Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-05-21
BY r. a.. Mo..b,eh.

w tne nlsHt OF July 81, last year,
me hlgnt Air gently swayed the wheat
helds along the eastern Montana line
and on the following morning whipped
tne American flag floating over the
CITY OF Westby. Almost quicker than
you can tell about, it the sturdy from
tlersllnen rallied to the cry, "A city of
our oWn!' and like a mushroom un-
ger cultivation, Westby blossomed
forth.
Location.
Westby at present is situated on
the state line where the 500 branch
quilt west from Ambrose crosses into
Montana. For purposes of railroad
traffic the town is to be in Montana,
but owing to the fact that the town
site Is yet a homestead which is not
proved up, Westby people have tenn
porarily .squatted 0 the Dakota side,
n the town is now Westby, N. D.
-. The old town of Westby was only
an inland post0ffice, a mile south and
two miles east of the present loca-
ton. =
When the place was finally estab-
llshed 1t grew up in less than a fOrtt
night. People locked here like bees
and settled in a wheat field, paying
the farmers for the grain destroyed.
A Wild rush of building was begun
and the lonely wheat field became a
busy little town.
Territory and Field.
With the exception of the towns
along the line to the east and west,
Westby draws for a radius of 80
miles. Wheat is hauled in and ship
ped n bond from far beyond the Can
adian line. There is a customs house
mere. On the south, Wildrose is tho
only point until you reach the main
line of the Great Northern.
To Be Commended.
The settlements in this locality are
mostly Danish. In view of the fact
that these people, the vast majority
OF whom are old countrymen, have
hauled their produce on an average
OF 80 miles, and real estate values
are higher here than at anv other
place in Divide county. it is evident
that the Danes, as We know them, ara
not to be classed with the undesiri
able citizens. The Danish farmers
here are among the most thrifty class
IN this section of the state. d.
Bits Of History.
The filing was opened in this dis
trice in 1910, but there were many
squatters here as early as 1906. One
OF the big assets to this vicinity was
the three7ycar homestead law, which
brought actual settlers here rather
than Spectators.
One of the Oldest citizens is James
Hanson, the postmaster, whe has been
here for the past eight years.
Nels Nelson and O.. G. Sonnerud
We're among the charter members.
They. came here from the old town
and We're formerly. a branch Of tho
Ambrose Mercantile company.
The first business place in town
was I. Olesen's Livery, which be-!
gan operation August 1, and then
came the Wcstby News. A hardware,
Fcneral store. and other business fol-
lowed all about the same time. Both
the bank and Kulaas Lumber com.
pany did business at the old town
End moved here among the first. J..
+. Neve, the blacksmith, also came
from the old town.
The Danes have built a new church
this year. A. large and adequate
school house has just been construct
ed. Other church organizations are
the Norwegian Free Lutheran, Pres
byterian, and German church.
The town took its name from the
The Name, Westby.
old place called Westhy. The name
Is of Norwegian origin, meaning. "A
town to the west"
They Sell Merchandise.
Larsen & Anderson opened their
store here on Nov. !, last year. They
carry, a full line of clothing. dry
goods, groceries, shoes and ladies'
and gents ready to wear. A line Of
light hardware will also be a feature
of this store in the near future.
These gentlement are both wide
awake and active business men, such
as we expect to do things for Westby
and the community in which it is sit
uated. 81
Crime Bros.Ssdo a large business in
the furnishing line. They have other
stores at, Ambrose and Columbus.
Harold Kampetin is partner hereS
and has charge of this store. TheyS
handle the Hart, tSchaffner & Marx
clothing andsathe O'Donnell shoes.
Mr.. Kampetin has been in. this vicin.
ity for the, past three years, and al
present has a store which is a merit
to the town.
,s Hardware and Accessories.
HeaYysaand shelf hardware. furni-
ture, farm implements, stoves and
harnesses are carried in stock by the
Westby Hardware and Implement
company. This business, started Aug.
was among the first in the town.
The officers are: Ed. S. Lee, pres
id'ent; Harold Borg, vice president,
and John K. Borg, secretary and
treasurer.
n company makes a speciality OF
the Keen Cutter goods, Deere e
Weber andsI. H. C. machinery. It is
a large establishment and carries a
full line in all articles needed in the.
locally.
@arS The City Market.
Mr.. Thorpe has a neat and ase'e,n
market, where he handles all kinds OF
-tAsAH]
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