Hugo Gailfus^{[1, 2]}

1864 - 1964  (100 years)

• Name	Hugo Gailfus
  Residence	1861	Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Born	24 Mar 1864	Ayton, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada   [2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63416974
  Interesting	story
  Residence	1891	Douglas, Selkirk, Manitoba
  Residence	1900	, Towner Co., North Dakota   [4]
  Occupation	1904	Picton, North Dakota, USA   [2]
  	Farmer
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-170234
  Died	14 Dec 1964	Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States   [5]
  Buried	Rolla Cemetery, Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States   [5]
  Person ID	I170234	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Blaisus Gailfus,   b. 1830, , Germany ,   d. Bef 1900  (Age < 69 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Winkler,   b. CALC 9 Apr 1840, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 28 Oct 1911  (Age ~ 71 years)
  Married	27 Apr 1858	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Family ID	F28982	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Lillian Bowers,   b. 1880,   d. 9 Feb 1902, Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States  (Age 22 years)
  Children	1. Ruth Gailfus   2. Clarence Eugene Gailfus,   b. CALC 2 Feb 1902, , North Dakota ,   d. 1 Mar 1910, St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 8 years)
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F49507	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Hilgartner,   b. 13 Apr 1874, Ayton, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 25 Jan 1943, Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States  (Age 68 years)
  Married	10 Mar 1904	St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F49508	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Hugo Gailfus dgailfus1 originally shared this to Ancestry Public Member Tree

  
  

• 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

  
  

• Sources

  [S448] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - St. James Lutheran St. Jacobs CC#4590 Internet Link. East: In memory of/ Elizabeth Winkler/ nee Gailfus/ wife of John L. Wideman/ died Oct. 28, 1911/ aged 71 yrs. 6 mos. 19 ds./ Wideman West: Peter son of/ Blasius & Elizabeth Gailfus/ died Aug. 3, 1874 aged 16 yrs. 22 ds./ Clarence Eugene son of/ Hugo & Lillian Gailfus/ born in N. Dakota U. S. 1902 died at/ St. Jacobs Mar. 1, 1910 aged 8 yrs. 27 d. A. Peter B. Clarence [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 018834-04. Hugo Gailfus, 40, Occ. Farmer, b. Ayton Grey Co., Res. Picton North Dakota U.S., Widower, son of Blasius Gailfus and Elizabeth Winkler married Mary Hilgardner, 30, b. Ayton Grey Co., Res. Ayton, daughter of Samuel Hilgardner and Margaret Schultz, Witn: W.H and Margaret Winkler Both of St. Jacobs, 10 March 1904 in St. Jacobs [S949] Census - ON, Grey, Normanby - 1861, Div 3 pg 12. Blazius Gailfuis 29 b. German states Roman Catholic farmer Eliza 20 Peter 2 Grey Co. Hugo 1 Grey Co [S1835] Census - U.S. Census Population Schedule, 1900 12th Census, North Dakota, Towner District: 183 , Sheet Number and Letter: 14B , Household ID: 350 , Line Number: 86 , Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) , Affiliate Publication Number: T623 , GS Film Number: 1241233 , Digital. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63416974. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register. Blasnis Getfuss Birth Place: Germany Residence: Woolwich Township Age: 27 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831 Father Name: Thaddeus Mother Name: Barbara Spouse Name: Elizabeth Winkler Spouse's Age: 18 Spouse Estimated Birth Year: abt 1840 Spouse Birth Place: Woolwich Township Spouse residence: Woolwich Township Spouse Father Name: Jacob Spouse Mother Name: Regina Marriage Date: 27 Apr 1858 Marriage County: Waterloo

  
  

• Event Map

  Residence - 1861 - Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Born - 24 Mar 1864 - Ayton, Normanby Twp., Grey Co., Ontario, Canada Residence - 1891 - Douglas, Selkirk, Manitoba Residence - 1900 - , Towner Co., North Dakota Married - 10 Mar 1904 - St. Jacobs, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 14 Dec 1964 - Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States Buried - - Rolla Cemetery, Rolla, Rolette, North Dakota, United States  = Link to Google Earth