MARY NONNEMACHER NIBBE
In the spring of 1909, Mary Nonnemacher came west to keep house for her brother, Jake Nonnemacher, who had come in 1907 to live on a homestead eleven miles north of the present town of Scranton. This farm was later sold to Clarence Dilse, and is the site of the present Dilse farm home. Mary spent two nights and a day on her journey from Hokah, Minnesota. As she stepped from the train, drawn by a steam engine, she saw no depot -- only a box-car alongside the tracks and a few shacks at a little distance. So this was Scranton! At this time, Nick Dietrich was hauling mail and took Mary to Jake's farm. Here she had her room in Jake's oat bin for some time.
In June of 1910, Mary heard of a homestead a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm that Mrs. Masker (another neighbor two miles west of Jake Nonnemacher's) had filed upon. Since Mrs. Masker held property in South Dakota, she could not keep her homestead here, so Jake and Mary traveled to Dickinson to see a lawyer to contest the homestead. It took three days to make the trip to Dickinson with horses and wagon in which they could carry back any supplies. They went to see Mr. Nichols, a brother of Mrs. Charles Pierce, who charged them $35.00 to draw up all the necessary papers. Mary said when she finished with these proceedings, she had exactly 7 cents left in her pocket, but felt very happy with conditions in general.
With neighbors to help (as was the usual custom), she soon had a tar-paper shack erected on the homestead and felt well equipped with a cook-stove, wood-box, apple-box for a chair and an old cot with a mattress made out of hay. Everyone provided for themselves as best they could, as groceries were hard to procure and the closest stores were at Stillwater and Mineral Springs. These were only some five or six miles across the prairie, but when you walked and carried groceries, it seemed much farther than it would to drive many miles today. Sometimes Mary had only a little flour on hand to make a few biscuits, but if a neighbor dropped in, she was always willing to share what little she had. Fuel for the cook-stove, which also provided heat for the shack, was no problem, as people picked up buffalo chips, which were in plentiful supply. Since much of this land was virgin prairie and the grass grew very tall, they also twisted hay in bunches for fuel. After a few years, Mary had a nice one-room house built of lumber hauled from Dickinson. The room is now a part of the Ted Dilse farm home, where it was moved when Mary gave up the homestead.
Homesteads were much closer together than our present day farms, since distance didn't lend itself to the slow travel of that era. Neighbors were always ready to help each other and to get together for entertainment. One of the first celebrations Mary attended in Scranton was when Mrs. Stone, a neighbor to the southeast, brought her to Scranton in May, 1909. People came to town from all directions and everyone brought their own dinner, and enjoyed visiting. One July 4th celebration that Mary recalls, there were well over 1000 people gathered in town. At the Hotel McLaughlin they baked over 100 loaves of bread, 60 pies, and quantities of cake for the occasion.
In October of 1909, Mary recalls a terrible prairie fire that swept down from the Badlands burning its way all the way to the Missouri River. The Frank Dilse family and her brother, Jake, helped fight the fire and save her little shack. Many homes in the area were burned to the ground at this time.
Since Mary lived just a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm, she frequently walked the mile and a close friendship arose with these neighbors, who had settled here in 1906. Mary and Mrs. Dilse entertained the ladies of the community on many occasions - always having some unique and mirthful get-together.
In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton for the winter. She was employed at the Farmer's Hotel owned by Mrs. Stiller. Here she carried two pails of water at a time from the mine at the northeast end of town to the hotel which was located on the site which is now the north end of main street. Each day they baked from 25 to 30 loaves of bread, and 12 to 15 pies in an old cook-stove. From 40 to 60 pounds of meat were roasted daily. Meals were served to from 40 to 60 people every day, served family style, and cost 35 cents a meal. Many of the people boarding at the hotel were mine workers. The hotel help worked from 4:30 in the morning until midnight every day. After this, Mary worked for Charles Victoria, at Kenny's, and for Godfrey Nelson when he had the Green Lantern in Scranton.
On November 14, 1911, Mary was married to John Nibbe. Mr. Nibbe had formed a partnership with Henry and Ed Oelkers in the fall of 1909, and they had two livery barns. He sold out his share of the partnership and for some years ran a Dray Line which was sold to Harry Crowl. In 1913, John started to work for the Standard Oil Company hauling gas with horses. In those days, it took a full day to haul gas to Haley. He worked as a Standard Oil representative until 1928.
During the flu epidemic in 1918, Mary worked untiringly with Dr. Murray, often driving all day with horse and buggy to get to the sick and staying all night, nursing them. John knew all the country trails and very often volunteered his help in driving Dr. Murray on a sick call. They braved blizzards and cold weather. Sometimes, John had to stay in the barn all night, while the doctor and Mary delivered a child in a one-room shack. Dr. Murray continued to call Mary to help him and she assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton as well as in rural homes of the surrounding area.
