1916-17 School Souvenir Book Photos Atlas of Benson County, 1910 Plat Map
Towns
Isabel is a ghost town located in the township of Isabel. See current condition of the town. The school was a consolidation of the smaller township schools. The school building was torn down in the 1970′s. Across the county road to the west was the Isabel store, which was a small store run by P.O. Stenhjem. That building was burned down by vandals in the 1980′s.
Information taken from the Fargo Forum "Neighbors" column July 31, 2013
Neighbors' email contains a note from Gene Reierson, of Esmond, N.D., west of Devils Lake. Gene mentions a couple of columns about a business known as the Isabel store, and a farmer who roade horseback to the store to pick up groceries when roads were blocked during the winters of the 1940s and 1950s. That farmer was Ernest Toso, the father of Gene's wife Janice.
The Isabel store was so-named because it was in Isabel Township, across from the Isabel rural school on North Dakota Highway 19, which runs from Minnewaukan through Esmond. "The Isabel store had two old-time gas pupmps, the type where you pumped the gas up into a glass globe." Gene writes. "One was Pure Oil, and the other was Farmers Union Co-op (now called Cenex). The last operator of the store was Elmer Toso," who was a second cousin to Ernest. At the time, Gene and Janice owned the Standard Oil business in Esmond, seven miles from the Isabel store.
One day in abut 1959, Elmer ran out of gas so he called the Reiersons for help. They promptly sent some gas to Elmer. "Those were the days," Gene says, "when our motto was "You expect more from Standard and you get it." And the Reiersons carried that motto out, even though it helped a competitor. Gene and Janice retired in 1998 after being with the Standard (later renamed Amoco) for 39 years.
The following list of teachers and students comes from the Teacher's Final Report required by the State of North Dakota each year. From 1900 through 1904 all students in attendance are listed each year. After 1904 only new students were listed. Any errors or corrections should sent to Colleen.
Jan 29-Apr 20, 1900 Michael Gearey |
Sep 19-Nov 12, 1900 Johny Duffy |
Apr 15- Jul 5, 1901 Bernard Duffey |
Nov 6, 1901-Jan 31, 1902 Darwin Gearey |
May 19-Jun 28, 1902 Darwin Geary |
Jul 1-Aug 1, 1902 Same students as previous school term |
Oct 1-Dec 20, 1902 Johny Duffey
|
Oct 19-Dec 11 1903 Johny Duffy |
Apr 25-Jun 30 1904 Teacher: I.M. Duffy Darwin Gearey Violet Gearey Delia Loken Lewis Loken Elmer Loken Adeline Minehan May Minehan Thomas Minehan Arthur Toso Axel Tollefson Julia Watterud Josina Watterud |
Jul 1-Jul
15, 1904 Teacher: Isabel Duffy Same students as the previous school term |
Sep 12, 1904-Apr 7, 1905 Anna Ellingson |
Oct 10, 1906-May 24, 1907 Teacher: Margaret Duffy Mina Brosins Minnie Bruce Robert Bruce Martin Exe Clara Ericson Andrew Ericson Adrian Karlsbrotten Angie Karlsbrotton May Olson Maggie Olson Adolph Tetterude Ernest Olson Inga Olson Eric Olson Herman Smith Eric Smith Gerard Svingen Clara Toso Mable Toso Elmer Toso Mina Tetterude |
Oct 28, 1907-May 1, 1908 Teacher: Margaret Duffy Ella Exe Edwin Karlsbratten Aasie Karlsbratten Harwick Toso Hanna Toso |
Oct 8,
1908-Apr 2, 1909 Teacher: Marion Askew Jorgen Dihel Hans Nygaard Ruth Swingen Ella Toso |
Oct 4, 1909-Apr 1, 1910 Gessina Toso |
