By Erwin Steffen
From 1899-1975
I was born January 27, 1899 in Clearfield Township to Mr. and Mrs. William Steffen. When I was 12, my dad died. It was up to brother Clarence and me to help Mother keep the farm going. Mother promised when I was 21 that I'd get the going wages. In the next four years I saved about $600. In 1924 I met Ruth Messner whom I married.
Ruth and I lived in Nelson County for one year on her folks' farm. Roger, our oldest child, was born October 15, 1925. Roger now lives in Fortuna, California He has eight children and three grandchildren.
We moved back to Griggs county in October of '26 and rented the farm that I live on now from George Condy. (Section 3, Helena Township)
December 1, 1926 we were expecting our second child. I called mother and said, "Ruth is going to have her baby." Mother said, "You don't have to worry. It takes a long time sometimes before the baby arrives." But we were fooled. Marjorie was real ambitious even before she was born because in no time at all she was with us. Marjorie is now Mrs. Bill Hazard. She lives on a farm near Cooperstown and has two children.
I thought I was going to get rich fast just before the crash of '29. I spent all my money to buy option on wheat and before I could protect myself in the market, I was sold out. I lost all of the crop through this gambling. It sure didn't pay for me. That same year my car burned in the garage.
Ruthie was born July 12, 1931. When it was time to call the doctor we thought that everything would be alright. But it didn't turn out that way. Her mother died at the time of her birth. Now I was left alone with three children. Ruthie is now Mrs. Carrol Lende. They have four children and live in Fortuna, California
I was fortunate at this time of trial when left alone with three small children. To keep them together it took the goodness of those who helped me. Clara Anderson (Eide) kept house for a while and later on Mrs. Emma Thorn. They were wonderful women and mothered those children as if they were their own. Mrs. Thorn got sick and had to quit so I had to look for help again. A neighbor boy, Bernard Clark, said, "I believe I know a girl you can get that is really good for keeping house for you, Lillian Beattie." I didn't know her but I asked him to go with me to ask her. Yes he would, so we hooked the team on the old Surrey (the roads were bad so we couldn't take the car). On the way over Bernard was going to give Lil a boost and said, "You know that Lillian can sure make good soup."
Lillian's dad was quite a horseman. When we got there he really sized up the team to see how they were harnessed before he sized me up. She went home with me and decided to stick it out for a while. In those days it wasn't for money that they were doing kind deeds but because they wanted to do things that were good. Otherwise, how could anyone keep house for $2 or $3 a week, which they got for taking care of someone else's family. I can't help but express my love and appreciation for those who were so kind to help keep my family together. Lillian stayed. She must have been a courageous girl
We got married June 16, 1935. We have two girls born to our union. Kay was born November 27, 1938. Kay is now Mrs. Charles Johnson. She lives in San Jose, California and has three children. Connie was born September 16, 1949. Our only child born in the hospital. She had a good start. 11 pounds! Connie is a teacher and lives in Rockford, Illinois
Lil and I have had a good life together. We're celebrating our 40th Anniversary this summer. We have a small farm, good neighbors, and loving families. This has been our Heritage.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 319