When the new Lutheran minister, Rev. F.A.J. Meyer, a young bachelor just from the seminary arrived in Scranton, John Nibbe helped him to his new home on the Dray. The Reverend lived next door to the Nibbe's, and Mary often cooked his meals, straightened the house for him, or mended and pressed his clothes.
The Nibbes were blessed with two sons--Raymond, born May, 1914, and Marvin, born in March of 1918. An infant son died in 1913. Raymond married Olive Knutson, and they have made their home in Scranton where Ray is presently Mayor of the city and also is a representative of the Standard Oil Company. Marvin, after serving in the Navy, returned to his hometown, where he has for many years been employed as a bookkeeper at the Knife River Coal Company. Marvin has recently been married to Leola Sipma Pederson and is making his home in Scranton, also, where his parents still live. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Nibbe have two children--Rodney, who graduated from Dickinson College and is presently teaching in Mott, North Dakota, and Sharon, who is now Mrs. Duane Pierce. The Duane Pierce's live in a new home about eight miles north of Scranton. They have a very dear, new son named Robb Duane. Naturally John and Mary are most happy to have such good children living near where they can see them often and proud to be great-grandparents.
Mr. and Mrs. Nibbe are both very alert, both mentally and physically. They continued to live in the old pioneer spirit of friendliness and helpfulness. Mary has shown many new brides how to make the delicious doughnuts she so quickly can stir up; helped them in canning or making jelly, or shown them a new crochet pattern.
To have lived from the days of wandering buffalo herds on virgin prairie, with an oil lamp in the shack window each night, to guide some lost neighbor; to the jet vapors trailing in white streamers across the sky and vapor lights automatically lighting each farmyard, has indeed been an endless, wonderful experience, which John and Mary Nibbe have shared.
Submitted by a friend - Mrs. C.E. Dilse
Biography of Mary Nonnemacher Nibbe ~ taken from Prairie Tales, published in 1965.
~~
In Memory of Mary Nibbe
Mary Nibbe, 90, passed away on August 18, 1975 at the Sunset Home in Bowman. She had enjoyed good health until two weeks ago when she suffered a series of strokes.
She was the daughter of Carl Nonnemacher and Christina Seiger, and was born August 13, 1885 in Nicklinger, Germany.
She lived and attended grade school in Hokah, Minn. She came to Scranton, N.D., in the spring of 1909. She filed on a homestead north of Scranton in 19010. In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton at the Farmer's Hotel. Later, she worked for Charles Victoria at Renny's and Godfrey Nelson. Mary assisted Dr. Murray during the flu epidemic in 1918 and assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton and the surrounding area as well.
She was married to John Nibbe on November 14, 1911, in Scranton. Mary and John had lived in Scranton until the time of their passing. John Nibbe preceded her in death on August 4, 1969. Mary was a member of the Scranton Lutheran Church. She is survived by two sons, Raymond and Marvin, both of Scranton; 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Fredia Ascheley, Brownsville, Minn., and Sophia Bendel, Stoddard, Wis., and 1 brother, Carl Nonnemacher, Scranton, N.D. She was preceded in death by her husband, John and one son. The funeral was held August 21, 1975 at the Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton, N.D., with interment following at the Scranton Cemetery. Pastor Jerry was the Clergyman officiating. Music was organist Linda Bliss and vocalist's were: Elaine Swanson and Inga Kelner. Casketbearers were: Don Sipma, Alvin Iverson, Ralph Pierce, Ted Dilse, Dale Anderson and Roy Kern.
Published in The Golden Age Press ~ 9/30/75.
~~~
Funeral Card for Mary Nibbe:
IN MEMORY OF
MARY NIBBE
August 13, 1885 -- August 18, 1975
~~
SERVICES FROM
Peace Lutheran Church
Thursday, August 21, 1975 -- 10:30 a.m.
CLERGYMAN OFFICIATING
Pastor Jerry Erickson
~~~
CASKETBEARERS
Don Sipma
Ted Dilse
Alvin Iverson
Dale Anderson
Ralph Pierce
Roy Kern
~~
MUSIC
Organist -- Linda Bliss
Vocalist's -- Elaine Swanson - Inga Kelner
~~~~
INTERMENT
Scranton Cemetery
Scranton, North Dakota
~~~
IN CHARGE OF SERVICES
Ohm Funeral Chapel
Bowman, North Dakota
In the spring of 1909, Mary Nonnemacher came west to keep house for her brother, Jake Nonnemacher, who had come in 1907 to live on a homestead eleven miles north of the present town of Scranton. This farm was later sold to Clarence Dilse, and is the site of the present Dilse farm home. Mary spent two nights and a day on her journey from Hokah, Minnesota. As she stepped from the train, drawn by a steam engine, she saw no depot -- only a box-car alongside the tracks and a few shacks at a little distance. So this was Scranton! At this time, Nick Dietrich was hauling mail and took Mary to Jake's farm. Here she had her room in Jake's oat bin for some time.
