| Summary: | After living on the homestead for five years the folks obtained title to it by taking witnesses and going to Williston (then the County seat) and appearing before the Land Commissioner and proving that they had met the requirements of homesteading. By 1909, the folks had bought some of the other homesteaders out who made only the one-year proof and then paid the government $1.25 an acre to prove their homestead up. The folks made the five year proof by living on the homestead. About 1913 they built their permanent home on the banks of Long Creek (NE 1/4 Sec. 4, Township 163, Range 97). They continued to make their home on this farm until the last years of their lives which they spent in Crosby. Before tractors were used, a herd of 20 horses were maintained on the farm, together with two ponies for us children. In the winter when there was no work for these horses to do they would be turned loose to roam the prairie and forage their own food. They would occasionally wander home and with their long coats of fur were something to see. The children were: Gordon, now living near Tacoma, Washington; Grace, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Cecelia (Mrs. Clarence Johnson), of Minneapolis, and John, of Minneapolis. Harold, oldest son, lives at West Fargo, North Dakota. OVERTON WOOLFREY Overton Woolfrey was born in Lewisporte, Newfoundland. In 1912, he came to North Dakota to visit his step-brother, Rev. Francis Boone, who was a Methodist minister at Oriska. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Woolfrey enrolled in Aakers Business College at Fargo. After completing the course, the school sent him to Crosby to fill a vacancy in the Register of Deeds Office. This job paid $50 per month and the hours were 8 to 5. The courthouse at that time was a two-story frame building situated where the present courthouse now stands. The offices of county officials were on the first floor; the court room on the second floor. In a smaller building at the rear were the sheriff's office and jail. When the county decided to build a new courthouse, the old one was then sold to Allen Person. He sawed it in two pieces, one half of which was placed on the Paul Person farm, and the other half was placed on a corner of land several miles south of Crosby. After working for three months, Mr. Woolfrey was offered a better position as bookkeeper for the Kjorlien Hardware Company. This job paid $75 per month. The hours were longer however, because the stores in Crosby were open every evening until at least 10 p.m. There were also two other hardware stores, the Jones Brothers and Evans and Buck. All of those sold buggies, autos, and farm machinery in addition to a general line of hardware, paint, guns, etc. In 1918, he went into the banking business, becoming cashier of the First National Bank. The location of this bank was on the property which is now occupied by the Standard Oil Station. It was a frame building which eventually was sold and made into a residence by Mr. O. A. Steffler. On main street there were three blocks of sidewalks with a lamp post on each corner. Every evening these were lit by the policeman, Mr. Jack Weeding, who was also the janitor of the courthouse. There was no water, sewer or electricity. However, a small electric plant was constructed by Huso and Kately. This was located at the site of the new Klebe Launderama. In 1920, Mr. Woolfrey returned to Newfoundland for a visit. The following year, he was married to Miss Annie Jane Young, a school teacher from Twillingate, Newfoundland. Not having much time off from the bank, he met her in Toronto, Ontario, where they were married. This was the home of his brother. After a honeymoon at Niagara Falls, the couple traveled west on the Great Lakes and thence by train through Canada. They were met at Estevan by Harry Martin who was then president of the bank. Rain for a week had softened the dirt roads and travel was nigh impossible. The wild ride home to Crosby in the Model "T" was like a nightmare for the new bride! However, the journey was made safely and the couple soon established their home in Crosby. A few years later Mr. Woolfrey began work with the First and Security State Bank which he continued until the bank closed in 1931. His next employment was Deputy Register of Deeds, and subsequently County Auditor until his resignation in 1961. Throughout the years, Mr. & Mrs. Woolfrey have been active members of the community, and the Presbyterian Church. He served as Divide County Red Cross secretary for 20 years. He was also City Auditor for 40 years. In the church he was an Elder and Clerk of Session for 30 years, Church Treasurer for 20 years. Secretary and Treasurer of the Sunday School for 25 years. Mrs. Woolfrey has been active in women's clubs and has been church organist for 40 years. The family has two sons, Dr. Harold J. Woolfrey, is a dentist in Crosby, and Dr. Bertram F. Woolfrey, is a physician on the staff of the University of Minnesota Medical Schoo 1 in the Department of Pathology. The Kjorlien Hardware Store. Left to Right - O. Woolfrey, Jake Nordstog, Kjorlien, H. J. Nordstog and Carl Berg. Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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