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& x* This Issue 20 rages 4* *2* Vol. 16 No. 30 SCHOOL OFFICERS HOLD CONVENTION Large Number Attend Important Meeting at Normal School Tues day—Held in Conjunction with Teachers' Institue. The convention was opened with singing in charge of Mrs. Amy Simp son, musical instructor at the Nor mal. President E. D. Skinner called the eating to order and delivered an ad dMaa replete with matter of an inter esting and instructive nature. Mr. Skinner himself was an educator in tha early days and for more than thirty years has been clerk of the Pleasant school district and there is paobably no man in the state who kmnra the needs of the rural schools better than President Skinner. His ad dmaa follows: lit. Chairman, Fellow School Officers, Ladies and Gentlemen: Wa are again assembled to inter chaag* our several suggestions and to listen to those higher up in the educa tional work in order to advance the standard of education in Ward county, North Dakota. anderstand that many counties in t.M« state are gathered, for the sane purpose. I realize my inability to ad visa and interest as you may expect. It was 31 years the first day of this month since I arrived and cast my lot with the citizens of Ward county. The people realized the need of education and at an early date established the little sod "shack" school houses and as I gave you the early history of the school in Ward county, together with a comparative statement with the sev eral counties of the state showing a high standard for Ward county, I will not follow that line farther. Today I wish to call your attention to some of the results of that "pioneer" educa tion. Those early pupils are largely our representative citizens of today. I am proud of them and all of Ward county citizens, after hearing the re sult of the call Oct. 17th, 1917, from the chief excutive of the United States for financial aid in time of need. We know the conditions existing in this vicinity and realize the cost to them to come forward at this time in re sponse to that call. We feel that they were correctly educated in that which constitutes good, true and noble man hood and patriotism. Such educa tion makes our nation what it is to day—the greatest nation on the globe. This comes largely from our free school system and its teaching. How necessary, then, that none but hon est, loyal, true and patriotic teach ers be employed, and I charge you each and every one, at this time, to look well to the patriotism of our teachers. I wish to call your attention to some of the conditions confronting us as a body of school officers. In the early history of this, and all new counties of this state, we found it difficult to meet the finance of main taining and operating a six or seven months term of school. Many locali ties in this state for a number of years paid the limit of 30 mills for every dollar assessed. We saw that we must carry out common school. At present the schools are better financ ed but much more is needed, and it is up to us as school officers to make every dollar count in educational ad vancement of the children of this county. First, we must, so far as possible, provide sanitary and comfortable buildings, then endeavor to make the surroundings pleasant, attractive and as homelike as possible, provide teachers who will give them good and correct instruction—that instruction necessary to make them model and patriotic citizens. To see that the necesary books are in the hands of the children. Then we must see that the child is taught to care for those books. I consider it the duty of every parent, teacher and school officer to insist that the child be taught to care for their books show them that they are( their siline friends. When other friends forsake them, those silent messengers are ready to comfort and amuse them. I realize many, perhaps some in this room, may think this does not belong to a school officer's duty. I say while it may not, it should be the duty of every parent, teacher and school of ficer in the land. I do not care who furnishes the books, we owe it to that child. Your children receive the full benefit of such instruction by learn ing to care for their books and other things needed in future life. As school officers we are practically custodians of vast sums of money to be paid out for the benefit of the chil dren of this country. It is our duty, therefore, to endeavor to use due dil igence in its distribution. As school officers we may assist our County sup erintendent and the general public in the adoption or rejection of any meas ure introduced for amendment of our school law. "An ounce of