In June of 1910, Mary heard of a homestead a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm that Mrs. Masker (another neighbor two miles west of Jake Nonnemacher's) had filed upon. Since Mrs. Masker held property in South Dakota, she could not keep her homestead here, so Jake and Mary traveled to Dickinson to see a lawyer to contest the homestead. It took three days to make the trip to Dickinson with horses and wagon in which they could carry back any supplies. They went to see Mr. Nichols, a brother of Mrs. Charles Pierce, who charged them $35.00 to draw up all the necessary papers. Mary said when she finished with these proceedings, she had exactly 7 cents left in her pocket, but felt very happy with conditions in general.
With neighbors to help (as was the usual custom), she soon had a tar-paper shack erected on the homestead and felt well equipped with a cook-stove, wood-box, apple-box for a chair and an old cot with a mattress made out of hay. Everyone provided for themselves as best they could, as groceries were hard to procure and the closest stores were at Stillwater and Mineral Springs. These were only some five or six miles across the prairie, but when you walked and carried groceries, it seemed much farther than it would to drive many miles today. Sometimes Mary had only a little flour on hand to make a few biscuits, but if a neighbor dropped in, she was always willing to share what little she had. Fuel for the cook-stove, which also provided heat for the shack, was no problem, as people picked up buffalo chips, which were in plentiful supply. Since much of this land was virgin prairie and the grass grew very tall, they also twisted hay in bunches for fuel. After a few years, Mary had a nice one-room house built of lumber hauled from Dickinson. The room is now a part of the Ted Dilse farm home, where it was moved when Mary gave up the homestead.
Homesteads were much closer together than our present day farms, since distance didn't lend itself to the slow travel of that era. Neighbors were always ready to help each other and to get together for entertainment. One of the first celebrations Mary attended in Scranton was when Mrs. Stone, a neighbor to the southeast, brought her to Scranton in May, 1909. People came to town from all directions and everyone brought their own dinner, and enjoyed visiting. One July 4th celebration that Mary recalls, there were well over 1000 people gathered in town. At the Hotel McLaughlin they baked over 100 loaves of bread, 60 pies, and quantities of cake for the occasion.
In October of 1909, Mary recalls a terrible prairie fire that swept down from the Badlands burning its way all the way to the Missouri River. The Frank Dilse family and her brother, Jake, helped fight the fire and save her little shack. Many homes in the area were burned to the ground at this time.
Since Mary lived just a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm, she frequently walked the mile and a close friendship arose with these neighbors, who had settled here in 1906. Mary and Mrs. Dilse entertained the ladies of the community on many occasions - always having some unique and mirthful get-together.
In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton for the winter. She was employed at the Farmer's Hotel owned by Mrs. Stiller. Here she carried two pails of water at a time from the mine at the northeast end of town to the hotel which was located on the site which is now the north end of main street. Each day they baked from 25 to 30 loaves of bread, and 12 to 15 pies in an old cook-stove. From 40 to 60 pounds of meat were roasted daily. Meals were served to from 40 to 60 people every day, served family style, and cost 35 cents a meal. Many of the people boarding at the hotel were mine workers. The hotel help worked from 4:30 in the morning until midnight every day. After this, Mary worked for Charles Victoria, at Kenny's, and for Godfrey Nelson when he had the Green Lantern in Scranton.
On November 14, 1911, Mary was married to John Nibbe. Mr. Nibbe had formed a partnership with Henry and Ed Oelkers in the fall of 1909, and they had two livery barns. He sold out his share of the partnership and for some years ran a Dray Line which was sold to Harry Crowl. In 1913, John started to work for the Standard Oil Company hauling gas with horses. In those days, it took a full day to haul gas to Haley. He worked as a Standard Oil representative until 1928.
During the flu epidemic in 1918, Mary worked untiringly with Dr. Murray, often driving all day with horse and buggy to get to the sick and staying all night, nursing them. John knew all the country trails and very often volunteered his help in driving Dr. Murray on a sick call. They braved blizzards and cold weather. Sometimes, John had to stay in the barn all night, while the doctor and Mary delivered a child in a one-room shack. Dr. Murray continued to call Mary to help him and she assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton as well as in rural homes of the surrounding area.
