Fargo Standard

VCTR Oct 26, 1926Days of No Bridges: No Roads Remembered by Old Timer

H.R. Bruns of Noltimier Twp. Came to County Forty Years Ago

Back in the early eighties, H.R. Bruns, of Noltimier township, near Oriska, came to Barnes county.  Mr. Bruns is one of the early settler of the county, coming here more than forty years ago, and his home has been on the same place all this time.  When he came to the county there was no bridge across the river and were no roads.  Farm homes and neighbors were much farther apart than they are now.  Then the whole state was one great wheat field and in the years following up to 1900, North Dakota following up to 1900, North Dakota gains the reputation of the Bread Basket of the World.  But time is bringing great changes and soon we will be obliged to yield to the “grain belt” to the country farther north and west of us. Today there are good roads leading to every part of the country and all along the way are comfortable farm homes and substantial barns and other buildings.  Mr. Bruns has been one of the very active factors in the last forty years. His farm now contains 720 acres, with a beautiful home modern in every way.  The electricity is furnished by a Delco light system that has been in use for seven years without the least trouble.  The barns and other buildings are all of good size and substantially built, and are supplied with running water and electric lights.  For a number of years. Mr. Bruns has kept a registered herd of Shorthorn cattle of the milking strain and now has ten cows.  Two grown up sons, Henry and Clarence, are gradually taking over the burden of the farm work.   Mr. Bruns took an active part in bringing about the construction of Noltimier consolidated school and four of his seven children are graduates of this school.  The two youngest, Wesley and Geneve, will graduate this school year.  Henrietta graduated from the State Teachers College at Valley City a year ago last June and was married to Frank Bates and is now living near Detroit, Mich.  Emma is a trained nurse in a Bismarck hospital and Rosella is now a student at the State Teachers College at Valley City Besides taking care of his farm work and looking after local township matters, Mr. Bruns has served as one of the county commissioners for the last eight years, representing the First district comprising ten townships.  That his service to his district and to the county has been satisfactory is proven by the fact that for several years he has been elected without opposition.  He is a candidate for reelection again this year and will have no opposition.

Original source can be found here.