prevention is better tlian a pound of cure." In our capacity of school officers we must consider all complaints, etc., from parent, teacher and pupil. In fact, you are a board of arbitration in all such differences. You are elected to act on all cases to the best of your judgment, subject to the laws of the state of North Dakota. John Stalvick. You are called upon to consider and pass your judgment on many compli cated questions arising from our sev eral communities. In considering these matters carefully consider the rights and interests of each faction, always with an eye on the scale of Justice. Then in case any are dissat isfied they have the right of appeal to higher authority. We are not en dowed with the wisdom of Solomon, but let us do our duty to the best of our ability. I have been a servant of the people for many years and in several differ- Dw attendance of school officers at ent capacities, viz: 33 terms of the convention of the Ward county school officers' association held at the Miaot Normal school Tuesday, was largely attended. school, U. S. postmaster nearly six years school clerk, serving my 30th year. Early in life I resolved that I would learn my duties as a servant, charge myself with all responsibility belonging to my position and endeav ored to meet that resolution regardless 0 ffriend or foe. I am well satisfied with the result. I may say to you that it is far from easy to do this, but when you are able to do so your conscience is easy, and when you are called to defend that act by either friend or foe, that easy feel ing fully repays all the pain you suf fered. Finally consider you are one in the vast human family and as such are bound to all classes, socially, mentally, morally and in justice. Now, my dear friends, here is the best rule that 1 have ever found to live by and think that it will materially comfort us when we are called to pass to the "other shore:" "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." During the afternoon a demonstra tion was given in preparing a warm noon day lunch for the children. The instructor, Mrs. M. M. Hollis, prepared the lunch on a kerosene stove and samples were passed among the dele gates. Preparing warm lunches for the children in the rural schools is be ing practiced in some of our rural schools and the custom ought to be adopted in all of them. Often in the cold winter mornings, the youngsters eat an early breakfast and leave home at seven o'clock and without the warm lunch would be compelled to go until five o'clock in the afternoon with only a cold bite. An interesting talk was given in the afternoon by Miss Sullivan, dep uty superintendent of public instruc tion. A. E. Winship, editor of the Journal of Education, Boston, spoke for an hour in the afternoon. He is an unus ually entertaining speaker. In the evening Mr. Winship again addressed the gathering. For an hour and a half he talked on the subject of rural education, bringing out each point forcibly with some interesting story. Mr. Winship is a lecturer of national reputation and every teacher and school officer in the county should have heard him. The speaker made a plea for the farmer boy and girl. He said that this is a different age from that in which the parents of our chil dren lived when they were young. This is not the ox-cart period but the automobile period of our schooling. We have to speed up and adopt dif ferent methods from those of the past. Father may have been a self-educated man, but in these days of specializing, the children have to receive a differ ent sort of instruction. This is not the time to look back but forward. He referred to Lot's wife who turned to a pillar of salt when she looked back and said that some of those in charge of our schools were evidently salted down. He paid a high tribute to the North Dakota schools as a whole and says that North Dakota has reached the speed limit educationally and in spirationally. The following is a list of the school officers attending the meeting: Minot Special No 1.—Mrs. Florence Perkett, Martin Jacobson. Harrison, No. 2.—T. N. Wold, M. M. Chatfield, B. B. Mouck. Evergreen, No. 2.—Ed Robinson, J. L. VanBuskirk. Nedrose, No. 4.—C. D. Lambert. Burlington, No. 7.—Chas. Wistrom, J. M. Reiner, John Halvorson. Bell, No. 10.—D. J. Mahoney, Wm. Hecker, Robt. Waldref. Pleasant, No. 16.—C. S. Bieghle, I. G. Bunker, E. D. Skinner. St. Mary's, No. 17.—Geo. Pritchet, Chas Scribner, Adam Esser. Eureka, No. 19.—Joseph Linnertz, Fred Trumble. Stammen, No. 26.—Jas. L. Keough, Frank B. Schmidt, Ole O. Rostad, Mrs. Gretha Hooke, Joseph Haider. Denmark, No. 30.—Soren K. Paul sen. Elmdale, No. 33.