When the new Lutheran minister, Rev. F.A.J. Meyer, a young bachelor just from the seminary arrived in Scranton, John Nibbe helped him to his new home on the Dray. The Reverend lived next door to the Nibbe's, and Mary often cooked his meals, straightened the house for him, or mended and pressed his clothes.
The Nibbes were blessed with two sons--Raymond, born May, 1914, and Marvin, born in March of 1918. An infant son died in 1913. Raymond married Olive Knutson, and they have made their home in Scranton where Ray is presently Mayor of the city and also is a representative of the Standard Oil Company. Marvin, after serving in the Navy, returned to his hometown, where he has for many years been employed as a bookkeeper at the Knife River Coal Company. Marvin has recently been married to Leola Sipma Pederson and is making his home in Scranton, also, where his parents still live. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Nibbe have two children--Rodney, who graduated from Dickinson College and is presently teaching in Mott, North Dakota, and Sharon, who is now Mrs. Duane Pierce. The Duane Pierce's live in a new home about eight miles north of Scranton. They have a very dear, new son named Robb Duane. Naturally John and Mary are most happy to have such good children living near where they can see them often and proud to be great-grandparents.
Mr. and Mrs. Nibbe are both very alert, both mentally and physically. They continued to live in the old pioneer spirit of friendliness and helpfulness. Mary has shown many new brides how to make the delicious doughnuts she so quickly can stir up; helped them in canning or making jelly, or shown them a new crochet pattern.
To have lived from the days of wandering buffalo herds on virgin prairie, with an oil lamp in the shack window each night, to guide some lost neighbor; to the jet vapors trailing in white streamers across the sky and vapor lights automatically lighting each farmyard, has indeed been an endless, wonderful experience, which John and Mary Nibbe have shared.
Submitted by a friend - Mrs. C.E. Dilse
Biography of Mary Nonnemacher Nibbe ~ taken from Prairie Tales, published in 1965.
~~
In Memory of Mary Nibbe
Mary Nibbe, 90, passed away on August 18, 1975 at the Sunset Home in Bowman. She had enjoyed good health until two weeks ago when she suffered a series of strokes.
She was the daughter of Carl Nonnemacher and Christina Seiger, and was born August 13, 1885 in Nicklinger, Germany.
She lived and attended grade school in Hokah, Minn. She came to Scranton, N.D., in the spring of 1909. She filed on a homestead north of Scranton in 19010. In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton at the Farmer's Hotel. Later, she worked for Charles Victoria at Renny's and Godfrey Nelson. Mary assisted Dr. Murray during the flu epidemic in 1918 and assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton and the surrounding area as well.
She was married to John Nibbe on November 14, 1911, in Scranton. Mary and John had lived in Scranton until the time of their passing. John Nibbe preceded her in death on August 4, 1969. Mary was a member of the Scranton Lutheran Church. She is survived by two sons, Raymond and Marvin, both of Scranton; 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Fredia Ascheley, Brownsville, Minn., and Sophia Bendel, Stoddard, Wis., and 1 brother, Carl Nonnemacher, Scranton, N.D. She was preceded in death by her husband, John and one son. The funeral was held August 21, 1975 at the Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton, N.D., with interment following at the Scranton Cemetery. Pastor Jerry was the Clergyman officiating. Music was organist Linda Bliss and vocalist's were: Elaine Swanson and Inga Kelner. Casketbearers were: Don Sipma, Alvin Iverson, Ralph Pierce, Ted Dilse, Dale Anderson and Roy Kern.
Published in The Golden Age Press ~ 9/30/75.
~~~
Funeral Card for Mary Nibbe:
IN MEMORY OF
MARY NIBBE
August 13, 1885 -- August 18, 1975
~~
SERVICES FROM
Peace Lutheran Church
Thursday, August 21, 1975 -- 10:30 a.m.
CLERGYMAN OFFICIATING
Pastor Jerry Erickson
~~~
CASKETBEARERS
Don Sipma
Ted Dilse
Alvin Iverson
Dale Anderson
Ralph Pierce
Roy Kern
~~
MUSIC
Organist -- Linda Bliss
Vocalist's -- Elaine Swanson - Inga Kelner
~~~~
INTERMENT
Scranton Cemetery
Scranton, North Dakota
~~~
IN CHARGE OF SERVICES
Ohm Funeral Chapel
Bowman, North Dakota
MARY NONNEMACHER NIBBE
In the spring of 1909, Mary Nonnemacher came west to keep house for her brother, Jake Nonnemacher, who had come in 1907 to live on a homestead eleven miles north of the present town of Scranton. This farm was later sold to Clarence Dilse, and is the site of the present Dilse farm home. Mary spent two nights and a day on her journey from Hokah, Minnesota. As she stepped from the train, drawn by a steam engine, she saw no depot -- only a box-car alongside the tracks and a few shacks at a little distance. So this was Scranton! At this time, Nick Dietrich was hauling mail and took Mary to Jake's farm. Here she had her room in Jake's oat bin for some time.
