| Summary: | donated to the Minneapolis Institute of Art where two of them, the western paintings, still hang. The Yukon Freighter, sent out to De restored, was destroyed by fire. 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. 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 David Dion. Albert Tessman resides with his sister Marie Fisk, the oldest resident of Rubin Township. Rubin Township must have been investor's paradise in 1928. The Atlas shows over 12,000 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 or. Section 12 in Lakota Township. He came from Scotland County, Mont, in the spring of 1883. He was considered one of the most extensive agriculturists in the county. D.C. 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. 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. He had lived on this farm several years before his Barn built on Berriedale farm still stands on original site on Louis Hamel farm. 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 bringing 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, Calif. Records show he owned all or parts of Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 18. Rubin Township, 150N range 57W is made up of an ethnic group of European descendents, although the biggest percent are of Scandinavan decent. Many of the first settlers came from southeastern states rather than directly emigrating from Europe. There are no descendents of the original settlers living in the township at the present time. The Fred Enlow family is the only settler before 1900 whose name is still found in the area. Mrs. Fred Enlow and Mrs. Bill Enlow, daughtrrs-in-law of the Fred Endows live in Lakota, N.D. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Uriell and Lawrence came via railroad from Iowa in 1902. He purchased the farm Lloyd and son James still live on. Every building was built and tress were planted by the Uriells. Viola, Irvin, Lloyd and John (twins) and Mary Ellen (Wigen) were born there. Lloyd Uriell, Kenneth and Virgil Estvold sons of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Estvold are the only residents living in the township who were born here of early settlers. Art Estvolds originated the farmstead Kenneth and family lives on in Section 29. They purchased the land from Herman Garside in 1918. 231 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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