Michael J. Englert was born near Breda, Iowa on October 1, 1876 of German parentage. He attended rural and high school at Laurens, Iowa. Here he met Stella Eliza Larssen, who was born at Willmar, Minnesota. They were married on December 26, 1904, and came to Valley City, where Michael had gone into law practice in the firm of Page and Englert.
In 1908 a house was built which they occupied the rest of their lives, and which is now the home of their son, Judge Hamilton Englert.
Four children were born to the Englerts: Beatrice (February 3, 1906); Robert (January 17, 1908); Hamilton (January 31, 1909) and Patricia (December 28, 1915). Beatrice and Robert are now deceased.
M. J. Englert, called "Mike", became a prominent lawyer and later the District Judge of the first judicial district from 1919 to 1951.
An ardent outdoorsman, he enjoyed horseracing, baseball, hunting, golfing and fishing. He was known best, perhaps, for his friendly greeting to everyone he passed as he walked to and from the Court House. A tall, imposing man, always well-dressed, he never failed to doff his hat to the fair sex and always spoke to everyone.
Patricia married Melvin Mahlke and they now live at La Mesa, California.
Hamilton married Harriet Lowe of Oakes, North Dakota in 1935, and they have two married daughters: Darlene (Mrs. W. L. Talbott) of Brookfield, Wisconsin, and Ann (Mrs. Dennis O'Neill) of San Francisco, California.
Hamilton prepared for the office of District Judge with twenty-eight years service as the district court reporter.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 64