In June of 1910, Mary heard of a homestead a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm that Mrs. Masker (another neighbor two miles west of Jake Nonnemacher's) had filed upon. Since Mrs. Masker held property in South Dakota, she could not keep her homestead here, so Jake and Mary traveled to Dickinson to see a lawyer to contest the homestead. It took three days to make the trip to Dickinson with horses and wagon in which they could carry back any supplies. They went to see Mr. Nichols, a brother of Mrs. Charles Pierce, who charged them $35.00 to draw up all the necessary papers. Mary said when she finished with these proceedings, she had exactly 7 cents left in her pocket, but felt very happy with conditions in general.
With neighbors to help (as was the usual custom), she soon had a tar-paper shack erected on the homestead and felt well equipped with a cook-stove, wood-box, apple-box for a chair and an old cot with a mattress made out of hay. Everyone provided for themselves as best they could, as groceries were hard to procure and the closest stores were at Stillwater and Mineral Springs. These were only some five or six miles across the prairie, but when you walked and carried groceries, it seemed much farther than it would to drive many miles today. Sometimes Mary had only a little flour on hand to make a few biscuits, but if a neighbor dropped in, she was always willing to share what little she had. Fuel for the cook-stove, which also provided heat for the shack, was no problem, as people picked up buffalo chips, which were in plentiful supply. Since much of this land was virgin prairie and the grass grew very tall, they also twisted hay in bunches for fuel. After a few years, Mary had a nice one-room house built of lumber hauled from Dickinson. The room is now a part of the Ted Dilse farm home, where it was moved when Mary gave up the homestead.
Homesteads were much closer together than our present day farms, since distance didn't lend itself to the slow travel of that era. Neighbors were always ready to help each other and to get together for entertainment. One of the first celebrations Mary attended in Scranton was when Mrs. Stone, a neighbor to the southeast, brought her to Scranton in May, 1909. People came to town from all directions and everyone brought their own dinner, and enjoyed visiting. One July 4th celebration that Mary recalls, there were well over 1000 people gathered in town. At the Hotel McLaughlin they baked over 100 loaves of bread, 60 pies, and quantities of cake for the occasion.
In October of 1909, Mary recalls a terrible prairie fire that swept down from the Badlands burning its way all the way to the Missouri River. The Frank Dilse family and her brother, Jake, helped fight the fire and save her little shack. Many homes in the area were burned to the ground at this time.
Since Mary lived just a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm, she frequently walked the mile and a close friendship arose with these neighbors, who had settled here in 1906. Mary and Mrs. Dilse entertained the ladies of the community on many occasions - always having some unique and mirthful get-together.
In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton for the winter. She was employed at the Farmer's Hotel owned by Mrs. Stiller. Here she carried two pails of water at a time from the mine at the northeast end of town to the hotel which was located on the site which is now the north end of main street. Each day they baked from 25 to 30 loaves of bread, and 12 to 15 pies in an old cook-stove. From 40 to 60 pounds of meat were roasted daily. Meals were served to from 40 to 60 people every day, served family style, and cost 35 cents a meal. Many of the people boarding at the hotel were mine workers. The hotel help worked from 4:30 in the morning until midnight every day. After this, Mary worked for Charles Victoria, at Kenny's, and for Godfrey Nelson when he had the Green Lantern in Scranton.
On November 14, 1911, Mary was married to John Nibbe. Mr. Nibbe had formed a partnership with Henry and Ed Oelkers in the fall of 1909, and they had two livery barns. He sold out his share of the partnership and for some years ran a Dray Line which was sold to Harry Crowl. In 1913, John started to work for the Standard Oil Company hauling gas with horses. In those days, it took a full day to haul gas to Haley. He worked as a Standard Oil representative until 1928.
During the flu epidemic in 1918, Mary worked untiringly with Dr. Murray, often driving all day with horse and buggy to get to the sick and staying all night, nursing them. John knew all the country trails and very often volunteered his help in driving Dr. Murray on a sick call. They braved blizzards and cold weather. Sometimes, John had to stay in the barn all night, while the doctor and Mary delivered a child in a one-room shack. Dr. Murray continued to call Mary to help him and she assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton as well as in rural homes of the surrounding area.
