Taken from the Benson County Farmers Press "Brinsmade Gopher
Day Centennial
July 1 & 2, 1989 Centennial Special Edition
and
Taken from Leeds/York Seventy-five Years Diamond Jubilee 1886-1961 book
Dr. Vigeland served Brinsmade 1912-1950
It was on Aug. 11, 1950 that Dr. Jorg G. Vigeland, beloved doctor of Brinsmade & Benson County, died suddenly of a heart attach at his home.
Dr. Vigeland was born in Norway Oct. 15, 1876, son of Gunvold & Marie Johanson Vigeland of Christiansund, Norway. He came to the United States at the age of 18 in 1894. He studied at St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minn. & upon graduating in 1906 he studied medicine at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating in 1910. Following graduation he took the Minnesota examinations & began practice in Nielsville, Minn. June 15, 1911. He married Begette Muus at Littlefork, Minn. It was in 1911 that Dr. Vigeland of Olivet, South Dakota read an advertisement in an American Medical Journal stating that a $1,000 bonus was being offered to any doctor who would set up a practice in Brinsmade, North Dakota. On January 12, 1912, just after receiving his citizenship papers, Dr. Vigeland arrived in Brinsmade.. He served this community until his death on August 11, 1950. He never did receive the $1,000 bonus, however.
After a short period in Minnesota & South Dakota, the doctor & Mrs. Vigeland came to Brinsmade & Benson County & it was a struggle for the doctor to become established but at Brinsmade he succeeded. His medical practice developed into a unique bond of friendship in the community. It was a friendship that could be formed only by long & faithful service.
His 2 sons were born at Brinsmade. G. Norman Vigeland became a general practitioner & Harold became a dentist. At Brinsmade & for many miles around, by horse & buggy, on foot at times, he ministered to the sick & feeble. Hundreds of babies were born with his assistance.
He loved his people, his church & his practice. He was given the opportunity to serve in public positions in various manners. His sincerity, humility & kindness made many friends.
In 1947 Dr. Vigeland retired & prepared to spend the winter in California. Before leaving he & Mrs. Vigeland were given a farewell party with most of the population of Brinsmade & nearby communities attending. After a short stay in California the doctor became ill & returned to Brinsmade. When health permitted he was back in practice.
At an age when most men prefer to take it easy & if possible turn away from their business or profession, the doctor was still actively engaged as a general practitioner, still subscribing to the various medical journals & studying the latest advances & practices in his profession. Only the state of his own health prevented him from applying his full capabilities. Five months before his death he became seriously ill but after his return from the hospital he was soon answering calls through snow-drifts while still convalescing himself.
In 1948 Dr. Vigeland was named North Dakota's most outstanding general practitioner & nominated for national honors. This, to the doctor, was an unexpected & unsought testimonial. A kind & humble man, power & prestige were unthought-of of. Touched & surprised as he was, he somehow felt he couldn't talk about it. But the people of Brinsmade & his friends & patients everywhere felt that in some small measure he was at last getting some of his earthly reward. He was nominated for the American Medical Ass. national general practitioner award when the N.D. Medical Assn. named him North Dakota's general practitioner of the year. He was recommended for the state-wide distinction by residents of Brinsmade & Minnewaukan.
His funeral was held in the Lutheran church in Brinsmade. He was buried at Kenyon, Minn.
In 1950 Dr. Vigeland was named Benson County's "Man of the Half Century" in an exhaustive telephone poll conducted by the Farmers Press. The then 74 year old Brinsmade medic polled more votes than the 13 others on list combined. "There has been too much written about me already," Dr. Vigeland said when informed that he had been thus honored by his fellow Bensonites. That statement was typical of his life. He always looked toward the future & especially the medical future.
Dr. Vigeland was well versed in modern medical therapy. Although age somewhat slowed his dexterous hands that brought over 1200 babies into the world, Dr. Vigeland was an excellent diagnostician. Dr. Vigeland liked to recall the early days of Brinsmade. "It was probably the best town in the county, in 1912 when I first arrived," he said. He enjoyed recalling the efforts of Tom Ose in building Brinsmade. Ose, then a banker, was instrumental in getting one of the state's best ball clubs together. "Al Link is another of the many old-timers that made Brinsmade an outstanding town," Dr. Vigeland explained.
When Dr. Vigeland arrived in Brinsmade after graduating from what is now Marquette Medical College, he was a tired young man who had immigrated to America from Norway & had worked hard for his education. "The fresh air & the good meals that the farmers gave me put vitality into me," Dr. Vigeland said. "If I had to do it all over again, I'd do the same thing."