—C. W. Wester gren, A. E. Newman. Baden, No. 34.—H. L. King, L. C. Christensen, M. E. Lundt, Carl T. Larson. McKinley, No. 3.—B. Solberg, R.,C. Pederson. Surrey, No. 41.—H. J. Young, J. A. Timroth, W. M. Brey. Spencer, No. 46.—Nels Karmgard, Carl Christianson. Sunny Slope, No. 53.—Dave Ska koon. Berthold, No. 54.—J. W. Calnan. Roosevelt, No. 58.—H. F. Neumann, N. D. Welty, Mrs. Mame Neumann. Tatman, No. 2.—Mrs. Ada M. Go win. Margaret, No. 3.—O. J. Kulseth mo, Mrs. A. W. Ebert, F. J. Freund, Joe M. Freund. Willis No. 4.—O. A. Saastad, E. A. w^ker. Freedom, No. 70.—M. 0. Hulberg, Frank Jylen. Viola, No. 73.—Oscar Norgard, Charley J. Johnson, J. F. Morrison, James Olson. Carpio, No. 80.—Geo. W. Brath, THE WARD COUNTY INDEPENDENT THE INDEPENDENT HAS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY WEEKLY PAPER IN THE STATE Mandan, No. 105.—J. W. Matzdorf, Frank Linster. Passport, No. 109.—J. E. Robinson, Frank Jensen, Mrs. E. F. Birdsell, W. W. Wixer. Darrow, No. 122.—F. W. Bishop, Mrs. F. W. Bishop. Frost, No. 127.—A. S. Johnson. Tolgen, No. 130.—R. Johnson, B. E. Edwardson, Mrs. J. R. Osborn. Maryland, No. 144.—John Bjorn. Linton, No. 150.—O. C. Larson. Shealey, No. 152—A Benton, Llewellyn. Lone Tree Special.—L. D. Mann. Foxholm Special.—Jens Glein, T. L. Simmons, C. E. Sherbum, Mrs. R. W. Kann. DENNY HANNAF1N DIED AT BISMARCK North Dakota's "Squatter Governor" Died After Long and Interesting Career. Denny Hannafin, the "Squatter Governor" of North Dakota, died at his home in Bismarck. Denny was a unique character and the legislators who have grown accustomed to his familiar figure about the legislative halls will miss him. He was 82 years of age and had been a friend to Sher man, Sheridan, Grant, Logan and Custer. He was born in Ireland and when 10 years of age, came to Amer ica with his parents. On the way over, his father died. When the family ar rived in Buffalo, Denny sold papers and blacked boots. At the age of 15, the lad worked on the construction of the Illinois Central railroad. He en listed in the 75th IU. Inf., at Amboy, 111., and was made a lieutenant for bravery at the battle of Feryville. Hannafin located at Bismarck before the state capitol was on the map. Hearing that some St. Paul capitalists were going to establish the Bismarck townsite along the Missouri, Denny rounded up some of his St. Paul friends and they preempted all the land along the river. The capitalists were compelled to locate the town a mile east, where it now stands. In September, 1873, he was fighting tha hostile Sioux where the city of Man dan now stands. At the first election in Bismarck, Hannafin was elected county auditor but he declined and started to prac tice law. However, his was too ad venturous a spirit and Denny, who had become a great rambler and walk er, became famous for this particular ability and made many long hikes through the northwest. Several years ago h6 was a candidate for the United States senate and he made his cam paign on foot over the state. Moving McCoy Furniture Stock. The work of moving the McCoy fur niture stock from the Anderson block to the new McCoy Furniture block on South Main street started Wednesday and by the last of the week the work will have been completed. This is no small task as several car loads of fur niture are included in the stock. Minot 78 Rugby 0. The Minot highschool football team defeated Rugby on the local gridiron last Saturday 78 to 0. The Rugby players were husky enough but they didn't have the proper training. PIONEER MINOT WOMAN AT REST Mrs. Anna Balerud Passed Away Thursday at the Ripe Old Age of 81 Years—A Life Well Spent. Mrs. Anna Balerud, one of the old time residents of Minot, passed away at her old home Thursday morning from the infirmities of old age. She was 81 years old ait the time of her death. The funeral was held Saturday from the Zion Lutheran church, the pastor, Rev. J. R. Michaelson preaching a comforting sermbn. In addition to the members of the family being pres ent, a great many old friends gather ed to pay their last tribute of love and respect for this good woman. The re mains were interred in Rose Hill cem etery. Mrs. Balerud was born in Halland, Norway and spent the early years of her life there. She was married in Norway and there several of the chil dren were born. