Hugo Gailfus

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63416974
• Interesting: story
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-170234
• Residence: 1861, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Douglas, Selkirk, Manitoba
• Residence: 1900, , Towner Co., North Dakota
• Occupation: 1904, Picton, North Dakota, USA; Farmer

Notes:

HUGO GAILFUS, PIONEER OF COMMUNITY, ACTIVE AT 92

There were some hardy men in the Hansboro community in the pioneer period. One of these was Hugo Gailfus, who at 92 is still "quite a man". When a representative of the 50th Anniversary Committed called on Mr. Gailfus a few days ago at his farm home two miles south and six miles west of Hansboro, he found him sawing wood with a one-man crosscut saw.

Reminiscing for the benefit of the Committee member, who was seeking information for this article, the nonagenarian recalled that in 1880 he migrated with his mother to Manitoba to Ontario. He was born at Ayton, Ontario, March 24, 1863. They landed at Emerson, Manitoba and walked, driving cattle ahead of them to Clearwater, Manitoba to the new location with oxen and sled part of the way and with a wagon drawn by oxen the last part of the trip.

In 1890 Mr. Gailfus went to Gretna, Manitoba where he resided with a relative until 1896. He then returned to North Dakota and homesteaded his present farm.

Mr. Gailfus married Lilah Bower in 1901. They were the parents of a son who did not survive. His wife died in 1902 and in 1904 he married Mary Hilgardner. By this marriage there are six surviving children: Mrs. James Bush (Ruth), International Falls, Minnesota; Mrs. Nestor Juntunen (Vivian), rural Rolla; Myron Gailfus, Rolla; Olivia Gailfus, at home; Mrs. Kathleen Mader, Portland, Oregon and Mrs. Melvin Gessner (Dulcie), Walkerton, Indiana. Mr. Gailfus' second wife died a number of years ago.

His closest neighbor in the early days was John Cain, who lived about two miles to the west. He also mentioned Mr. Cowan, referred to in other articles in this booklet and Garet Locklin, also mentioned in another pioneer days story.

Mr. Gailfus recalled that in the early years settlers broke up four or five acre patches with oxen. His first grain crop totaled only 40 bushels of wheat and he had to take it to a neighbor to get it threshed. He first hauled his grain to Churchs Ferry and made one trip to Willow City, before the Great Northern line to St. John was built.

The pioneer took an active part in the affairs of the Picton community until recent years, serving on township and school boards, and, in spite of his age (he was then over 80) acted as chairman of war bond drives.

Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Hansboro, North Dakota, June 22, 1955.

____________________________

HUGO GAILFUS FAMILY

Hugo Gailfus, pioneer of the Picton community, migrated to Clearwater, Manitoba, in 1880 from Ayton, Ontario, where he was born on March 24, 1863, at the age of 17 years with his mother. They landed at Emerson, Manitoba, and walked, driving cattle ahead of them to Clearwater to the new location with oxen and sled part of the way and with a wagon drawn by oxen the last part of the trip.

In 1883, Hugo squatted on land in Fairview Township, which wasn't surveyed at that time. Filed on preemption made final proof and moved to Picton Township. In 1901, he was united in marriage to Lillah Bowers, who died the following year at childbirth of a son, Clarence Eugene. In 1904, he married Mary Hilgartner of Ayton, Ontario, Canada. She died on January 25, 1943. To this union, six children were born: Ruth Bush, International Falls, Minn.; Vivian Juntunen, Rolla; Dulcie Gessner, Wausaukee, Wis.; Myron Gailfus, Rolla; Olivia Gailfus, Rolla; and Kathleen Mader, Salter Path, N.D. Olivia lives in the farm home of nephew Larry Gailfus.

Hugo was a Towner County Commissioner for a time and was Picton school treasurer for many years. He was also Grand Marshal at Rolla's 75th Celebration at the age of 100 years.

His first summer, he sowed some grain on a small tract they had broken up and got 40 bushels of wheat. That same summer, they also built a log shack on his mother's claim, which had cost them $8.00.

Devils Lake was the nearest railroad point. Hugo also hauled grain to Willow City, a round trip that took three days by oxen. He made trips to Devils Lake each fall to buy supplies for the year. This trip took two days to go, one to load two days to come back. He also hauled grain to Churchs Ferry. Hugo's first trip was in 1883, squatted on land which wasn't surveyed then, so he, his brother and one of the Widmeyer boys plowed a furrow around the land they wanted. They went back to Clearwater, Ontario, for the winter and returned the next spring with three yoke of oxen. They intended to reach their destination in three days, a distance of 35 miles; but because of road conditions, they were forced to camp on the prairie overnight, which was about where the Picton School now stands. They reached their dug-out cabin the next day.

Hugo's first house was a shack with a sod roof, which leaked when it rained. The present house, which still stands, was built in 1906. It has been in the family all these years. Hugo Gailfus died on Dec. 14, 1964, at the age of 101 years.

History of Town, North Dakota

Hugo — Lillian Bowers. Lillian was born 1880; died 9 Feb 1902, Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States. [Group Sheet]

1. Ruth Gailfus
2. Clarence Eugene Gailfus was born CALC 2 Feb 1902, , North Dakota; died 1 Mar 1910, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Saint James Lutheran Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.

Hugo married Mary Hilgartner 10 Mar 1904, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Samuel S. Hillgartner and Mary Margaretha "Margaret" Schultz) was born 13 Apr 1874, Ayton, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada; died 25 Jan 1943, Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States; was buried , Rolla Cemetery, Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74932
• Residence: 1858, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1861, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1861, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Blasius is reported to have been born in Steinmauern, Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, documentation needed.

Blaisus married Elizabeth Winkler 27 Apr 1858, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of George Jakob Winkler and Regina Dorothea Schneider) was born CALC 9 Apr 1840, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 28 Oct 1911; was buried , Saint James Lutheran Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16855961
• Name: Elizabeth Gailfus
• Name: Elizabeth Wideman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74215P
• Residence: 1858, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1900, , Towner Co., North Dakota
• Residence: 1901, Picton, Towner, North Dakota
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-76678

Thaddeus — Barbara. Barbara was born Abt 1800, of, Germany; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Barbara Gailfus
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-76679

Notes:

Barbara's last name has been reported as Haas, documentation needed.

Other Events:

• Name: Jacob Winkler
• Eby ID Number: 00129-8034.2
• Immigration: 1 Sep 1834, New York City, New York, USA.
• Occupation: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Weaver
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

Immigration:
Arrived on the ship Yazoo, also on ship was Mathias Hauk.

George — Regina Dorothea Schneider. Regina was born 20 Oct 1797, , Germany; died 28 Jan 1877; was buried , Saint James Lutheran Cemetery, St. Jacobs, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Regina Dorothea Winkler
• Eby ID Number: 00129-8034.3
• Residence: 1851, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1861, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran