Reward for Bride
Written by Mary Corcoran, 6 June 2018
Gerrit Brummel was a bachelor farmer in Westfield, Emmons County, ND. Called the “Dutch Shoe” community, it was home to Hollanders, who had immigrated first to Westfield, Iowa. In July, 1904 Gerrit wanted a wife, so he offered a reward to The Emmons County Newspaper Editor or “any person” who could provide one. He offered three turkey gobblers, two roosters, and one gander. Gerrit was born in Heerde, Gelderland, Holland in 1853, to Grietje van Zuuk and Dries Brummel, Gerrit immigrated at about age 17, and came to Emmons County about 1886.
Gerrit said he had a well regulated and successful farm where he raised turkeys, chickens, geese, and sheep for wool. He said his sole indebtedness was 14 cents in cash and a red, cross-eyed steer. He outlined the cash he received from his crops, the sale of his lambs, his wheat, hay, spelz, barley and corn. He had a house and 720 acres, and more importantly, he noted, there was no other woman on the place.
The Emmons County Record would remind readers of the “Bride Reward” and add on lambs, more geese, and goats.
It appears that no one took Gerrit up on his bride reward, because he remained single. He served as the Mayor of Westfield, and later Mayor of Pollock, SD. He was often mentioned attending weddings, social events, and dances, so he obviously had friends, and was not reclusive. He died in Brown, SD on 11 December 1924.
Gerrit owned land crossing three different townships (T129 R77, T130 R77 [Krassna], T130 R76) along with his brother Albert
Gerrit is buried in
Hope Cemetery, Hull, Sioux City, Iowa where a large number of Brummel's are buried along with his brother Albert and his family. The FindAGrave memorial mistakenly has his death place as Hull. He died in the Lincoln hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
An excerpt from the Bismarck Daily Tribune
16 July 1904
WANTS A WIFE
Emmons County Man Offers to Reward the
Person Who Helps Him Find One
Emmons County Record: Gerrit Brummel and Peter Boschker were up from the Westfield country last Tuesday with loads of wool. Gerrit visited the Record office to pay for his paper and to hold a powwow with the editor. He says this is a mighty good country. He settled in the Westfield neighborhood eighteen years ago, at which time he had a sole interest in 14 cents in cash and a red cross-eyed steer. This year he got $480 from 400 sheep; sold $430 worth of lambs; received $375 for horses; had a little wheat, for which he received $150; and the bay he sold brought in $120. He has 7(?)20 acres in fence. He has in this year 50 acres of wheat, 20 acres speltz, 10 acres barley and 60 acres corn. Besides, he raises many turkeys each year, which add quite a bit to his income and he keeps chickens and geese. He can pay all his debts this year and have his farm, stock and other property left. But there is one fly in Gerrit's ointment, he says. There's no woman on the place, which he thinks there should be on every well-regulated and successful farm. He requests the editor to announce that he will give a reward, to said editor or to any other man who assists him in capturing the desired helpmate, 3 turkey gobblers, 2 roosters and 1 gander. The editor accepted the offer, provided the gobblers and the gander were brought in with their legs fettered and their jaws properly muzzled; and this notice is in the nature of an advertisement for the desired article. The only specification that Mr. B. makes is that the lady is not a victim of the snoring habit, and that she will use the broom only in sweeping the floors. Under these specifications, bids are hereby invited.
Contributed and Transcribed By Mike Peterson - 2013
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