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Balerud accompan ied by her little children, came to Am erica, settling in Freeborn county, Minn., on a farm. They resided there for two years, moving to Renville county, Minn., where they resided for several years. When the boys grew up and came west to Ward county, N. D., Ben, the eldest son, located here before Minot was on the map. He passed away in this city sixteen years ago. Mrs. Balerud came to Minot about sixteen years ago to be near her children and had resided here ever since. She was a woman of education and refinement. As a home maker she was unsurpassable. Deprived of the assistance of her husband by !his early death, she managed the affairs of the household and the farm with ability 1 1 .i- MINOT, WARD COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA, Thursday, November 8, 1917 Subscription $1.50 Per Annum and won a competence of this world's' goods and at the same time gave her children an excellent education. She! wap a good Christian woman and every Sunday morning in the Balerud home there was the hour of prayer and the reading of a chapter from the Bible. Amid such surroundings, it is little wonder that she reared her fam ily in such a way that they proved a comfort to her in her declining years. Three sons, Andre and Hans of this city and Amiund, of Crane Valley, Sa$k., and one daughter, Mrs. Wm. Organ of this city, survive. Thomas, a son, met with a sudden death in a binder accident at his farm near Plaza Aug. 14, this year. NSSraiHU mm HdDE Daughter of Prominent North Prairie Farmer Weds Emil A. Butenschoen Wednesday Afternoon. The marriage of Miss Florence Em ma Estlickk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Williami Estlick, to Emil A. Buten schoen, occurred at the Presbyterian church in this city at two o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. P. W. Er ickaon, the pastor, performing the ceremony. The couple were attended by Miss Ella Butenschoen, a sis ter' of the groom, and Mel vin Estlick, brother of the bride. Others witnessing the pretty and im pressive ceremony were the parents of tjhe contracting parties and a sister of the groom, Miss Hulda Buten schoen. The bride was becomingly attired in a gown of white silk crepe de chine and carried a bouquet of carnations. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents five miles north of the city which was .attended by the members of the families and a few intimate friends. A bountiful wedding supper wai served in the evening, the guests remaining for a pleasant social time. The couple have gone to housekeep ing on the groom's farm six miles northeast of Minot. The bride is a young woman of many charming qualities. She has re sided in this vicinity for a number of years, having come to Ward county with her parents from Iowa. The groom formerly resided at Davenport, la., and came to Ward county with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Buten schoen of this city, two years ago. He is an industrious young man. Both have a wide circle of friends who join the Independent in extending best wishes. Farmers Are Plowing. Mrs. A. W. Templeman from near Velva was shopping in Minot Tuesday. She states that the farmers have been plowing nearly all week, practically all of the snow being gone from the prairie. Will Play Championship Game Sat urday. The Minot football team will meet Williston in this city Saturday. Wil liston has one of the state's strongest teams, having defeated Fargo 40 to 0. If Williston can beat Minot, that team will become the state champions. QUARTO OF Pickockets and Thieves Face Serious Charges—Stole $290 Coat and Picked Foxholm Man's Pockets. Harry Keno and William Jeffries of St. Paul were arrested by the police Saturday, charged with picking the pockets of A. M. Reihle, a prominent Foxholm farmer, at the Soo station in this city. Reihle has identified the men who are held at the city jail awaiting their preliminary hearing. Reihle says that he was at the station preparing to board No. 105 to return home Saturday when a young man stepped in front of him and stooped down as if to pick up some article which he had dropped. The fel low straightened up and leaning against Reihle excused himself. At the same time, his pal from the rear, reached into Reihle's pants pocket and extracted the man's pocket book very carefully. Reihle did not know that his pockets were being picked, but thinking that the fellow in front was acting suspiciously, he reached his hands towards his pockets and felt another man's hand in the act of taking the pocketbook. He grabbed the pocketbook away from the thief, who got away in the crowd. He got a good look at both fellows. Reihle had less than a dollar in his pocket book. The same day in the afternoon, two St. Paul thieves, evidently pals of the two pickpockets, walked into the Fair store several times. Clerks asked them what they wanted and they re marked that their wives were being waited upon. Later in the afternoon mi "ii"i n* they