John Eggert

John Eggert (1866-1955) was born in Gramentine, Germany. He served in the German army and in 1886 came to America in a sailing vessel settling in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1888 he was united in marriage with Minnie Wagerin. Their first home was a log cabin on a farm in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. In 1894 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. All but two of the family of six boys and three girls were born in Minnesota. Mr. Eggert was one of the covered wagon pioneers; he tilled the soil with oxen and came to Dazey, North Dakota, by immigrant train from his small farm in Minnesota in 1906 when the family settled on a farm in Ashtabula Township and lived there until 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Eggert purchased a home in Valley City when they retired. Mrs. Eggert became ill and died in 1927. As his family grew and his farming interests expanded, he improved his machinery, his stock and his farming methods. He owned and operated one of the first gasoline threshing machines in Barnes County. Mr. Eggert knew the ups and downs of good years and bad years in farm operations, but always retained his faith in the soil and his fellowmen. During his life time he saw the development of the telephone, radio, television, automobiles and the airplane. He was active in Ashtabula Township affairs and served as president of the District #78 School Board; on Red Cross and War Bond drives. The Eggert family has always given strong support to quality education and scholarships, bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees have been earned in many colleges and universities. They also served during war time in W.W. I and W.W. II, as well as Korea and Vietnam. They are dentists, teachers, farmers, businessmen, librarians, tradesmen, executives, law enforcement officers, psychologists, homemakers to name a few activities in which 235 direct descendants are involved. Eggert's Landing, the park and recreation area on the east shore of Lake Ashtabula named by the U.S. Government is carved from the original acreage of Eggert land farmed by the family.

With a family so large and widely scattered it has been said, within the family group, that the "Eggerts are related to everyone", especially in Barnes County.  Their roots will endure in their beloved Barnes County forever.

The children are:

  1. Anne (Mrs. Roy Stiles) seven children;

  2. Rose (Mrs. Wm. Becker) four children;

  3. Mayme (Mrs. Beil-Young) eleven children;

  4. Richard - married Emma Beil -four children;

  5. John Jr., married Alma Johnson - six children;

  6. Robert, married Marian Tomren, four children;

  7. Walter, married Bernice Herbster, four children;

  8. Bernard, married Cecelia Ann Lessleyoung.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 58