The Dickinson press., 1888-12-22
HebrOn.-Germans and German Rus.
Sims.

Twelve miles west of Glemullen is
Hebron, Il colony of Germans and
German.speaking Russians. The lat.
ter are from the province of Bessera.
hia, whittier their ancestors went
nearly Il hundred years ago, with en-
couragement from the Car, whose
wife was a German princess, and who
made special effort to attract German
farmers to his thinly.peopled domin-
ions. These Dakota immigrants say
that the Russian Government has lit
tie by little taken away the special
privileges given to their forefathers.
and that taxes are heavy and the MILF
tary CONSUMPTION oppressive. Hence
they have sought new homes i'll the
free American West. They are an G
c%eedingly thrifty and industrious peo-
pie. with II wholesome dread of debt.
Their houses and barns are mostly
built of sod, and with this material
they have Il knack of constructing a
solid, comfortable and not unsightly
building. In the middle of the living
room they construct u big stove of
stones and mortar. which will burn
wood, coal, or even straw, if need be.
Until they get money to buy lumber,
they pound down the dirt to make a
hard floor. 1t is u saying in this re-
gion that II Russian will build Il house
without buying anything but II door
and Il few panes of glass. In religion
they are Lutherians. Their fellow
colonists from Germany are of three
sects, Lutherans, Catholics and Bap-
fists.
The Hebron settlers were pretty
hard pressed last year when the
drought made the wheat crop Il par.
tial failure, but this year with II fair
crop and the highest price v paid
in Dakota, they have paid their store
debts and look upon the problem of
life in Il new country us fully solved.
Their stock is paying them we'll. They
understand the care of cattle and
sheep and their herds and tlocks are
increasing rapidly.
The Hebron settlement numbers
about 500 inhabitants and is constant.
ly receiving accessions. Good home
stead claims can still be had within
five or six miles of the railroad. These
foreigners appreciate the ownership
of land much better than do Ameri-
cans. They are proud of their farms
and are constantly writing to rela.
tives and friends in their old homes
that good land can be had in Dakota
for the taking, and urging them to
come and join the colony. They are
satisfied with the climate and soil and
never talk of moving on. There is
not much to picture or describe in the
village, but Il drive in the country
among the farms is full of interest.
from the old architecture of the
houses and the quaint costume and
ways of the people. The tavorite
outer garment of the man in winter
is Il long shecp.skin coat. worn with
the wool inside. The wool is curled
and dyed Il jet black. and the leather
side of the garment is we'll tanned
and of "a russell color. The village has
a single store, IL hotel, IL blacksmith
shop and Il Lutheran church. The
preacher is something of a physician
and practices the cure of bodies as
we'll as of souls. Hebron impressed
me as Il solid, creditable effort ut Da
kota settlement, which is sure to
grow and prosper. 1t u especially
commend to Germans who know how
to farm and raise stock and who want
to live where the language of the IA
therland is the common speech
| Northwest MAGAZINE.