Township 147 ‑ 62

by Avis Lowe

The survey report was filed at Huron, Dakota Territory on December 23, 1884.

The township lines were surveyed by Charles Scott in October, 1882. George W. Phillips measured the subdivisions and meanders in September 1884.

There is 22,507.34 Acres of Public land and 460.08 acres of water surface, giving the township a total of 22,967.42 acres.

In 1900 there were 61 open quarters that had not been settled.

McHenry township is located at the extreme northeast corner of Foster County, Range 62 West 147 North. Named after the village, McHenry, which, in turn, was named in honor of the chief civil engineer for the Northern Pacific railroad company; in charge, when a branch line brought service from Cooperstown to McHenry, in 1899.

The land is level to nearly level with some gently undulating hills. There is a large slough, "The Alkali", which covers large portions of sections 8 and 9 and part of 16 and 17. The Bald Hill Creek meanders through sections 32, 33, 34, 25, 26 and 27. The northern half of the township has many acres of swampy undrained land. The Federal Government has purchased nearly three hundred acres in sections 1, 5 and 6, as a wildlife preserve. Many other acres, in this upper tier, are presently in the "Water Bank" program; because it is an ideal setting for game cover as well as "Production Set‑aside". The southern half, more readily, drains into the Bald Hill Creek. On this creek there are two dams, one on the Northeast quarter of Section 26 and the other on the Southeast quarter of Section 34; the Paul Frappier and Julius Delfa farms, respectively. These dams were built from 1934‑36 as a W.P.A. project. The main labor force was made up of low income local villagers and area farmers with their horses and equipment. Both of these earthen dams are still retaining water, though they are in only fair to good condition.

The Northern Pacific railroad runs through the south halves of sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, ending with a unique "turn around loop" at the end of the line in section 5. Burlington Northern now owns this trackage but has abandoned the thirteen miles of line from Binford to McHenry. The City of McHenry, through long negotiations, finally obtained the lease to all the right of way, to and through, the loop from highway No. 20. The trackage was an outright gift. This "Loop" is a Historic Site.

Highway No. 20 runs vertically through the center of the township. The county has built a hard top road which runs horizontally along the upper sections, leading to Binford and Grace City. The remainder of the county roads are graveled and in excellent condition; generally passable throughout the year. There is one Air Strip; 2300' east‑west sod runway, located on Section 4.

McHenry township had two rural schools. I asked for help from Carl Pewe, whose father John Pewe, was an early township resident, so this report is a direct quote from him. "The Paulson school was located on the southeast corner of Section 19‑147‑62 West. Teachers there throughout the years were (maybe not in this order) as I recall them: Mrs. Chris Delfs, Clara Tams, Lottie Posey, Alice Arndt, Milly Baily (later married Arthur McLaughlin) and Anna Ibsen. This school was consolidated with McHenry school about 1913. Pete Rorvig and Haro Gregory were the first school bus drivers. Pupils in the school were: Charlie Delfs, Josie and Luella Werner, Albert, Edmund, Alma and Florence Paulson, Willie, Elsie and Leona Pewe, Harry and Dora Rothforth, Lorretta Knuth, Arthur, Frank, Cicel and Mae Fessler, and during the winter months, Alma and Carl Pewe. This school building was later moved and used for a garage, only to burn, taking a brand new Buick with it."

This school report is written by Gustav Pewe, brother of Carl. "My first grade teacher was Beth Peterson of McHenry. I wonder how she managed to get a kid who only understood and spoke low German to learn English; this must have been quite a challenge for her, it was for me. However, by the time I was in second grade, another McHenry lady was the teacher, Pearl Greb, but by that time I had really taken hold in school and enjoyed my education from then on. As I recall in naming the pupils attending, they were: Alma, Herman and Henry Delfs, Harry, Donald and Carroll Cole, Wilmar Ramstead and my sisters, Freida and Ella and myself, Gustav Pewe. There perhaps were others who attended before we arrived at the Runge farm, but they were unknown to me. The school closed its doors as the district reorganized with McHenry in 1913 and we were bussed there from then on. When I drive down that road, occasionally, it still brings back memories of long ago." The school house was moved to the Tony Smith farm. A special thanks to the Pewe gentlemen for their help.

The organizational meeting for McHenry township convened early in 1902, with Ernest Hohneck, pro tem chairman and William Werner, K.J. Alfstad and H.S' Culver as meeting judges. This first meeting was held at the "Country School", located just outside of McHenry. Candidates for the upcoming election were chosen as well as voting sites. The March elections were held at the McHenry Post Office, the John Paulson and the Culver schools. Twenty citizens came to vote and the following offices were filled.

Charles H. Leach, Supervisor and chairman John Paulson, Supervisor

S.C. Keller, Supervisor W.H. Niemeyer, Clerk K.J. Alfstad, treasurer E.M. Brown, Assessor

H.H. Williams, Justice of Peace

William Werner, Justice of Peace Len Gander, Constable

Marcus Delfs, Constable

Fred Johansen, Overseer of Highway H.S. Halvorson, Overseer of Highway Charles 0. Benson, Pound Master.

Supervisors were paid $35.00 per year. The first assessment called for $800.00 for Township purposes and $500.00 toward the erection of the City Jail. Total budget $1,300.00. The voting participation in this township fluctuates wildly. In 1905 there were 57 ballots cast, in 1920 only 7, 1924‑ 50, 1934‑ 53 and 1944 down to 16. In the last ten years we have averaged less than ten votes for each election.

The minutes give few clues to analyze these variances, but I suspect, by the increase of candidates in those "high county" years, that there was extra interest in roads, the assessors position and law and order. A low vote may indicate contentment. The present officers are:

Alfred Frappier, Supervisor and chairman Elery Hoyt, Supervisor

Richard Lowe, Supervisor Lester Dreher, Assessor

Edmund Pewe, Clerk Richard McDaniel, treasurer Supervisors are paid $75.00 per year in 1982.

As I read documents to prepare this history, I came upon some of the judicial records. In this case the defendant had bought an item for $33.50. He defaulted so the prosecutor brought him to court. As a result of the litigation he was charged the court costs and the original indebtedness. These costs were itemized:

Summons	.50
Docket	.25
Filing	.20
Judgment	.50
Officers fee for summons	1.05
Transcript	1.00
Attorney fee	5.00
Legal Fees	8.50
Debt	33.50
Judgment	42.00

McHenry village lies within the boundary of McHenry township. I have not included information about the town because we have another history of the towns in this book.

McHenry township has twenty‑five residences, with about one half of these in the full time business of farming. The real estate is held by fifty different land owners. Of these fifty, several live in McHenry and augment their other businesses with agricultural pursuits. Other land owners have farm residences in neighboring townships and we have two out of state owners. We have a total rural population of seventy‑six. One third of our households are headed by widows. There are no widowers. We have only two families still living on farms in McHenry township who had parents or grandparents who homesteaded here, they are the Delfs and the Pewes.

The farming in this area is diversified. We have both dairy and beef cattle, a few chickens for home use and some hogs. The typical grain cropping includes wheat, barley, oats, corn and rye, but in the last ten year the new and most successful cash crop has been sunflowers. Wild hay has given way to the more productive alfalfa, sweet clover and tame grasses. We have no irrigated fields.

McHenry township residents are supportive of the local fire department, community organizations, their schools and churches, their village and most of all, to each other.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 336

McHenry Township