proudly repeated my mother's words, "Dad built almost all of Maddock up to 1916." These are the words of Mrs. John M. Fluke of Seattle, Wash., who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Olaf John Skram. Mr. Skram received his architectural education in Bergen and Oslo, coming to the U.S.A. at age 24. He married Anne Marie Rodberg, May 9, 1903 In Benson, Minn, and came at once to Maddock. He built many homes, including his "spacious 10 room home", presently the home of Helen Stensby, so the clipping from the Maddock paper stated in 1910. Mr. Skram had his own cement plant and Mr. Hans Lysne was his head mason. He brought several young men from Norway to construct the many churches in and out of Maddock (Albert and North Viking, being two of the churches) the banks, Farmers Union Station, City Hall, Isabel School and many homes. He was also appointed to look after the work In behalf of the county when the Benson County Agricultural and Training School was built by a Grand Forks firm In 1915. Mrs. Skram was equally energetic as president of the Ladies Aid, Sunday School Supt. and teacher. She also made many of the funeral shrowds because of her fine needlework. There were four children, all born in Maddock, the fourth , a son, died at age 4 in Colorado where the family had moved in 1916. Besides Mrs. Fluke (Lyla) the other two children are Joycelin of Napa, Calif., and Sylvia Stagner of Wash., D. C. If Maddock is 75 years In '76 and Mr. Skram arrived the summer of 1903, he was an authentic pioneer. In 1909 he visited the Alaska Yukon Exposition In Seattle and felt It was another Norway and finally moved there in 1928. He passed away in 1934 and Mrs. Skram lived on to be 91 and died In 1973 after a lifetime of working in Christian education and temperance work. Mr. and Mrs. Fluke visited Maddock four years ago (1973) her first visit back since 1916 and In August, 1974 the whole family stopped by after their older son's wedding in Bemidjl, Minn. Soren Skram, O. J. Skram's younger brother, came from Norway to be on O. J. Skram's crew of builders but after O. J. left Maddock, Soren went to Mason City, Iowa. Abe Kvalhelm married Mrs. O. J. Skram's next youngest sister, Augusta, who was brought on a stretcher (In last stages of tuberculosis) to Colorado four years later where she died. Abe took the three children, Olger, Waldemar (Bud) and Agnes to Seattle and remarried in three years. Abe and Dad were In business together until Dad died. The Ervln Buchwitz home was originally Abe Kvalhelm's home. Abe was President of Sons of Norway for several years and a member of the Norse Male Chorus and Treasurer of the Norway Center (built by the Sons of Norway). He Is called "Father of Norse Home" because It was his idea to build a Retirement Home for Norsemen. It was the first government aided Home built in the U.S. An oil painting of him hangs in the dining room of the Home. Abe dropped dead at a banquet of Sons of Norway just after the cornerstone was laid for the Norse Home. Abe's children, Olger and Agnes are living in Seattle. Bud died two years ago of a mysterious illness. 68 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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