The producers news., 1927-04-01
Written for the Sodbusters Edition by ]. ]. Gunther

has retired and now lives in the vi
cinity of Los Angeles, California
Every hamlet and village as well
as every town and city has more or
less use of a draying and teaming
outfit. Our genial friend William
Corkey, who now resides in the Ray
mond country supplied this need for
the pioneers of Plentywood. He
came here from Ambrose, North Da-
kota in 1908. He is a good Irishman
and married to good German lady.
He is a firm believer in Stabilizing
the population for the benefit of the
Wheat poolerS. He once held a coun-
ty office by appointment but the in
sistent demands for strict public
economy decreed that his services be
dispensed with. "Bill' as he is fra
ternally known by the boys, in defer
ence to the wishes of the dear tax
payers, cheerfully resigned. He ex-
poets to be called to the service of his
country most any time.
In our sketch so far of the pioneers
we have confined our remarks to
those who were the first in their re-
spective lines Of endeavor in the
makings of Plentywood. We have
as yet not made any particular men
tion of DR.. Miller, who was the first
physician, a very capable and kindly
man who came here from Ambrose,
North Dakota. NelS Thon who was
the local carpenter, and champion
whist player. James Swindle, of
whom it was said that he knew the
exact location of every government
quarter section corner from Ambrose,
North Dakota, to fifty miles west of
Scobey, and from the Canadian boun-
Diary to the Missouri River. This i'm
portant information made him the
quasi official homestead locator for
the new comers. Peter DIETRICH,
who was here merely because he was
here. And the writer hereof, who en-
joys the distinction of having taught
the first two terms of school in Plen-
tywood, and also, the first attorney
at-law to practice law to be peTman-
emily located in what is now Sheridan
and Daniels County.
Wherever one finds people in this
world he almost invariably finds la
dies. This was not untrue of Plenty
wood. These made their presence
felt in the community in the summer
Of 1909 by organizing the first soro-
sis or womans' club known as the
Vespera Club. This club was orga-
nized chiefly to better the social con-
ditionS Of their new surroundings.
Nearly all of the ladies, ten in num-
ber, became members. This club pur-
chased and donated to the school dis
trict the school bell. It also purchas-
ed and donated to the town the flag
pole. 1t continued its existence un-
til about 1918 when it disbanded, OF
rather passed into non-existence be-
cause of non-attendance. Like the
old Civil War Veterans, only a few
Of the original organizers remain to
tell the tale.
Mention has thus far been made of
about all of the individuals who were
engaged in some sort of business ac-
tivities in the sense of the first in
town. We have purposely not men
toned the restaurant abigails, print
shop devils, lumber pushers, bank
clerks, etc., because we do not re-
member all of them; and to mention
some and not others might cause a
teapot storm and endanger our lives.
There are however a few others
who must be mentioned who conduct
ed some sort of business in the early
days of Plentywood; and while bust
ness was still on the old townsite.
These, however, do not belong to the
class of firsts. They are ]. A. Ford,
who started a second general mer-
chandise store; N. L. Nelson, who
started a second bank; and Marion
Chandler who succeeded Mr.. Corkery
in the teaming business. We do not
remember any others.
THE NEW TOWNSHIP OF
PLENTYWOOD
On thp 27th dav Of Tulv 1Q0Q M,