John William Leininger was born in Iowa in 1883. Years later when his brother Mike was to be married, John went to Nebraska for the wedding. The bride was Clara Gutknecht. That is where our parents met. A new romance and they were married on January 31, 1906. They chose Cooperstown to make their first home and Dad built their house himself. He also did other carpenter work in Cooperstown. Their first child, Margaret, was born in Cooperstown. After several years they moved to the old family home - a farm in Kingsley Township, Section 10. They had three more daughters, Alma, Theressa and Ada, and two sons - Kenneth and Walter.
Margaret was the first to leave. She married Bob Parsons in October 1926 in Waukegan, Illinois. He died in 1957 of a heart attack.
Alma married Ben Ramsey in 1927 and they farmed since that time mostly in Griggs County. Now they have retired and their youngest son, Gary, runs the farm. It is not far from Sutton.
Theressa married Clarence Christianson in 1936. They met in Mayville where he was in college and she was Traill County nurse. They lived in Walum one year while Clarence taught school there. The following year they moved to Sutton where he taught until they moved to Portland, Oregon in 1942. They have two children. John is a career man in the Air Force. Their daughter Sharon lives in Portland.
Ada married Gerald Martin in 1934. They owned and operated Jerry's Cafe in Cooperstown a number of years and then they moved to Fargo. They have four children. Roland is married and lives in Seattle. He works for Boeing. Barbara is married and also lives in Seattle. Daniel is a pastor in Blaine, Washington, and Tommy is with the Border Patrol in Nogales, Arizona
Kenneth married Hazel Rood in 1939. They live on the farm where he grew up. They have four children. John has been a teacher in Montana but hopes to move back to North Dakota soon. Kay lives in Watertown, Wisconsin with her husband and two sons. Karen is married to Rick Alm and they farm near Page. Lynn and her husband, Quentin Spitzer farm near Kensal.
Our younger brother is a pastor in Wisconsin. He married Ruth Knutson in 1947. They have five children.
Our Dad died in Oregon in 1958. Mother is at present in the Cooperstown nursing home and is quite content. She will be 94 years old in July.
Written By Mrs. C. O. (Tres) Christianson
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 327