Title
LOUIS JOHN (L.J.) JR. AND MARIE KOELLE STOXEN
Creator
Selma (Stoxen) Swanson
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 141N RANGE 93W
Text
LOUIS JOHN (L.J.) JR. AND MARIE KOELLE STOXEN
Oct. 12, 1883 Louis John Jr. (L.J.), his sister Christina (Stoxen) Plaggemeir and baby Robert came to Taylor, N.D. by train. There were no hotels so the only place to sleep was on the depot floor. L. J. was 20 years old. He had the sum of $2 in his pocket. He moved to Dickinson, N.D. and obtained work on the railroad. He became friends with August Koelle. Later August Koelle had his sister come from Fair-bault, Minn. Where she had moved when she came from Germany in 1885, seemingly this appeared to be a blind date.
L. J. had the urge to become a land owner so he could establish his own home. He decided to take up a homestead which was about seven miles northwest of Taylor, N.D and about 20 miles northeast of Dickinson, N.D. To have a homestead one was to live there for a certain length of time to become the owner.
August found work for his sister at a hotel in Dickinson, N.D. While working there she had the honor to meet President Theodore Roosevelt. He greeted all the helpers; she was unable to speak the English language but he could speak German. He asked if she had a need and she told him she needed her money changed. He aided her in changing her money. She respected him very highly for this help.
The only means L. J. had to travel was to walk. He walked the 20 miles to see his lady friend (Marie). Later she worked in Gladstone, N.D. which was not quite so far for L. J. to walk.
Dec. 20, 1887 L. J. and Marie were married in a small country schoolhouse near the homestead (where all the children attended elementary school). Rev. John Fooken performed the ceremony. Services were held there on Sunday. They spent fifty years on that homestead together with many hardships, loving fellowship and trusting God for guidance.
In 1890 that area was hit with a severe drought. No feed for the livestock. In despair they moved back to Dickinson during the winter months to earn enough money to make a living. L. J. went back to work on the railroad and Marie took in washing. The means at that time were far from that of todays. People couldn’t keep themselves clean due to inconvenience of taking a bath and having a fresh change of clothing. Only when the clothing became so heavy with soil and dirt and parasites that did not let them live at ease did they take a bath.
When L. J. came home at night Marie told how, when the clothing was put in the water the lice would come up the washboard. L. J. did not let this continue any longer.
The following spring they together decided to venture out to the homestead again. They purchased milk cows on shares, selling milk to a nearby cheese factory to pay for the cows. Their source was God and eventually having better crops, milking cows and whatever means was available they willingly applied themselves.
To this family was born five boys and one girl: Chris, Arthur, Emil, Levi, Ervin and Selma.
As years passed, more land was purchased, aiming to start each boy with land and all the means to set up farming. All this land surrounded the L. J. homestead and all work on all the farms was done in partnership.
There were many loving family gatherings, fellowship and friendship with nearby neighbors.
In their old age L. J. and Marie moved to Taylor, N.D., living across the alley from their daughter Selma Swanson, to finish their lives together here on earth.
After L. J.'s death, Marie was in her 80's; she boarded and roomed four high school girls at one time. Also at other times she roomed and boarded high school boys still feeling the urge to help others like she was helped.
Marie's motto was “Working Together Makes Everyone Strong and Prosperous.”
By Selma (Stoxen) Swanson
Oct. 12, 1883 Louis John Jr. (L.J.), his sister Christina (Stoxen) Plaggemeir and baby Robert came to Taylor, N.D. by train. There were no hotels so the only place to sleep was on the depot floor. L. J. was 20 years old. He had the sum of $2 in his pocket. He moved to Dickinson, N.D. and obtained work on the railroad. He became friends with August Koelle. Later August Koelle had his sister come from Fair-bault, Minn. Where she had moved when she came from Germany in 1885, seemingly this appeared to be a blind date.
L. J. had the urge to become a land owner so he could establish his own home. He decided to take up a homestead which was about seven miles northwest of Taylor, N.D and about 20 miles northeast of Dickinson, N.D. To have a homestead one was to live there for a certain length of time to become the owner.
August found work for his sister at a hotel in Dickinson, N.D. While working there she had the honor to meet President Theodore Roosevelt. He greeted all the helpers; she was unable to speak the English language but he could speak German. He asked if she had a need and she told him she needed her money changed. He aided her in changing her money. She respected him very highly for this help.
The only means L. J. had to travel was to walk. He walked the 20 miles to see his lady friend (Marie). Later she worked in Gladstone, N.D. which was not quite so far for L. J. to walk.
Dec. 20, 1887 L. J. and Marie were married in a small country schoolhouse near the homestead (where all the children attended elementary school). Rev. John Fooken performed the ceremony. Services were held there on Sunday. They spent fifty years on that homestead together with many hardships, loving fellowship and trusting God for guidance.
In 1890 that area was hit with a severe drought. No feed for the livestock. In despair they moved back to Dickinson during the winter months to earn enough money to make a living. L. J. went back to work on the railroad and Marie took in washing. The means at that time were far from that of todays. People couldn’t keep themselves clean due to inconvenience of taking a bath and having a fresh change of clothing. Only when the clothing became so heavy with soil and dirt and parasites that did not let them live at ease did they take a bath.
When L. J. came home at night Marie told how, when the clothing was put in the water the lice would come up the washboard. L. J. did not let this continue any longer.
The following spring they together decided to venture out to the homestead again. They purchased milk cows on shares, selling milk to a nearby cheese factory to pay for the cows. Their source was God and eventually having better crops, milking cows and whatever means was available they willingly applied themselves.
To this family was born five boys and one girl: Chris, Arthur, Emil, Levi, Ervin and Selma.
As years passed, more land was purchased, aiming to start each boy with land and all the means to set up farming. All this land surrounded the L. J. homestead and all work on all the farms was done in partnership.
There were many loving family gatherings, fellowship and friendship with nearby neighbors.
In their old age L. J. and Marie moved to Taylor, N.D., living across the alley from their daughter Selma Swanson, to finish their lives together here on earth.
After L. J.'s death, Marie was in her 80's; she boarded and roomed four high school girls at one time. Also at other times she roomed and boarded high school boys still feeling the urge to help others like she was helped.
Marie's motto was “Working Together Makes Everyone Strong and Prosperous.”
By Selma (Stoxen) Swanson