In the fall of 1883 Peter Zink, Sr. of Melville, lost his home in a prairie fire. Mrs. Zink and her husband were in a nearby field plowing. Mrs. John Kleb, a neighbor woman, was in the house sewing for the Zink family.
As she sat there sewing she smelled smoke. She looked up and saw the fire nearly at the door. She tried to save the furnishings. She succeeded in getting the sewing machine, a bed, and four chairs out. In doing so she received several burns on her face and arms.
Mr. Zink had a shed built so as to join on the house. In this he stabled his two mules and one cow.
The animals were saved for they were in the field. Mr. Zink immediately went to Jamestown for more lumber to build a new home for it was in the fall.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 90