aguin came into the store. A window in the rear of the store was) open and some valuable coats were hung on a rack near the window. It is presumed that one of the me" walk ed into the alley and the other grabbed a $290 Hudson seal coat and tossed it to him. The coat was soon missed and the salesladies suspected the two strangers, who were described as hav ing a mustache and wearing a stiff hat. A stranger wearing a cap and with a smooth face was picked up but as his description did not tally very well with the one given, he was turn ed loose. He put up a bold front and stopped at a leading hotel and said that he could be found there if want ed. The police got busy and advised the G. N. express office was notified, where the missing coat was found, wrapped and addressed to Miss Helen Jerome, Room 7, Grace Hotel, Superior, Wis. The woman evidently is a member of this gang. The following morning, one of the salesladies from the store was stationed at the hotel and she had no trouble in identifying Harris, not withstanding the fact that the fellow had exchanged his hat for a cap and was arrested. Harris' pal, Ben Stone, walked to Burlington Saturday after noon and boarded a train for Ken mare, where he was arrested by Of ficer Jack Kinster, who brot him to Minot Monday. The coat thieves have confessed. Keno and Jeffries tried to bribe the officers and gain their freedom, but there was nothing doing. They offer ed to put up $300 cash bail, which amount was to have been forfeited. Popular Young Couple Wed. The marriage of Miss Asta Wilhel ma Peterson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Petersen, to Gilham Thom son, occurred Friday, Nov. 2, at the home of the bride's parents, 209 Tenth St. northwest. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. R. Michael son, pastor of the Zion Lutheran church, in the presence of the relatives of the cou-)L\ A o-jiiteous wedl ng supper was served after the ceremciw. The happy eouplf will be at home Spokane, Wash., after Nov. 20, where tie groom is emp.oyed by a large auto concern. A host of friends wis'i the worthy couple well. Ask Gronna's Resignation. Thos. T. Hiner was elected president and 0. J. Kauffman, secretary of the National American Association which was organized at Velva last week to promote loyalty to the government. One of the first acts is the circulation of petitions asking Senator Gronna to resign on account of his attitude to ward the government in the prosecu tion of the war. Visit From Grand Worthy .Matron. Mrs. Elizabeth Parker, of Lisbon, N. D., Grand Worthy Matron of the East ern Star of North Dakota, visited Mi not this week. A reception was given in her honor at the Masonic Temple Monday afternoon and Tuesday even ing she inspected a school of instruc tion held by Mrs. L. J. Palda, Jr., dis trict deputy, at a meeting of Venus Chapter, O. E. S., at the Temple. Son Was Up and Coming. The file department was called to 701 So. Main street Sunday by a fire alarm that had been put in by mis take. A father had requested his son to get the garden hose for him and the lad, thinking that his sire desired the hose with which to put out a (ire, sent in an alarm. Lost Valuable Mare on Slippery Pave ment. Shortly after the recent snow, a valuable mare belonging to E. E. Diehl, a Willis township farmer, slip ped and fell on the pavement near the Union National Bank, bruising her hip. The animal was taken to a local livery barn and treated by a veteri narian, but blood poisoning set in and death resulted this week. Nephew Killed in Action. Mrs. Dan Hawkins of Sanish re ceived word from her brother, W. B. Carter of Glenee, Manchester, Eng land, that their only son, William, aged 21 years, had been killed in ac tion in France. He had been granted a furlough to return home on visit to his parents, but was killed just be fore he was due to leave. Six were together in the trenches when they were struck by a shell. William was killed instantly and the others wound ed, but have since died. Will Organize Miners. W. J. Verzatt has returned from a visit to the coal mining points in North Dakota and Montana, where he paved the way for an organization of the miners. He is to be followed by an organizer. He visited Wilton, Bis marck, Glendive, Mont., Sidney, Mont., Williston, Crosby, Columbus and Ken mare. At the last named place, an organization was perfected Little Boy Met Horrible Death. Frederick, the three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bley of this city, ciied from burns received when the child sat down accidentally in a pai of boiling hot water while playing about, as the mother was engaged in household duties. The