In the early days many young men from neighboring states came to North Dakota to work during the harvest season. Will Phelps was one of these, coming to Cooperstown in 1906 from Grantsburg, Wisconsin. He first worked at the Steve Jones farm 9 miles west of Coopers - town. Mr. Jones' children - Henry, Tom, and Anna (later Mrs. George Higgins) were young people at the time. The farm was located on the north side of a body of water, which has been known for many years as the Jones slough and is now occupied by Clarence Peterson. Will came to the area of Clearfield Township year after year working for various farmers, some of whom were Olaf Stromme, Wes Flick, and Fred Widlund. His younger brother, Clarence, was killed by lightning in 1908 in the barn on the now Ted and Harold Hovel farm.
Will Phelps' wife to be, Berenice came to North Dakota and Clearfield Township from Grantsburg, Wisconsin in 1912 and taught school in the Church School. Some of her pupils were Arthur Colvin, Cassie Graber, and Ester Lundeen McCullough. A newer building now stands on the same location, and is now used as the Township hall. She boarded with the Fred Widlund family, which is the farm now occupied by Kenneth Dahls.
Will and Berenice were married in January 1913, and started farming that same spring on the Robertson farm, now occupied by Loren Dramstad. They lived and farmed all their years, with the exception of one year in Foster County, in Clearfield Township rearing three children
William, Jesslyn, and Robert. They were very active in the community - Will serving on school and Township boards
Berenice worked with the Parent Teacher and Community Clubs, directed plays, very active in Homemakers, Hospital Auxiliary, and Ladies Aid of the Church. Will died in 1955 and Berenice in 1963. It was their wish that they be buried in Clearfield Township and are so resting in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, about 2 miles from their farm, formerly being the Gust Evers farm in Sections 5 and 6.
Will Phelps' father was in the Civil War, having first served under General McClellan, and later due to an injury, was placed on lighter duty with General Sibley to quell the Indian uprisings in 1863. This expedition passed thru Griggs County, Clearfield and Addie Townships and camped at Camp Atchision south of Binford.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 261