When the new Lutheran minister, Rev. F.A.J. Meyer, a young bachelor just from the seminary arrived in Scranton, John Nibbe helped him to his new home on the Dray. The Reverend lived next door to the Nibbe's, and Mary often cooked his meals, straightened the house for him, or mended and pressed his clothes.
The Nibbes were blessed with two sons--Raymond, born May, 1914, and Marvin, born in March of 1918. An infant son died in 1913. Raymond married Olive Knutson, and they have made their home in Scranton where Ray is presently Mayor of the city and also is a representative of the Standard Oil Company. Marvin, after serving in the Navy, returned to his hometown, where he has for many years been employed as a bookkeeper at the Knife River Coal Company. Marvin has recently been married to Leola Sipma Pederson and is making his home in Scranton, also, where his parents still live. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Nibbe have two children--Rodney, who graduated from Dickinson College and is presently teaching in Mott, North Dakota, and Sharon, who is now Mrs. Duane Pierce. The Duane Pierce's live in a new home about eight miles north of Scranton. They have a very dear, new son named Robb Duane. Naturally John and Mary are most happy to have such good children living near where they can see them often and proud to be great-grandparents.
Mr. and Mrs. Nibbe are both very alert, both mentally and physically. They continued to live in the old pioneer spirit of friendliness and helpfulness. Mary has shown many new brides how to make the delicious doughnuts she so quickly can stir up; helped them in canning or making jelly, or shown them a new crochet pattern.
To have lived from the days of wandering buffalo herds on virgin prairie, with an oil lamp in the shack window each night, to guide some lost neighbor; to the jet vapors trailing in white streamers across the sky and vapor lights automatically lighting each farmyard, has indeed been an endless, wonderful experience, which John and Mary Nibbe have shared.
Submitted by a friend - Mrs. C.E. Dilse
Biography of Mary Nonnemacher Nibbe ~ taken from Prairie Tales, published in 1965.
~~
In Memory of Mary Nibbe
Mary Nibbe, 90, passed away on August 18, 1975 at the Sunset Home in Bowman. She had enjoyed good health until two weeks ago when she suffered a series of strokes.
She was the daughter of Carl Nonnemacher and Christina Seiger, and was born August 13, 1885 in Nicklinger, Germany.
She lived and attended grade school in Hokah, Minn. She came to Scranton, N.D., in the spring of 1909. She filed on a homestead north of Scranton in 19010. In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton at the Farmer's Hotel. Later, she worked for Charles Victoria at Renny's and Godfrey Nelson. Mary assisted Dr. Murray during the flu epidemic in 1918 and assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton and the surrounding area as well.
She was married to John Nibbe on November 14, 1911, in Scranton. Mary and John had lived in Scranton until the time of their passing. John Nibbe preceded her in death on August 4, 1969. Mary was a member of the Scranton Lutheran Church. She is survived by two sons, Raymond and Marvin, both of Scranton; 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Fredia Ascheley, Brownsville, Minn., and Sophia Bendel, Stoddard, Wis., and 1 brother, Carl Nonnemacher, Scranton, N.D. She was preceded in death by her husband, John and one son. The funeral was held August 21, 1975 at the Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton, N.D., with interment following at the Scranton Cemetery. Pastor Jerry was the Clergyman officiating. Music was organist Linda Bliss and vocalist's were: Elaine Swanson and Inga Kelner. Casketbearers were: Don Sipma, Alvin Iverson, Ralph Pierce, Ted Dilse, Dale Anderson and Roy Kern.
Published in The Golden Age Press ~ 9/30/75.
~~~
Funeral Card for Mary Nibbe:
IN MEMORY OF
MARY NIBBE
August 13, 1885 -- August 18, 1975
~~
SERVICES FROM
Peace Lutheran Church
Thursday, August 21, 1975 -- 10:30 a.m.
CLERGYMAN OFFICIATING
Pastor Jerry Erickson
~~~
CASKETBEARERS
Don Sipma
Ted Dilse
Alvin Iverson
Dale Anderson
Ralph Pierce
Roy Kern
~~
MUSIC
Organist -- Linda Bliss
Vocalist's -- Elaine Swanson - Inga Kelner
~~~~
INTERMENT
Scranton Cemetery
Scranton, North Dakota
~~~
IN CHARGE OF SERVICES
Ohm Funeral Chapel
Bowman, North Dakota
In the spring of 1909, Mary Nonnemacher came west to keep house for her brother, Jake Nonnemacher, who had come in 1907 to live on a homestead eleven miles north of the present town of Scranton. This farm was later sold to Clarence Dilse, and is the site of the present Dilse farm home. Mary spent two nights and a day on her journey from Hokah, Minnesota. As she stepped from the train, drawn by a steam engine, she saw no depot -- only a box-car alongside the tracks and a few shacks at a little distance. So this was Scranton! At this time, Nick Dietrich was hauling mail and took Mary to Jake's farm. Here she had her room in Jake's oat bin for some time.
