The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-08-05
History Of Brimer Township
By EDWARD JOHNSON

In preparing this, owe much to
three of the oldest settlers in the
township-Mr. Kline, Mr.. Brimer and
Mr.. Kane.
What is now Brimer township is To-
Gated in the corner of the western ex'
tension of Barnes county into Suits
man county. Stutsman county forms
it's western and part of it's southern
boundary; while Anderson forms its
eastern boundary, and Uxibridge the
northern. 1t is number al north, and
range 81 west. 1t IL the regular size
of a congressional township, SO square
miles.
There are no streams in Brimer
township. 1t seems to be an eleva-
ton between the branches Of the Mis-
souri, and the Red River of the North.
The southern half of the western part
contains part Of the terminal moraine
of the ancient glacial bed,
and is rolling with undrained
depressions, the largest of these
depressions are sometimes called
lakes. The soil is loan varying
to sandy, gravelly and stony loan.
1t is adapted to grains, small fruits,
forage crops and native grasses. The
southern and southeastern part have
widely distributed type of loan, &C
companied by sandy and stony loans,
also by clay and silt loans. 1t is
generally dark brown in color, due to
high percentage or organic matter.
1t is fertile, easily cultivated, and is
adapted to wide range of crops. In
the northern and central parts, it con-
sists chiefly of silt loan, accompanied
by loan, sandy loan and clay loan.
1t is dark brown in color and rich in
organic matter. 1t retains moisture
well, and is one of the most valuable
soils in the northwest. 1t is adapted
to all cereals, fax, vegetables, small
fruits, and forage crops.
The land in this township was sur
veyed and opened for settlement about
the years of 1880 and 1881. The best
claims were all taken during the years
of 1881, 1892 and 1883, but they have
since changed hands, until but two or
three of the oldest settlers remain. I
have been unable to secure the full
history Of each claim but will give
what l have. Among the first to come
were Andrew Brimer, in 1881, Lewis
Hall in 1881, who helped to survey
the land. John Betoff in 1881, who
planted the first tree in the township.
]. Morley Wired in 1881; Mr.. Arbuckle
in 1881, Frank Treat in 1882, Frank
Kline in 1882, William Kline in 1882,
Mr.. Fisher in 1882, Captain Hall open
ed the O'Brien farm in the spring of
1882 on Sec. 10. A. T. Boardman open
ed the Boardman farm in the spring
of 1882. DR.. Donaldson settled on E.
IL, Sec. IA in 1882. Thomas Kane
came in 1883, and filed on N. w. Il of
Sec. 80, abandoned it in 1886, and filed
on S. E. Il of Sec. 80, and afterwards
bought the Frank Treat place where
he now lives. V. L. Craig came in
1884, Walter Howe in 1884.
The majority of these people seemed
to bring only their families, and de-
pended on their crops for living.
Mr.. Fisher was the only man that
built nice house and barn, but stay
ed only two or three years. At the
time, the winters were long and Sc
we're, lasting from November until
April, with many billiards., deep SHOWS
and high drifts. At one time, one of
our brave-hearted men going to town
on an errand, stopped at his neighbours
to get warm, and found the family
very much discouraged because of the
lack of means, and his reply to. the
complaint was why need you worry
with only three to support while I
have four or five and not enough
money to buy postage stamp" 1t
was by such sturdy men as this that
our township was populated. 49,. 49,.
The first school house was built dur
ing the winters of 1881 and 1882. 1t
was located on Sec. %, just north of
Mr.. Brimer's place. The first direc-
tors were J. Morley Wired, and Rev.
Frye. Treasurer Andrew Brimer. 1t
was called the Brimer school. 1t was
a nice schoolhouse and well built, but
no school was ever held in it, for the
reason that Mr.. Brimer was the only
man in the township who was the
proud possessor of a family of chill
dren old enough to go to school, and
he being two miles from the school