funeral ser vices were held Monday afternoon at Weinrebe's undertaking parlors and were in charge of Rev. E. A. Deake of the Baptist church. Shields Babe Died. A small son of W. L. Shields passed away at the family home Monday night. The funeral was held from Rowan's undertaking parlors. tiJ Fight Business Places Go Up in Smoke Thursday—Fire Started From Stove in Restaurant. Parshall, the enterprising little city on the iierihokl reservation, suffered a very severe lire loss early last Thurs day morning when eight business houses went up in smoke. The fire started at :iiO in the morn ing in Ked's Restaurant, evidently from an overheated stove. A passer by saw the Uame and said that the fire ut the time could easily have been put out, had any lire lighting apparatus been at tianu. Parshall has a chemical lire engine but it appears tnat it was not properly charged. The citizens turned out and fought the flames he roically, practically all of the wells being pumped dry. It is hard to estimate the loss which goes away up into the thous ands of dollars. But little insurance was carried, as the buildings were all frame structures and the insurance rate is very high. The following buildings were burned: Millinery store. E. M. Hovey drug store. Casper C. Tangedahl hotel. Dr. Frogner offices. V. E. Stenersen law office (unoccu pied.) C. 11. Barth pool hall. H. O. Free barber shop. W. O. Brown (colored) barber shop. Ked's Restaurant. Bowling Alley. The flames spread so quickly that very little of the effects from the var ious buildings could be taken out. The buildings burned were all in one block and the only buildings left in that block are the jewelry store and tailor shop at one end and the confec tionery, general store and two banks at the other end. The Hovey drug store building was dynamited and in this way the flames were checked. Seventy pounds of ether in the basement of the Hovey drug store exploded and the report was heard in the country fifteen miles away. llovey bought the lot on which his drug store stood the same day of the lire and is preparing to build a brick structure. .Barth is also figuring on replacing his building with a brick block. Death of John M. l'urdy. John M. Purdy, aged 70 years, a former resident of ivlinot, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L'ase, at Sidney, Mont., from heart failure. The remains were brot to IVlinot for burial. The funeral was held Tuesday l'rom St. Leo's Catholic church. The deceased is survived by his wife and four children. Mr. l'urdy had been horseback rid ing the morning of his death and re turning to the Case home was strick' en. Visit From "Oor Jean." Mrs. Jean McNaughton Stevens ar rived l'rom Towner Tuesday to attend the Ward county teachers' institute. While Mrs. Stevens has not been en gaged in active school workk for a number of years, she still is greatly interested in the work and has kept abreast of the times as well as any educator in the state. The talks of this particularly lovable woman at school gatherings are always a source of delight. Dr. E. M. liansom in Serious Condi tion. Dr. E. M. Ransom, one of Minot's most prominent physicians, was taken to Rochester, Minn., Friday in a very serious condition from gall stones. The following day his mother, accompan ied by the doctor's little son, left for Rochester. The doctor expected to submit to an operation but the last word from Rochester stated that the patient was resting easy after his journey. Dr. Seed's Father is Dead. Dr. D. F. Seed, who was called to his old home, Wallaceburg, Ont., wir ed Monday that his father had passed away that morning. Makoti Man Placed Under Arrest. Jos. Ermentrout of Makiti was ar rested charged with assault with a deadly weapon. He came to Minot and gave himself up when he learned that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. It appears that some boys placed a barrel on Ermentrout's porch on Hallowe'en night and that he fired a gun at them. The bullet is said to have narrowly missed a man as he passed along the street. Ermentrout furnished $1,000 bail for his appear- Knights of Pythias Patriotic. The Board of Control of the Su preme Lodge, Knights of Pythias, have authorized the purchase of an additional $100,000 worth of liberty loan bonds, $50,000 having been prev iously purchased, acording to an an nouncement miade by C. B. Bach, Chancellor Commander of the state of North Dakota. The Knights have shown their true patriotism in doing this. Mrs. Scofield, who is visiting her sons in this city, is reported quite ill at the home of her son, J. H. Sco field. s*.. 1 +*++•*••1 FIRST $ SECTION PUUUSH DISASTROUS nut "4