Oct 4, 1910-Mar 31,1911 Laura Bergsrud |
1911-1912 Teacher: Hazel Sloman Gilma Dihle Elvira Erickson Alma Heed Ralph Toso |
Sep 12,
1912-Mar 28, 1913 Teacher: Mrs. D.E. Tuneberg Alice Erickson Edward Erickson Audrey Halvorson Victor Smith Dorothy Shaughnessy |
1913-1914 Teacher Mabel E. Bliesner Vivian Shaughnessy |
1914-1915 Teacher: Margaret Duffy Sigfred Dihle Elinor Bloomster Edna Johnson Gladys Johnson Edith Kjall Leonard Toso Julian Toso |
1915-1916 Teacher: Hilda Anderson Lillie Erickson Elmer Francisco Edna Johnson Vivian Hjall Lloyd Stadig Allyn Rowe Margaret Rowe Esther Toso |
1916-1917 Teacher: Elizabeth B. Dickey Alice Erickson Clara Erickson Helen Johnson Oscar Smith Clarence Toso |
1917-1918 Teacher: Elizabeth B. Dickey Alice Bloomster Olaf Dihle |
1918-1919 Teacher: Olga M. Olson Gladys Toso Arvid Kjall Doris Blomster Alma Dihle Robert Erickson Albert Erickson Palmer Toso Edwin Hoberg Ida Hoberg Gustav Erickson Mildred Engen |
May 7- June 29 1900 Johny Duffey |
Jul 23-Aug 10 1900 Isabel Duffey |
Sep, 1904-Apr 14, 1905 Ellen Carlson |
Oct 16-Dec 22, 1905 Ruth Bonde |
Feb 19-Jun 22, 1906 Marie Groff
|
Oct 22, 1906-Apr 7, 1907 Carrie Erickson |
Jun 8-Jun30, 1908 Beatrice Chester |
Oct 12-Nov 6, 1908 No new students |
Apr 19-Jul 10, 1909 Teacher: Mabel DeWolfe No new students |
Nov 29, 1909-Apr 29, 1910 Howard Slater |
Oct 4, 1910-Mar 31, 1911 Arnold Hansen |
1911-1912 Thelma Bonde |
Sep 2-Dec 20, 1912 Elna Hansen
|
Jan 6-Mar
28, 1913 Teacher: Katharyn Judge No new students |
1913-1914 Teacher Lucy M. Huyek Rose Nelson Earnest Nelson |
1914-1915 Teacher: Mrs. Alice Bosshard Thelma Bonde Milo Bonde Knute Hansen Lawrence Olson Vern Slater Henry Titterud |
1915-1916 Teacher: M. H. Mead Esther Johnson |
1916-1917 Teacher: Anna M. Kolsrud Ralph Slater |
1917-1918 Teacher: Leonard M. Elstad Edith Johnson Kenneth Hansen Charlotte Hansen Hotense Hensen |
1918-1919 Teacher: Inga No?rum Charles Umstead John Hansen |
Oct 5, 1908-Mar 26, 1909 Olaf Modin
|
Nov 26, 1907-May 22, 1908 Teacher: Florence Adams Christ Aserud Arnold Guttormson |
Nov 29,1909-Jun 3, 1910 Hans Hansen |
Oct 4, 1910-Mar 31, 1911 Marie Hansen |
1911-1912 Johnes Holl
|
Sep 12, 1912-Mar 28, 1913 Luella Johnson |
1913-1914 Olaug Holl |
1914-1915 |
1915-1916 Teacher: Joseph A. Duckworth More Info Elvira Johnson Della Johnson Norman Luidahl Ellert Reierson |
1916-1917 Teacher: Joseph A. Duckworth More Info Ole Holl Odella Johnson Everett Stenhjem Orland Guttormson Ove Luidahl |
1917-1918 Teacher: Mrs. O'Brien Emma Umstead John Umstead Warren Umstead |
1918-1919 Teacher: Emma Ju?ud Julius Clausen Ruby Clausen Elred Clausen Nina Liudahl Petra Holl Hazel Clausen ? |
May 1-Jun30, 1905 Teacher: Julia Trapp Fred Barnes Elmer Barnes Harry Hartman Clarence Hartman Helga Jordhoy Sverre Jordhoy Alvhild Jordhoy Marie Jordhoy Ada Nelson Earnest Stephens Charity Stephens Edith Williams Dortha York Sadie Randle |
Feb 17-Jun5, 1908 Eldora Karlsbraaten |
Oct 5, 1908-Mar 26, 1909 Martin Peterson |
Oct 4-Nov 26, 1909 Teacher Sarah Randle No new students |
Jan 31-May 20 1910 Clarence Myhre
|
Oct 4, 1910-Mar 31, 1911 Teacher: Dora Moen Joesph Watterud |
1911-1912 Teacher: Oline Rydland James Hagen Olaf Halvorson Meranda Liudahl Audrey Moen Anna Tollefson Cora Woyen |
Sep 12, 1912-Mar 28, 1913 Teacher: Elvena M. Olson Belmine Haga Manda Halvorson Ernest Toso |
