100+ years in the making

The average child today really has no real idea of what it was like 100+ years ago when people built a home and a living out of nothing more than a plot of dirt - land that they traveled for weeks, sometimes months, to homestead. They don’t realize the sacrifi ces that were made or the dangerous conditions settlers faced along the way. But Lillian Morey, the Great Granddaughter of Blanche (Solomon) Bosteder of Eagle Grove does. At the age of eight she did a complete presentation on her Great- Great-Grandfather, Albert Solomon (Blanche’s father) homesteading the S.D. Herford Ranch in Prairie City, South Dakota (Buffalo County).

Now, two years later, because of this presentation, Blanche will be receiving a Century Farm & Ranch award from the S.D. Department of Agriculture during the South Dakota State Fair on Aug. 30.

It all began when then eight-yearold Lillian came home from school with an assignment from her Talented and Gifted (TAG) teacher. She was to write a report or do a display on any topic of her choosing. The year before she had done giraffes, so as a third grader, she wanted something a little more challenging. Doing a report about her Great-Great-Grandfather, she decided, would be interesting and help her learn more about her family history. She turned to her mother (Blanche’s Granddaughter) Katie Ripperger/Morey and Blanche for help.

“First we needed to see what we could fi nd...so Lillian came to ‘old grandma’s house’ and we went through old pictures and papers,” said Blanche. In their search, they came across many great pictures, and then they found the gem - a patent for land signed by President Woodrow Wilson on July 30, 1915.

Albert’s homesteading story goes like this: After returning from his time serving in WWI, Albert and two of his brothers, along with one friend, packed up their team and wagon, complete with chickens and cows, and headed out to claim land of their own under the Homestead Act of 1862.

For the full story, see this week's Eagle Grove Eagle. Subscribe by calling 1-800-558-1244 ext 122 or email Deb at circulation@midamericapub.com or by clicking here

The Eagle Grove Eagle

The Eagle Grove Eagle
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