| Summary: | Farmers Union Insurance The General Supply Company The General Supply Company had its beginning back in 1905 when the Grondahl-Amonrud Company was formed. Twenty thousand dollars worth of shares were purchased to form the new company. The company had a good beginning and they were able to pay a few dividends in the beginning years. Soon, other farmers in the area were allowed to buy stock in the company as it expanded its original capital. The company began selling cars, tractors and other machinery at an early date. Buggies, also, were sold. Too easy credit and unlimited installment buying almost caused the company to collapse many times. It was one of these times of difficulty that the name was changed to The General Supply Company. In 1945 A. W. Christensen and R. K. Johnson bought out the original stockholders and other owners of stock in the corporation. R. K. Johnson had previously been manager. Mr. Johnson passed away on November 28, 1955. After which A. W. Christensen and Mrs. R. K. Johnson became the remaining owners of the General Supply Company. Mr. Christensen took over the management of the company and continued to handle International farm machinery, Chevrolet cars, trucks and hardware. In 1964 Al Swan took over the International dealership and Christensen continued with hardware, Chevrolet cars and trucks. On March 15, 1967, this familiar landmark, the General Supply Company went down in flames. Mr. Christensen's shop, which was once the Maddock post office, also burned. The loss in the fire was estimated at $50,000 to $60,000, partially covered by insurance. The loss included many of the company's records. The Christensens have since moved to Seattle, Washington where they are in business. + + + By Arlo Schmidt The North Dakota Farmers Union in 1945 organized their own insurance company. They called it Farmers Union Mutual. At this time all they sold was property insurance and primarily farm buildings. The agents were farmers and they cal led on their neighbors door to door. Mr. Orville Knote was the first representative from Maddock. He continued as agent until 1961 when he retired. During those years the company expanded and went into the auto business, then life insurance, hail insurance and hospital insurance. In March of 1961, Mr. Arlo Schmidt moved from Aneta, North Dakota, where he had been manager of a grain elevator and took over the Farmers Union Insurances for Benson County. He had the same office where Mr. Knote started 16 years earlier. Throughout the years both Mr. Knote and Mr. Schmidt employed various people as office personnel. The office is now run by Arlo and his wife Marion. The Farmers Union Insurance Company is now the largest writer of Property Insurance in the state of North Dakota. They also insure more cars and trucks than any company in the state. They have for the past ten years written more hail insurance than any other company in the state of North Dakota. The total amount of premiums generated through the office in 1975 from Benson County was in excess of $200,000. + + + Lee's Fashions By Emma Lee Emma Lee operated a Ladies' Ready to Wear Shop known as Lee's Fashions from 1958 until 1962. She first opened a shop in the Legreid building and then moved to the Cleveland building, now the Red Owl Store. The Cleveland building was divided into two sections at that time with Lee's Fashions in one part and Herb's TV and radio service in the other. Cooperative Store Association By O. B. Knote The Cooperative Store Association was incorporated November 2, 1937 and opened for business on October 17, 1938 in the former Cleveland Building. The original Board of Directos were: Walter Aanderud, President; Ronald Riggin, Vice President; M. M. Camrud, Secretary-Treasurer and Andrew S. Erickson and O. B. Knote. Others serving on the Board of Directors during the years were: John Rasmussen, M. O. Bratvold, Elmer N. Ellingson, Charles Ehnert, Gordon Lynne and Joe Haagenstad. J. B. Dyrud was the first manager and continued in that capacity until 1954 when he resigned. Other managers were: Milford Olson, Oscar O. Carlson, Mrs. Emma Lee was acting manager from the time Mr. Olson resigned until Mr. Carlson came. After Mr. Carlson resigned Edna Camp and Myrtle Haugen were co-managers until the store closed. The first clerks were Henry Smith, Mrs. J. B. Dyrud and Mrs. C. N. Gilbertson. Other clerks and helpers during the years were Donald, Jimmy and Jerry Morken, Mrs. Walter Aanderud, Agnes Wick, Carol Pederson, Esther Smith and Veloy Vallier. The store flourished for several years and then sales began to drop and the Board finally called a special meeting of all the stockholders to decide what to do. After much discussion it was voted that should sales continue to drop during the next year the directors were requested to dispose of the merchandise and close the store. On Saturday, October 29, 1966 an auction sale was held and the remaining merchandise and all the furniture and fixtures were sold and the store was closed. + + + Johnson Electric By Carl Johnson In the spring of 1947 a new business was started in Maddock. Carl G. Johnson returned to Maddock in 1946 to work at the Municipal Light Plant. He received his Masters Electricians License and started the electrical business from his garage in the city and called it Johnson Electric. This business has remained active since, with the exception of the years of 1953 and 1955 when he worked for the North Atlantic Constructors in Thule, Greenland. + + + 103 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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