Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-06
WOMEN AS HoMEsTEADERs
FIT. Dodge Chrpnicle.l

tr. DOQge fCnrDnlCle.J
Miss Anna Gilday, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. B. w. Gilday, of this city. has
accomplished feat of courage which
entities her to much credit and incl
dentally assures her an income of
substantial amount.
A few years ago an older sister left
her home in this city with the deter
mination that she would become the
owner of a farm in North Dakota, If
courage and grit would secure it. Ar
irving at Devils Lake, she entered l6O
acres of government land and after
building small house, known in that
vicinity as n "shack," she prepared to
fulfill the requirements of the law,
which demanded residence on the
land for certain period. Alone, on
wide prairie, not house in sight, she
Withstood all fears and dangers and
not only fulfilled the demands Of the
law, but enhanced the value Of her
holdings by making such improve
ments as she could arrange for. Dur
ing her sojourn in this prairie country
she made the acquaintance of a young
man who had but a short time before
been admitted to the bar and had fol-
lowed the old time advice to go west
and grow up with the country. Their
acquaintance grew to courtship and
which terminated in marriage and Miss
Gilday became Mrs. Denoyer The laws
of the state do not permit of man and
wife holding two entries and as the
husbands land was the more valuable
farm of the two, the tract was dis
posed of at liberal profit. Her success
aroused the ambition of her sister at
home in this city and last March Miss
| Anna Gilday arrived at Devils Lake
North Dakota. Three hours after her
arrival she entered tract of $50 acres
! of fine prairie land fifteen miles from
town. AS soon as the weather would
Ipermit a trip was made to the land and
a location selected for small house.
Soon afterwards a Shack 12x14 was
CONSTRUCTED and equipped for living.
Then came the test; alone, fifteen miles
l from town, no near neighbors, COM
4 parative stranger and never before
placed in so trying position. For two
weeks she lived in the shack" on the.
| open prairie. breathing the pure air and
4 planning how she would improve the
land. The latter part of the period was
not so distressing as the first few days
and the small quarters did not seem
so desolate. During the summer she
made number of pleasant acquaint-
ances among the young ladies of that
/ vicinity who Hike herself. We're holding
claims and it became pleasant diver
sion to visit around at the different
9"shacks." Dakota is state of dis
tances and fifteen miles is not consid-
cred far out. A small station seven
miles from the claim. known as Ram
lsey, affords all necessary supplies and
lis quite convenient, although errands
of Importance are to Devils Lake.
The first year witnessed the breaking
of thirty acres Of land and this fall the
blowing ground was further added to
J by the breaking OF twenty more acres
In addition to this reasonable hay
crop was sold for $40. that commodits
being very plentiful article and mol
commanding very high price. Mex
fall Miss Gilday will prove up on hel
farm and will then be the owner of 16t
acres OF good land not a foot of y
, but what can be turned to good ac-
) count. She has returned to her home II
this city for the winter. but has formed
a strong attachment for her boundles.
lprairies of the Dakotas. Although ex
lposed to the burning sun and inclem
lencies Of the weather. her features d.
mot betray her experience and In ad