In June of 1910, Mary heard of a homestead a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm that Mrs. Masker (another neighbor two miles west of Jake Nonnemacher's) had filed upon. Since Mrs. Masker held property in South Dakota, she could not keep her homestead here, so Jake and Mary traveled to Dickinson to see a lawyer to contest the homestead. It took three days to make the trip to Dickinson with horses and wagon in which they could carry back any supplies. They went to see Mr. Nichols, a brother of Mrs. Charles Pierce, who charged them $35.00 to draw up all the necessary papers. Mary said when she finished with these proceedings, she had exactly 7 cents left in her pocket, but felt very happy with conditions in general.
With neighbors to help (as was the usual custom), she soon had a tar-paper shack erected on the homestead and felt well equipped with a cook-stove, wood-box, apple-box for a chair and an old cot with a mattress made out of hay. Everyone provided for themselves as best they could, as groceries were hard to procure and the closest stores were at Stillwater and Mineral Springs. These were only some five or six miles across the prairie, but when you walked and carried groceries, it seemed much farther than it would to drive many miles today. Sometimes Mary had only a little flour on hand to make a few biscuits, but if a neighbor dropped in, she was always willing to share what little she had. Fuel for the cook-stove, which also provided heat for the shack, was no problem, as people picked up buffalo chips, which were in plentiful supply. Since much of this land was virgin prairie and the grass grew very tall, they also twisted hay in bunches for fuel. After a few years, Mary had a nice one-room house built of lumber hauled from Dickinson. The room is now a part of the Ted Dilse farm home, where it was moved when Mary gave up the homestead.
Homesteads were much closer together than our present day farms, since distance didn't lend itself to the slow travel of that era. Neighbors were always ready to help each other and to get together for entertainment. One of the first celebrations Mary attended in Scranton was when Mrs. Stone, a neighbor to the southeast, brought her to Scranton in May, 1909. People came to town from all directions and everyone brought their own dinner, and enjoyed visiting. One July 4th celebration that Mary recalls, there were well over 1000 people gathered in town. At the Hotel McLaughlin they baked over 100 loaves of bread, 60 pies, and quantities of cake for the occasion.
In October of 1909, Mary recalls a terrible prairie fire that swept down from the Badlands burning its way all the way to the Missouri River. The Frank Dilse family and her brother, Jake, helped fight the fire and save her little shack. Many homes in the area were burned to the ground at this time.
Since Mary lived just a mile north of the Frank Dilse farm, she frequently walked the mile and a close friendship arose with these neighbors, who had settled here in 1906. Mary and Mrs. Dilse entertained the ladies of the community on many occasions - always having some unique and mirthful get-together.
In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton for the winter. She was employed at the Farmer's Hotel owned by Mrs. Stiller. Here she carried two pails of water at a time from the mine at the northeast end of town to the hotel which was located on the site which is now the north end of main street. Each day they baked from 25 to 30 loaves of bread, and 12 to 15 pies in an old cook-stove. From 40 to 60 pounds of meat were roasted daily. Meals were served to from 40 to 60 people every day, served family style, and cost 35 cents a meal. Many of the people boarding at the hotel were mine workers. The hotel help worked from 4:30 in the morning until midnight every day. After this, Mary worked for Charles Victoria, at Kenny's, and for Godfrey Nelson when he had the Green Lantern in Scranton.
On November 14, 1911, Mary was married to John Nibbe. Mr. Nibbe had formed a partnership with Henry and Ed Oelkers in the fall of 1909, and they had two livery barns. He sold out his share of the partnership and for some years ran a Dray Line which was sold to Harry Crowl. In 1913, John started to work for the Standard Oil Company hauling gas with horses. In those days, it took a full day to haul gas to Haley. He worked as a Standard Oil representative until 1928.
During the flu epidemic in 1918, Mary worked untiringly with Dr. Murray, often driving all day with horse and buggy to get to the sick and staying all night, nursing them. John knew all the country trails and very often volunteered his help in driving Dr. Murray on a sick call. They braved blizzards and cold weather. Sometimes, John had to stay in the barn all night, while the doctor and Mary delivered a child in a one-room shack. Dr. Murray continued to call Mary to help him and she assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton as well as in rural homes of the surrounding area.
