William Harrison Cruff, the 3rd, received his Homestead Patent for Southwest ΒΌ of Section 35, in Binghamton Township, July 15, 1905 signed by President Benjamin Harrison,
William H. Cruff met Estella Mae Cross when she was teaching at Lucca, North Dakota. They were married in February 1901 and all the children were born on the original homestead. They are the following: Donald Marion Cruff (twin) born December 27, 1900 and married Hazel Fredrickson, had one daughter, three sons -and eight grandchildren. He passed away in December, 1931.
Dorothy Mayme Cruff (twin) born December 27, 1900 and married Arthur Pfoer. They had two daughters and five grandchildren. She passed away in March, 1928.
Evelyn Vedelea Cruff born September 1 , 1903 and married Martin Skaar. They have two sons and one daughter and eleven grandchildren.
William Grant Cruff was born January 22, 1905 and married Ida Grotberg. They have one son and one daughter and six grandsons.
Lloyd Gerald Cruff born August 11, 1906 and married Thelma Hecocks. They have one son and one daughter and seven grandchildren.
Bernard Carlton Cruff born March 4, 1908 and married Amanda Shegstad. They have four sons and two daughters and eighteen grandchildren.
Clair LeRoy Cruff born July 30, 1909 and married Murlie Beil. They have seven children and twenty-four grandchildren and one deceased.
Merle Clifford Cruff born November 16, 1917 and married a girl from California. They have four children and two grandchildren.
Third Generation: Estella Mae Cruff born May 14, 1915 and married Cleon Mathen Birkemeyer, who was employed at the Carpenter Lumber Go. in Valley City, North Dakota, in 1936-37 as Assistant Manager. They moved to Oregon in 1941 and the Portland area in 1942 where Estella is a teacher in the Portland Public Schools. They have two children: Cleon Dale Birkerneyer of Mascoutah, Illinois, and Val Jean Birkemeyer (Mrs. McCarty of Beaverton, Oregon) and five grandchildren: Robert Matheu, Mark Edward, Sherri Colletle and Kimberly Jo McCarty and Angel Lynne Birkemeyer.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 51