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Dr. Yri was Brinsmade dentist
After 50 years of serving the dental needs of this area, Dr. E.O. Yri hung his drill for good & closed his filling station in 1976. Doc was born on a farm east of Brinsmade, the son of Mr. & Mrs. R. Yri. He graduated from Brinsmade High School. When he was 5 years old, Doc came down with polio, which left him lame. Although physically strong otherwise, the lame leg made him feel that he wasn't suited for farming so he decided on dentistry.
Hearing that Marquette University in Milwaukee was one of the top dental schools in the country, Doc managed to put in a year before running out of money. He returned to teach for a year in the Normania school, 4 miles south of Churchs Ferry. After a year of teaching, he managed to borrow enough money for equipment, tools & supplies from the M. F. Patterson Dental Supply Co. Fargo.
He returned to his parents' farm & opened dental offices in Brinsmade & Minnewaukan, spending a week at each town & driving back & forth from the farm with a Model A, & later a Chevrolet.
In 1927, after his marriage to Cora Nestegard, they moved to Brinsmade & kept driving back & forth until moving to Minnewaukan in 1928. Mrs. Yri assisted Doc in the office through the years. While at Minnewaukan, Doc has had his office in many places. His first office was in the old Kolsrud store, which was later torn down. Then he moved to the building now housing the Flyway Cafe. After that his office was above the present D & D Bar. Later he moved the office to his home for 10 years. He was in the present Lien Insurance office a number of years before moving to the American Legion Clinic building. The clinic was a good spot, but the concrete floor bothered his feet too much, so he bought the old post office building, remodeled it & maintained his practice there until retiring."But if you treat them in the right way, you can work on them, too," he added, "but don't try to fool them or you'll never be able to work on their teeth."
One fellow who fooled Doc had received his shot of Novocain & Doc was just ready to pull his tooth when the fellow remembered he had to give his wife the car. He went out the door & didn't come back. "I've never seen a fellow so scared of a dentist in all my life," Doc chuckled.
Since he started there have been many advances in dentistry & Doc feels perhaps the greatest was the introduction of the high speed air drill. Those who've had teeth filled with both types of drills will likely agree. Doc is also sold on the new plastic fillings.
He was active in many civic affairs in Minnewaukan. He was an active member of the Minnewaukan Commercial Club & was on the St. Peter Church board for 19 years. He was on the town board before it became a city council for many years. When he was on the town board about 1929, the city owed Otter Tail Power Co. $400 for street lights, so they just turned of the street lights for a year until they caught up on the bill. Vandalism nowadays would probably preclude such a simple solution. Doc was also a director of the Farmer State Bank of Minnewaukan for many years.
Dr. Yri has 1 son, Kenneth Erie of Crookston, an attorney. The younger Erie spells his name differently because of professional reasons. His clients couldn't find his name in the phone book (the names are pronounced the same.) Mrs. Yri died in February 1988.
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Former Brinsmade family has many achievements
The 3 children of Mikkel & Anne Myking Mehus of Brinsmade became successful career people.
Oscar Myking Mehus
O. Myking was born May 15, 1894 on a farm near Silver Lake, 4 miles northeast of Brinsmade. He was a member of the 1st graduating class of Brinsmade High School in 1912.
He received his master's degree in education philosophy from the University of North Dakota & pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago, University of Minnesota & UND. He received a doctor of philosophy degree from UND in 1931.
He began his teaching career in high schools in Fessenden & Harvey & began college teaching at Mayville State Teachers College, Wittenberg College of Springfield, Ohio & State Teachers College of Maryville, Minn.
He was president of Winona Minn. State Teacher College from 1939-1943. He then served as regional chief of vocational rehabilitation & education at the Veterans Administration in Kansas City, Mo & St Louis, Mo.
After his retirement, in 1963 he became proprietor of the Old Shepherd's Bookshop in Branson, Mo.
He was a Mason, Rotarian & a member of the Unitarian Church, Legion & many professional organizations. He was in the 1958-59 60th anniversary volume of Who's Who in America & in every edition since 1949.
He was also decorated by the king of Denmark for work in promoting the interests of Scandinavian people & was active in American Norwegian societies.
He also received the President's Medal for exceptional work with the Veterans Bureau.
He & his wife, Jewel had 2 sons, L. Donald & Orion and a daughter, Dorothy Louvret.
Belle Mehus
Belle was also born in Brinsmade. She attended Oak Grove High School in Fargo. After graduating from high school in Brinsmade in 1912, she studied for 3 years under E.A. Boehmer at the Dakota Conservatory of Music at Fargo. She graduated with honors from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, having studied with Haniot Levy, a great musical technician. Post graduate study in children's work was done under Loise Robyn. Additional piano study followed in Berlin, Germany with Adele aus der Ohe, famed pupil of Franz Liszt. She also spent many summers studying with the famed pianists, Madame Rosina & Joesef Lhevinne.
