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DeGroat
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Carl Martin Nees came from Norway to
Minnesota to work for his uncles, Magnus and Hans Hansen. Two years later he
came to Ramsey County to investigate opportunities to secure land under the
Homestead Act. He file on three quarters of land before returning to Minnesota.
In the spring of 1882 he and his bride Mathilda traveled to their homestead with
two wagons, one a covered wagon carrying household goods and pulled by a team of
oxen driven by Mathilda who had experience handling them, and one a horse drawn
wagon loaded with tools and a few implements, leading a cow and a calf.
Upon their arrival, they put the covered wagon on the ground and set up
housekeeping. It was here on September 14, 1882 that Clara Nees, the first white
child born in Ramsey County, was delivered with the aid of a midwife. By fall,
they moved into a dugout located a few feet from the present house. Poles needed
for the dugout roof were made from trees cut and hauled from Sweetwater Lake
twelve miles away.
In 1886, Mathilda died. Later Carl married Anna Hoistad who had
come from Fargo to join her family. She later told about her arrival on July
4th, 1883 on the first train to come to Devils Lake. The Minnie H was docked
near the railroad station. As the passengers crowded to one side to see the
train arrive, the boat almost tipped. By 1894 when Oliver was born, the family
had a two room house. With later additions, it developed into the 'home place'
as it is today.
De Groat
According to Andreas' 1884 Historical Atlas of
Dakota: Ramsey County, there was a post office located in De Groat
Township.
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The Chain Lakes
Lutheran Church and
Cemetery in
Churches Ferry became the American Lutheran
Church in 1960. It is located in De Groat township. |
| The Churches Ferry Cemetery is located in Churches Ferry. |
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Looking for Information on this townships
If you wish to submit data for this township, please contact Colleen Goltz Ramsey County Coordinator since 19 April 2013.