| Summary: | .■ -i ■ ■ ■ :' ■ Capt. Atkins and family on homestead. Atkins—Maza Townships Homesteaders on their way north in 1883 struck their claims on some of the finest land in the area, long before the railroad came. The pioneers arrived from all sections of the east and south, attracted by the publicity of opportunities on the level plains. Among the first who staked their claims in late 1882 and early 1883 were E. E. Priest, R. J. Walker, Theodore Walker, Nels and 0. A. Sather, L. J. Ransier, W. E. Pew, Garret Marks, M. J. Kildahl, C. J. Atkins, A. D. Plummer, John S. Olson and John McVey. Sam Ransier also came to this area that year, but he homesteaded at Hansboro and returned in 1901 to Maza. With J. A. Johnson as a partner, Mr. Ransier ran a general store for 38 years, until he sold to H. C. Gunderson. This was to be the last remaining business in Maza, for the store was closed when the Gundersons retired in 1961. Now the new highway wipes out the last remnant of the village. The spring of 1884 brought J. L. and Frank Harvey; K. F. Ebner; R. W. Main; Frank, William and Ed Beatty; J. C. Brown, John Rocke; R. L. Parsons; A. F. Blair; David, William, Thomas and Edward Gorman; W. H. Bradshaw; and John Bennett. In 1885, Hugh and William Metcalf, Emil and J. F. Plath and John Rader arrived. J. B. Madison and Henry Timms and his son George came in 1886. Settlers in 1887 were Konrad Holien, Charles McVey, William Carlson, Andrew Isaacson, Thomas Baker and Charles Garner; and in 1888, Andrew Holien, William Hayes and Perry Parker arrived. 1890-92 brought F. A. Hughes, E. A. Kugel, Ed and Steve Isaacson, Henry Alvis, Andrew Holmquist, John Johnson, F. P. Gehres, Al and Richard Fogarty. In 1900, J. A. Overton, E. E. Owens, A. W. and Joe Gang came; and in 1906, E. H. Williams, Henry Miller and Henry Kreklow arrived. Along with the farms, a small village with "big ideas" came into being; and Maza still has one of the largest incorporated areas of any village known, a total of 36 square miles. Maza is thought to have been named for Maza Chante, a Sioux Chief known as Indian Heart in the Minnesota Indian Wars. In 1879, he operated a ranch and mail-stage station at the junction of five roads at the south end of Devils Lake. 39- The town of Maza was established in 1888, the post office was established on January 16, 1893, with Lewis J. Ransier as postmaster, and the village was incorporated in 1922. The interests of these pioneers were varied and their contributions to the new community were many. The Methodist group first met in the K. F. Ebner home for Sunday School and then erected a church at Maza. The Walker, Ebner, Beatty, Madison and Main families were among the charter members. This church burned and then was rebuilt in 1896, with Rev. Eugene May as pastor. In 1897, when Rev. May resigned, members completed the inside furnishings of the new church in his honor as a farewell present. The parish was served by the Cando pastor and in 1956, it was closed. A Literary Club also flourished during the Gay Nineties at Maza. Debates were held on national issues, and exchange debates with Cando excited great interest. Top debaters were Stoney and Price Atkins, F. A. Hughes, J. A. Kugel, L. J. Ransier and Joe Armey. In 1897, a debate was held with Cando on whether Hawaii should be annexed. Maza was adjudged the winner before one of the largest crowds ever gathered there. Business places about the turn of the century included a general store owned by J. L. Harvey, who besides his farming interests and managing the first store in Maza was responsible for the organization of the Democratic Party in Towner County. He was also on the first Board of Trustees at the Cando Catholic Church. His race track attracted some of the better race horses in the area, too. The other general store was owned by Ed Beatty, who was postmaster and also sold machinery. G. F. Schuman had a hotel and Emil Plath ran a blacksmith shop. There was the St. Anthony lumber yard and two elevators - the St. Anthony and Dakota - which L. J. Ransier managed, and the Massuer and Walker elevator. In 1909, the latter elevator was purchased by Dave Blair, who managed it for 38 years in addition to his extensive farming interests. The elevator was purchased by H. L. Conaway in 1947, who operated it until 1955, when it burned and was then rebuilt by the McCarthy brothers. It was later sold and moved out of the area. Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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