Golden jubilee, 1905-1955: Upham, North Dakota, June 3 and 4, 1955

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library
• Subjects: Akra; Esther; Goodman; Gudmundson; Homestead; Ida; Pratt; Randall; Iceland
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/48721

there on February 28, 1905. Many times John became lonesome for his native land. To be sure, North Dakota with its severe winters, hard work, and prairies were much different than Switzerland. One of the main reasons for his discontent was the lack of running water. In Switzerland there are springs everywhere and every home has an ample supply of cold running water. However, fate has a way of stepping in now and then. A hardware salesman persuaded John to install a large pressure tank and pump just to see if running water could be installed in a North Dakota home. The experiment was a success and the Zurcher home had running water as early as 1906. In 1916, the Zurchers installed an electric lighting system and by 1926 their home was completely modernized. John Zurcher was always and still is active in school, government, and community affairs. For 12 years he served offices in Pratt township. He was county commissioner, a director of the Farmers Elevator, and a member of the board of supervisors of the Soil Conservation district. He also served two terms as representative from the 34th legislative district. John also is the oldest director of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. of Rugby, having served in that capacity for 38 years. Mr. and Mrs. Zurcher had nine children, all of whom are living. They are: Elmer Zurcher, Upham; Paul Zurcher, Upham; John H. Zurcher, Jr., Eckman; Art Zurcher, Tunbridge; Mrs. Carl Randall ((Anna), Towner; Mrs. Dwight Rothchild (Margaret), Rugby; Mrs. Ervin Bethke (Leona), Upham; Mrs. Rudy Luscher (Esther), West Linn, Oregon; Mrs. John L. Meyers (Ida), Portland, Oregon. The Zurchers retired from the farm and moved to Towner in the fall of 1948. However, they still manage to keep busy with their varied interests and hobbies. Perhaps few people know it, but those who have heard him, will agree that John is adept at yodeling. It is an art he learned while a child in Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Zurcher are members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, located 9 miles west of Upham. There, last February, they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with all nine of their children present. John Zurcher had this to say about the Upham community: "I lived nearly a half century in the Upham vicinity. They are a high class of people and I enjoyed every minute while living amongst them." JON J. GOODMAN Jon J. Goodman was one of the very earliest pioneers to establish his home in what is now the Upham community. Born in Iceland he came to the United States with his parents in September 1881, making their home at Elk Rapids, Michigan for three and one half years. In 1884 they moved to Akra, North Dakota where they made their home for the next three years. Unable to establish a homestead at Akra, the family decided to push westward, leaving Akra in November of 1886 in the company of Helgi Gudmundson, Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.