As a student, Belle Mehus always included 1 graphic art class in her educational program. She studied design & worked principally through the media of water color, charcoal & pottery.
Her professional background was varied & extensive. She established & taught theory & piano at McMurry College in Jacksonville, Ill. for 2 years. She served as chairman of the piano & theory departments at Augsburg College in Minneapolis for 5 years. Prior to locating in Bismarck she was on the senior staff of MacPahil School of Music in Minneapolis. Her public appearances include traveling as a pianist on the Chautauqua circuits for 4 years, accompanying opera singers & leading symphony string musicians in Minneapolis. She also performed at the Twin City Music & Dramatic Club, appearing in the Thursday music program.
She was a charter member & guarantor of the New York Metropolitan Opera season in Minneapolis. In 1973 she was an honor citation winner of the Bismarck Art Assn. The North Dakota Women's Coalition chose her as the Outstanding Woman in Performing Arts in 1976.
She was a member of Sigma Alph Iota National Honorary Musical Fraternity, the North Dakota & National Music Teachers Association, Thursday Music Club, Community Concerts, Midwest Metropolitan Opera, Bismarck Arts Assn., Bismarck Chamber of Commerce, League of Animal Welfare, Isaak Walton League & the Bismarck Art & Gallery Assn.
Alma Mehus Studness
Alma also grew up at Brinsmade. When she was 5 years old, her sister, Belle started her on piano lessons, Alma was just 15 when her mother died.
In 1918 Studness left North Dakota with her sister to study piano in Chicago with the Russian pianist, Joseph Lhevinne. She says no one ever had to coax her to practice. In fact, just the opposite was true, when she would sit 4 to 6 hours at a time playing. "When we were in Chicago, my father told me not to overdo it. He told me to lie down after practice, to relax, but I enjoyed it so much."
Additional study followed in Europe with Adel Aus Der Ohe, the pupil of Franz Liszt, & with Moritz Rosenthal at the Curtis Institute on Philadelphia. An international career as a piano soloist followed, with her debut performance with Berlin Philharmonic.
One summer, when Alma Mehus came back to North Dakota to visit her family, she met Leo Studness at a party in Leeds. He was from Churchs Ferry. "We were born 6 miles apart, but I never met her until after she'd been in Europe." he said. The couple has lived in Devils Lake since their marriage in 1929. They have 2 children, Charles of Manhasset, N.Y. & Anne-Marit Bergstrom of Devils Lake.
Throughout the years, Studness taught gifted piano students on a scholarship basis. Along with teaching gifted students, Studness gave benefit performances to raise money for cultural projects in the Devils Lake area. She worked to establish an orchestra program in Devils Lake public schools & was instrumental in establishing the Arts Council of the Lake Region, which continues to promote cultural activities.
Alma received the prestigious North Dakota Governor's Award for the Arts in 1989.
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Rasmus Yri (Nov 15 1915 Brinsmade Star)
My experience begins with the pioneer days up to the present time. It was in the fall of 1885 that I secured my piece of land from Uncle Sam, in the Town of Riggin. That same fall I built my claim shack, which was just a single board wall, and as the fall and winter were very cold, I of necessity had to secure a stove so I could sleep on the claim, to fulfill the law. It was a sheet iron stove. I shall never forget the first I slept in the shack. I did not understand that kind of a stove. I was compelled to have a fire as it was cold. I built a fire, sat down close to the stove and fell asleep; when I awoke by back was freezing and my pants was burning. The stove was red hot. It is unnecessary to say that I slept no more that night. While putting out the fire in my pants I began to think it is not good for man to be alone. Not long afterwards I had a bright star in my telescope and the result was that the following month of June I was in possession of a wife and a cow. Thus it must be assumed I had good success so far.
That year I could not do much on my own claim owing to small means. I, however, hired some breaking done, dug a well, built a sod barn for the cow, also built a sod wall around the shack to make it warm for the next winter, and put up some hay for the bossy.
In the fall of 1886 my wife and I agreed to seek work for the winter to earn money with which to secure the necessary things for the farm- perhaps some of the readers will remember I sold wood at Grahams Island for O. Burdick. The next spring we moved back to the farm to experience the vicissitudes of pioneer life. The first we needed was oxen and also farm implements, but most of all perseverance and patience. Money is not the only thing necessary to build up a farm, but also a lot of hard work coupled with untold hardship. In 1890, the second dry year, my wife died and I was left with two small boys.
At this time many left their farms, believing that farming would not pay here. Some almost gave their land away. But times became better, and those of us who remained learned that the land we had selected was worth keeping.