1913-1914 Teacher: Christine Tandberg Manda Hagen Clarissa Karlsbraaten Oaulus Swingen |
1914-1915 Teacher: Cora Dahl Beatrice Engel Gertrude Toso |
1915-1916 Teacher: Harold W. Johnson More Info Carl Swigen Paul Swigen Luella Toso |
1916-1917 Teacher: Marvel Reitan Grant Hagen Palmer Woyen Clara Stadig |
1917-1918 Teacher: Nellie H. Erickson Oscar Brorby Mabel Brorby Gladys Peterson Vernon Stadig |
1918-1919 Teacher: Nellie H. Erickson No new students |
1919-1920 Teacher: Adelia Dahlund Alice Engel |
1920-1921 Teacher: Vivian Morris Arthur Woyen Thinka Hagen Gladys Brorby |
Public School #3 1914-1917
County Superintendent: Peter Anderson
School Officers: |
Clerk: Peter Stadum | President: A.M. Johnson | Treasurer: A.E. Woyen | Directors: Julius Hagen & Anton Toso |
Teacher: Joseph A. Duckworth
Biography: In 1914 at the age of 19, Joseph Duckworth travelled from Mt. Vernon, Indiana to
Esmond, North Dakota. He taught school in Isabel Township in Benson County, North Dakota
at School #3 in 1914-1915, 1915-16 and 1916-17. The next year, 1917-1918, he taught school at the Flora school in Aurora
Township. Joseph and his wife Agnes left North Dakota, apparently after the 1917-18
school year, and returned to Mt. Vernon, Indiana where both sets of parents were
living. Joe enlisted in the Army on June 17, 1918 and Agnes taught school
nearby. Joe served as a Corporal with the 309th Engineer, Company D in France
until the wars end.
They returned to North Dakota after the war. Joseph was a principal and Agnes was a teacher in Aurora Township in 1920. They returned to Posey County, Indiana from Valley City, North Dakota to become athletic coach at Poseyville High School around 1926.
1916-17
School Souvenir Booklet
Special thanks to Gail Prewitt, granddaughter of
Joseph A. Duckworth
Click thumb nail to view larger photo.
Pupils | ||
First Grade: Odella Johnson Ellert Reierson |
Second Grade: Olga Stenhjen Manda Halvorson Edith Guttromson |
Third Grade: Olaf Halvorson Olaug Holl Norman Lindahl |
Fourth Grade: Audrey Halvorson Johannes Holl |
Fifth Grade: Elvira Johnson Meranda Lindahl |
Sixth Grade: Caren Holl Agnes Johnson Carl Johnson Henry Reierson Reinart Reierson |
This photo has been provided by Gail Prewitt, granddaughter of Joseph Duckworth, teacher/principal in Benson schools in the early 1900's. Thanks to Curt Hogenson for the following identification of the students.
Front Row: Olaug Holl, Odella Johnson
Second Row: Johanns Holl, Eilert Rierson, Olga Stenhjem, Edith Guttromson, Manda
Halvorson
Third Row: Meranda Liudahl, Olaf Halvorson, Audrey Halvorson, Elvira Johnson,
Karen Holl
Fourth Row: Agnes Johnson, Carl Johnson, Teacher Joseph Duckworth, Rhinehart
Rierson, Norman Liudahl
Click on the thumbnail for a larger photo.
Isabel Township School #3 Around 1914 |
These photos have been provided by Gail Prewitt, granddaughter of Joseph Duckworth. The photos are identified as written in the Duckworth photo album. If anyone can confirm identification or make corrections, please contact cgoltz@loretel.net . Click on the thumbnail for a larger photo.
If you wish to submit or correct data for this county, please contact
Colleen Goltz
Benson County Coordinator
If you have problems with this site, contact the State Coordinator or Assistant State Coordinator for the
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