Michael Leininger was born August 21, 1879 in Boone, Iowa. Being the oldest of eight children he helped his father, John Leininger farm their quarter Section of land.
He met his wife, Clara Gutkneckt, at choir practice. She was teaching school in Boone, but they were married at her home in Nebraska on December 4, 1900, her father, Reverend Carl Gutkneckt performed the wedding ceremony.
Mike and Clara lived in Boone, Iowa until 1903 when they moved to Tower City, North Dakota. Their family had grown to four as they had a daughter, Esther, and a son Carl.
Mike farmed two years in Tower City and in 1905 bought Section 5 of Kingsley Township near Binford.
His father had also purchased land and was living in this area.
Mike built his farm home and they moved into it December 27, 1905, just one day before their third child, Alice, was born.
When Binford built a new school, Mike gave a portion of his land for the old school building to be moved onto and the Leininger and Dybwad children were some of the first pupils to attend from that area.
Five more children were born to them, Clara, Thelma, Alfred, Gertrude and Edith.
The family attended church at Zion Lutheran of rural Binford and this Church is still being used.
Mike owned a threshing machine and did threshing for neighboring farmers. He also had a cook car to provide meals for the men threshing.
In the fall of 1933 smoke could be seen for miles as the barn burned, because of too green hay stacked in it. The barn was later rebuilt.
In 1938, Mike and Clara moved to Sutton and Mike worked two years for the State Highway Department.
They moved back to the farm for two years, but returned to Sutton when their youngest son, Alfred, took over the farm.
Mike and Clara celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1950.
Mike passed away in 1952 at the age of 73 and Clara one year later in 1953 at the age of 74.
The farm is now owned by grandchildren of Michael Leininger, Mr. and Mrs. Charles DeHoff and William M. Rahlf.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 328