Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1916-11-30
June, 1886. November of that year
he took as his bride Eva Kyes, of Ell
well, Mich. and together they took up

Il
their residence on the homestead
where they lived until he became the
owner of his first quarter section of
land. Always energetic and indus
trious, it was not strange that even
the trying conditions of pioneer life
in Dakota were insufficient to keep
him from prospecting. AS a farmer
and stockman he forged his way ahead
He soon acquired land few miles east
of what is now Linton and lived there
for many years until he moved to Lin
ton. He was the owner of the pro.
perty upon which the city of Linton
itself is now located and where now
thrives the business life of Emmons
county's capital, where he for many
years drove the mower or herded cattle
The little bend in Spring Creek now
Occupied by the Freeman home served
many time as suitable place for
night-herding of stock being driven
fifty miles to Eureka, the nearest
railroad point.
In 1898, when the county seat was
moved from the northern part of the
county to its geographical center, Mr..
Petrie at once decided to embark upoi
a mercantile career. His first stors
was little box-like affair and stood
not far from the present Petrie home
in West Linton. With the coming OF
the railroad, he, like the rest, moved
to the new townsite, where he built
and occupied the building which stands
just to the north of the present store.
building. 1t soon became apparent to
him that Linton had future and he
made plans to keep up with the other
developments. He planned and super.
vised the large two-story stone struc.
ture which now houses the W. L. Pc.
trie business, and built it by day labor
mammoth undertaking for one not
Experienced in the business of con.
tracing and building. This building
was made from native stone an,
stands today the largest and mos:
massive structure in Linton.
! While actively handling his mercan.
tile business, Mr.. Petrie still kept ii,
touch with his farming and stock-rais
ing operations, and, until the year be-
fore his death, was often to be foune
riding plow or welding a pitch-fork
In 1903 the First Bank Of Linton, the
pioneer banking institution of the new
town, was re-organized and Mr.. Petrit
was made vice-president. He foune
time in that capacity to prove of -valu
able assistance in business way tt
his associates.
Mr.. Petrie was in every sense ia
Imi!y man. At the time of his death
seven children were living and all a,
home except the oldest, Harry, who
also lives in Linton. With all his bus
mess cares and worries, he had pient,
OF time to devote to his little ones ant
the youngest, Emmons, is but young
ster, being only eleven years old. H,
enjoyed wholesome entertainment, wa.
an ardent hunter, and until but few
years ago active in sports. Blu
through it all he was clean morally ant
mentally and always expected and de
manded fair play. 1t is generally ad
mitted that each Of exerts more or les
influence on the lives of our neighhors
and the life of Linton's pioneer merch
ant must prove an inspiration to hi
many friends and neighbors.
The esteem in which the memory o
the deceased is held was portrave,
most strikingly at the funeral whic]
was held Monday afternoon at
o'clock at the residence. Every mar
of the county was represented an
never had so large number of peopl
assembled in the county to nav thei
last respects to departed friend
Rev. Van Horne, of the NJ. E. church
and Rev. Timmcke, of the Gerna
Lutheran church, gave sermons in tn
: English and German languages, re
) spectively. Between three and fou
hundred people in automobiles the
followed the remains to Linton GENE
terry, the pall-bearers being Messrs
r. A. Grain, John McCrory, L. M
Doerschlag, William Macnider, Villa,
McCulley and S. E. Brindle.
Besides the sorrowing wife, who ha
the heartfelt sympathy of all wh
know her in the loss of her life-nut
at the comparative early age of fit,
four, there are the following childre
s to mourn the loss of loving fathe,
Harry, Frances, Fred, Hazel, I.aur,
Florence and Emmons. All of the,
were at the bedside Of their fathe
I when he breathed his last. The onl
other surviving relatives are his brotl
8 er, Fred, of Pasadena, CAL, who spe,
several weeks with him before h
8 death; Miss Anna Petrie, his siste
who was with him until the end; and
] sister, Mrs. John Irvine, Of Palos, II
| One daughter, Dorothy June, and con
] monty known in the family us Bessi
= died July 10, 1910, at the age Of t.
/ years.