When the new Lutheran minister, Rev. F.A.J. Meyer, a young bachelor just from the seminary arrived in Scranton, John Nibbe helped him to his new home on the Dray. The Reverend lived next door to the Nibbe's, and Mary often cooked his meals, straightened the house for him, or mended and pressed his clothes.
The Nibbes were blessed with two sons--Raymond, born May, 1914, and Marvin, born in March of 1918. An infant son died in 1913. Raymond married Olive Knutson, and they have made their home in Scranton where Ray is presently Mayor of the city and also is a representative of the Standard Oil Company. Marvin, after serving in the Navy, returned to his hometown, where he has for many years been employed as a bookkeeper at the Knife River Coal Company. Marvin has recently been married to Leola Sipma Pederson and is making his home in Scranton, also, where his parents still live. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Nibbe have two children--Rodney, who graduated from Dickinson College and is presently teaching in Mott, North Dakota, and Sharon, who is now Mrs. Duane Pierce. The Duane Pierce's live in a new home about eight miles north of Scranton. They have a very dear, new son named Robb Duane. Naturally John and Mary are most happy to have such good children living near where they can see them often and proud to be great-grandparents.
Mr. and Mrs. Nibbe are both very alert, both mentally and physically. They continued to live in the old pioneer spirit of friendliness and helpfulness. Mary has shown many new brides how to make the delicious doughnuts she so quickly can stir up; helped them in canning or making jelly, or shown them a new crochet pattern.
To have lived from the days of wandering buffalo herds on virgin prairie, with an oil lamp in the shack window each night, to guide some lost neighbor; to the jet vapors trailing in white streamers across the sky and vapor lights automatically lighting each farmyard, has indeed been an endless, wonderful experience, which John and Mary Nibbe have shared.
Submitted by a friend - Mrs. C.E. Dilse
Biography of Mary Nonnemacher Nibbe ~ taken from Prairie Tales, published in 1965.
~~
In Memory of Mary Nibbe
Mary Nibbe, 90, passed away on August 18, 1975 at the Sunset Home in Bowman. She had enjoyed good health until two weeks ago when she suffered a series of strokes.
She was the daughter of Carl Nonnemacher and Christina Seiger, and was born August 13, 1885 in Nicklinger, Germany.
She lived and attended grade school in Hokah, Minn. She came to Scranton, N.D., in the spring of 1909. She filed on a homestead north of Scranton in 19010. In the fall of 1910, Mary came to work in Scranton at the Farmer's Hotel. Later, she worked for Charles Victoria at Renny's and Godfrey Nelson. Mary assisted Dr. Murray during the flu epidemic in 1918 and assisted in the birth of many children in Scranton and the surrounding area as well.
She was married to John Nibbe on November 14, 1911, in Scranton. Mary and John had lived in Scranton until the time of their passing. John Nibbe preceded her in death on August 4, 1969. Mary was a member of the Scranton Lutheran Church. She is survived by two sons, Raymond and Marvin, both of Scranton; 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Fredia Ascheley, Brownsville, Minn., and Sophia Bendel, Stoddard, Wis., and 1 brother, Carl Nonnemacher, Scranton, N.D. She was preceded in death by her husband, John and one son. The funeral was held August 21, 1975 at the Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton, N.D., with interment following at the Scranton Cemetery. Pastor Jerry was the Clergyman officiating. Music was organist Linda Bliss and vocalist's were: Elaine Swanson and Inga Kelner. Casketbearers were: Don Sipma, Alvin Iverson, Ralph Pierce, Ted Dilse, Dale Anderson and Roy Kern.
Published in The Golden Age Press ~ 9/30/75.
~~~
Funeral Card for Mary Nibbe:
IN MEMORY OF
MARY NIBBE
August 13, 1885 -- August 18, 1975
~~
SERVICES FROM
Peace Lutheran Church
Thursday, August 21, 1975 -- 10:30 a.m.
CLERGYMAN OFFICIATING
Pastor Jerry Erickson
~~~
CASKETBEARERS
Don Sipma
Ted Dilse
Alvin Iverson
Dale Anderson
Ralph Pierce
Roy Kern
~~
MUSIC
Organist -- Linda Bliss
Vocalist's -- Elaine Swanson - Inga Kelner
~~~~
INTERMENT
Scranton Cemetery
Scranton, North Dakota
~~~
IN CHARGE OF SERVICES
Ohm Funeral Chapel
Bowman, North Dakota
Inscription
MARY NIBBE
1885 - 1975
Gravesite Details
My sincere thanks to William Charboneau for taking the headstone photograph.
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