| Summary: | Dvorak's orchestra. Names such as Leikas, Paul, Larson, Megland, Wert, all willing to defend themselves. Of interest is the "Day Book" my father kept while operating the store. Those were the days you could get a box of snuff for a nickel and a pair of overalls for 80 cents. These are the reminiscences of George McHugh who was born in Rubin Township before the turn of the century. November 28, 1975. Mapes built a snowboat to pursue fleeting antelope over the frozen drifts around the territory of Mapes. Martin, Pierce, Sims, Smith, Oscar Nelson, Ed Benson, and presently, Gordon Nelson. Gordon and wife Darlene and family built up a new farmstead north of his folks farm. E.S. Mcllroy: came to Mapes, April, 1883 from Grand Forks, also a former resident of Crookston and other western points. He was a dealer in lumber and farm machinery; his trade being large and increasing. Andrea's Atlas, 1884 shows he owned Sections 21 and 22. A Nobleman from Scotland, Lord Beridale in 1884, decided there was more to expand in America. He decided to settle on what we know now as the Lewis Hamel farm. He had 3,040 acres. His birth name was John Sunderland Sinclair. Farm and Family History of Rubin Township In the past forty years Rubin township has lost most of its farmsteads. A count of about thirty original farmsteads are now gone with no sign of ever existing or with only a windmill, a weathered granary or barn. Most of these were in the eastern half of the township. At this writing in 1982 only four farmsteads with residents exist east of Mapes road No. 22. One nice farmstead with a modern house and other buildings remain without occupants. It is owned by Edmund Lamb of Michigan. Fourteen farms remain in the western half of the township. Most of the present residents moved into the area in the 1940's. Some have retired, leaving the farming to sons and some have passed away. Present farmers or residents still living on their farms are Gerald Steffan, Bart Wall, Laura Ronnie and Virgil Estvold, Thor Skjerseth resides in Mapes, all these are east of the road No. 22. West of Mapes road are Terrance Skjerseth, Clarence Sateren, Kenneth Estvold, Lloyd and James Uriell, Merle Steinmann, Merle Naismith, Hilda Nelson, Gordon Nelson, Louis Hamel, Marie Fisk, Marcus Schmidt, Alfred Miller, and Inger Dion and sons Larry and Daivd Dion. Albert Tessman resides with his sister Marie Fisk. Rubin township must have been investor's paradise in 1928. The Atlas shows over 1 2,000 acres of 23,040 owned by investment, insurance and land companies plus a few private land investors, namely, Goldammer, Gronna, Murphy and Lamb. This meant the township did not have residence stability. Renters moved often, almost yearly, finding it too hard to make a living and had no means to acquire money to purchase the land. The history of the following farms gives us an idea of how quickly land was bought and sold Many within a few days. The first ownership mentioned is year the patent was received. They had perhaps lived there 1 to 5 years by that date. These three men were also credited with the development of Mapes. (copied from Andrea's Historical Atlas of Dakota 1884) F.M. Harris: farmer and stock-raiser on Section 12 in Lakota township. He came from Scotland County, MT. in the spring of 1883. He was considered one of the most extensive agriculturists in the county. DC Herndon: Farmer and stock-raiser on Section 20. A former resident of Meade County. He advented to Mapes area in 1883. He made a specialty of handling blooded horses, bringing some of the finest thoroughbreds from Kentucky, consequently contributing more towards raising the standard of horse flesh in the county than any man. He also owned land in Lakota and Clara Township. In Rubin he settled on the Hilda Nelson farm. Former owners have been Jesse Henry, Edwin Hutchinson, Ben Estes, Bob Road building 50 years ago-through McHugh Slough. Fred Enlow is one of drivers. Area under water now. He had lived on this farm several years before his neighbors discovered that he was actually Lord Beridale of Scotland, and Baronet of Nova Scotia, that he owned an ancient castle and had a right to a seat in Parliament. While delivering butter in Lakota, he inherited his third title, Earl of Caithness in Northern Scotland. He never used any other title than "MR." He erected imposing buildings, one a creamery. He had a herd of 55 dairy cows producing about 50 lbs. of butter daily. He shipped most of his butter to Montana markets and delivered the rest personally to private customers in Lakota. It was his habit to stop on his way to town to inquire of his farm neighbors, whether they needed anything or some errand done for them while he was in Lakota. A large crew of men was necessary to operate the dairy business, care for the stable of thoroughbred horses and till the large grain fields. Many workers came from Scotland, their transportation paid for by Mr. Sinclair. One man reports he had 30 men working for him. He had a platform on top of the granary where he sat with field glasses to watch the progress of the field work. Here he could see his 30 mules, 4 to a gang plow turning over the soil in the early spring; later the hay making and harvest. He'd also drive his buckboard over the fields bring meals and refreshments to his crews. In 1905, he sold the farm and Lakota neighbors honored him with a farewell banquet. He returned to Scotland but later came to live in Peace River territory of Canada, then to California where he served as secretary of a copper mining corporation. Following injuries in a traffic accident he died in 1914 and was buried at Forest Lawn, CA. Records show he owned all or parts of Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 & 18. Rubin township, 150N range 57W is made up of an ethnic group of European descendants, although the biggest percent are of Scandinavian decent. Many of the first settlers came from southeastern states rather than directly 189 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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