But to write of all that has happened would occupy too much space. My experience in the last few years is, that one can farm in such a way as to make the land almost valueless. I believe in the farming of less acres, do better work, and in a few years from now we will find that to be the right way and the best way.
(Editor's note- It is with pleasure that we print Mr. Yri's letter, because in it one gains more of a knowledge of the trials that the pioneers of this country experienced in their attempt to build a home, gain a competence, and turn a wild country into one of the richest and most prosperous counties in the state. Mr. Yri through his perseverance and good management has built up an excellent farm that is well stocked with a nice lot of cattle and horses, and his farm buildings are large and modern. As compared with his claim shack his residence now is large and roomy, and one in which he and his family can well take comfort.)
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Harvey Herman
Harvey Herman, one of Benson County's most popular citizens, retired from his position as cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Minnewaukan. Herman planned to find a piece of lakeshore property in Minnesota where he could garden, hunt & fish.
Both Harvey & Mrs. Herman were interested in gardening & wildlife. As soon as the bank would close the Herman's would be in the back yard with their peonies, strawberries & raspberries. Weekends they would jump in the car & head for Canadian or Minnesota lakes. Mrs. Herman always fished with Harvey. Although she didn't hunt, she usually went along to cook the meals.
Harvey was born in Mifflintown, PA. His parents, Albert & Sarah Herman moved to a farm in Normania Township while Harvey was a youth. He grew to manhood on the farm there & in 1914 went to work as assistant cashier at the First National Bank, Brinsmade.
Harvey went off to war in 1918 serving in England & France with the 125th Field Artillery. When he returned he joined the staff of the Citizens State Bank, Brinsmade, as cashier. He held the latter position until 1929 when the bank closed.
In December 1920 Harvey came to Minnewaukan as cashier of the Benson County State Bank, an affiliate of the First State Stock Corp. this bank liquidated in 1935 & the Knox Bremer affiliate bank moved into Minnewaukan as the Farmers State Bank. They hired Herman as cashier. Harvey was in the unique position of working as cashier of 2 banks at the same time. In the back room he was paying depositors of the liquidated Benson County Bank, while out in front he was accepting deposits for the Farmers State Bank.
Harvey's biggest accomplishment in the field of sports was runner-up for the state skeet shooting title in 1935. That same year he won the Northwest shoot at Minot.
The former Minnewaukan bank cashier has been affiliated with almost every civic endeavor in one capacity or another. Harvey was commander, adjutant & finance officer of Gunnerud-Dietrich American Legion Post of Minnewaukan, clerk & city treasurer & county Red Cross fund chairman. He was a member of Evergreen Lodge No. 46 AF & AM.
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Alex Link was successful businessman in Brinsmade
Alex Link conducted a blacksmithing & wagon making establishment in Brinsmade. He had an up-to-date shop with a set of lathes, forges, hammers, saws, etc. He had an acetylene gas welding plant to make welds of any kind or description. In connection with the sop he had an auto garage where he repaired autos & sold auto supplies & accessories.
Mr. Link came to Brinsmade in January 1905 & with J.H. Forest purchased the machinery business of Tim Mahany & the blacksmith shop from M.H. Mandy. The firm of Forest & Link continued in business until the death of Mr. Forest in 1908 & at the closing of the Forest estate, when the machinery department was sold to the Farmers Mercantile Co.
In 1909 Link bought the undivided half interest in the blacksmithing business of J.H. Forest, deceased, through the administrator, M.T. Joyce & became sole owner of Forest & Link firm.
In 1913 Link sold the following makes of cars: Maxwell, Reo, Nash, Studebaker, Buick & Ford. In 1923 Link, the Benson County automobile dealer who was always just on lap in the lead, started building storage batteries of his own brand. Purchaser of one of the Link batteries was assured of all there is in it because they were put together & delivered by order. Also in 1923 Link shipped in a car of the famous Buick Six cars that he is making "notorious". Few motor car dealers in a town the size of Brinsmade dared ship in a carload of cars this season but Link, a very persistent advertiser & booster for a thing he knows right, had the cars-and sold them, too.
Link's garage at Brinsmade, Buick dealer, remodeled the front room of the First National Bank building for a display & salesroom in 1928. In 1931 Link also made improvements to his oil station. A new building was erected back of the old bank building with a graveled drive along the east side giving easy access from main street with plenty of parking space west of the station.
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Gene Rolle and Andrew Grasser
Gene Rolle and Andrew Grasser were among the very early settlers in this territory. They arrived in 1883 from Minnesota.
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Martin Peterson
Martin Peterson was a homesteader in Normania Township. He had a daughter, Ida who married Knute (K.O.) Knutson from Butte Valley Township.