Biography of Mr. Boltz
By Marjorie Boltz
June 5, 1926
In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Peter Julius Boltz came across from Germany with a family of four, one of which died on the way over and was buried in the ocean. It took them one month to come across.
Mr. Boltz was a Lutheran minister, and he came over to the United States for a bigger field to work in. When they arrived in this country, they settled in Muskegon, Michigan. Two boys were born to them - one of which was my father born in 1880. They had bad luck in Muskegon because Mrs. Boltz died, and the children had to be scattered into different homes as orphans; Mr. Boltz went back to Germany. When father was of age, he wanted to het away from Michigan because he thought that he would do better in the west, and also he did not like the damp climate of Michigan.
He was on his way back to the state of Washington, but as he was going through North Dakota, he noticed the Golden wheat fields and he liked the looks of the country, sohe thought he would try this country. In 1901 he settld near Aneta, North Dakota about ½ miles from Aneta, so he did not have such a hard time to get provisions as some of the pioneers.
In 1914 we moved over to Charlie Hall’s place still in Griggs County, and we lived there ten years. In 1915 my other sister, Marian, was born, but in 1919 our poor little Marian died which was very hard on Mother and Father.
While we were there we had some vey good crops, and some very poor crops. In 1924 he moved down south of town in Griggs County where he is still living. With dairying and raising police dogs, they have kept their head above the level. He would not leave North Dakota with the great opportunity for education, etc. He thinks there is no more healthful climate than there is in North Dakota and has made fairly well since he has been here. Of course, he has had drawbacks, but he says you can always have a living and someday he will reach the goal by the cland of the Dakota reaper.
The clang od the Dakota reaper,
On the Dakota plain!
A music Sweeter—deeper—
Than many a nobler strain.
Across that North Dakota prairie
I tramped, one summer day;
The breeze was free and merry--
White lamb-clouds were at play;
With golden wheat was teeming
The farmer’s paddock field;
And repened grain stood gleaming
Like lakes of melted gold;
When richer, sweeter,deeper
Than a distant music strain,
Came the clang of the Dakota reaper,
On this Dakota plain!
As when the heart is weeping
‘Neath slowly crushing hours,
The fragrance soft came creeping
Of memory wild rose flowers.