| Summary: | Marion has been fortunate to always have had doctors of exceptional ability, who were sincerely dedicated to the service of mankind and Doctor Merrett will always occupy a special place in the memories of people of this community. Sperger Family Sam Sperger was born January 1, 1860, at LeRoy Wisconsin. His wife, Barbara Ochsner, was born also at LeRoy, August 6, 1866. After making several trips to the Dakota Territory before his marriage in 1890, Mr. Sperger, his wife and seven children came to North Dakota in 1906. Faith in the growing possibilities of this rough prairie land convinced him that it was a good state in which to rear his family. Sutton, North Dakota, was the Sperger's first home in this state. Here the two youngest children were born. The family moved to Sanborn residing there for a time before coming to Marion. They resided! on the William Well's farm seven miles north of town where they reared their six daughters and three sons. Mrs. Sperger says "When we came to North Dakota it took us three days on the train, and now we can make the same trip in one day by the modern means of transporation. When we first came here we farmed with our four horses, now we farm twice the amount of land faster and cheaper, with our three tractors. Mrs. Sperger is still active in spite of her advanced age of 83 years. Her greatest interests are her children and grandchildren, who are as follows: Mrs. A. W. Ede (Katherine) Spokane, Wash.; Mrs. A. W. Peterson, (Christine) Bismarck, N. O.; Arthur, Andy and Sam Sperger, of Marion. Mrs. Fred Sarbaum (Ann) of Marion; Mrs. Fred Loy (Lucille) Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. C. A. Carlson (Clara) Moorhead; Mrs. J. J. Vanda (Josephine) Baldwin, Wisconsin. "Grandchildren" Richard Ebentire, Courtenay, N. D.; Robert and Jack Sarbaum, Daniel and Nancy Carlson. Mr. Sperger passed away in 1937, in his home north of Marion, after residing in North Dakota for.31 years. He was 77 years of age at the time of his death. Mrs. Sperger and her three sons still reside on the farm north of Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Ingvart Brox Mr. and Mrs. Ingvart Brox homesteaded in Greenland township in 1882 and they are often referred to as the first homesteaders in the township. It is not definite whether they were the first family or the second in the township. Their homestead is still in the family and is owned by a grandson, Albert H. Berg. They raised a family of six children. Still living are: Mrs. Gilbert Berg (Helga), LaMoure, N. D.; Mrs. Willie Olson (Inga) Gallatin Gateway, Mont.; Mrs. Magnus Bakken (Emma) Shetek, Wis.; Mrs. Martin Martinson (Mabel), Litchville, North Dakota. Mrs. Mary Bakken and Fred Brox have passed on. Mr. and Mrs. Ingvart Brox brought with them a small amount of lumber (from Valley City) and built a small shack, and when they found the section stakes they found that their building was on the wrong quarter, that now is farmed by Norman Olstad. The building proved too cold, so a sod house and barn were built. The sod house was used for a chicken coop until about 20 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Berg (a daughter) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at LaMoure during 1949. The pioneer Broxes have a large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kaiser Edward Kaiser was born in Germany April 10, 1860. As a lad of 11 he came to America with his parents and settled on a farm at Waseca, Minnesota. On Nov. 1, 1882, he was united in marriage to Bertha Miller of Wells, Minn. Mrs. Kaiser was born in a log cabin on the Miller homestead, Aug. 28, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser settled on a farm at Wells, Minn. After eight years he disposed of it and moved to Wells, where he operated an implement business for 16 years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser became members of the Evangelical church in their youth and remainded steadfast in their faith. Their home was blessed with 12 children. Three of the children died in a diphtheria epidemic and one other in her infancy. Mr. Kaiser was told by a doctor that he would have to settle elsewhere due to Mrs. Kaiser's health. Then he decided to come to North Dakota. In 1904 he sold his implement business and came to Marion, N. D., where he purchased 640 acres of prairie southeast of Marion. Mr. Kaiser, his men, and Jess Bursack; Jamestown, N. D., broke up the land with a steam engine and horses. They lived in tents and built a little each year. The neighbors were helpful and Grandma Rothenburger baked bread for them. This kindness was never forgotten. In 1906 Mr. Kaiser coaxed his eldest daughter, Amelia (Mrs. Ira Fandrey, Jamestown, N. D.) to come and see if she thought the family wocld like it here. She and Lydia Spoerl (Mrs. Art Schneider, Davenport, N. D.) cooked for the men in a cook car. Mrs. Fandrey also taught at the'Korn school west of C. Korn's farm. Some of the families who attended were C. Korns, Trapps, Waldies, Wheelers, Keenes and 45 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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