John Pollert Family

Minot, N.D. Feb, 2003

I was asked by Lila to write a history of the John Pollert family.

In doing so, I am indebted to Mildred Roberts and her articles printed in the McLean County Heritage book that I borrowed from Ken Hopkins, and the memories of my sister Selma and myself. I am only doing 4 generations-if I try and cover the 5th generation, I'll get all mixed up.

In the beginning-we start in Germany:
Casper Henry Pollert was born in Atdindorf, Germany. Dec. 14, 1820.
Johanna Lahni was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 14, 1830.
Both immigrated to the United States, and were married in Jackson County, Indiana, Nov. 17, 1853. They became the parents of eight children.

A son, John Lewis Pollert, was born in Jackson County, Indiana, Dec. 6, 1860. He married Anna Tuelker around 1887. They became the parents of six children. Five sons: Clarence, Andolph, Fred, Phillip and Albert, and the daughter, (my Mother) Johanna, Marie, Lucinda, Anna.

In May 1913, John Pollert, a widower, moved with four of his sons and his daughter, by train, to Ryder, N.D. They were picked up and taken by wagon to a farm south of Ryder, and close to the old Roseglen area. They had no idea of where they were going, as there were only trails across the fields.

John and his sons, Andolph, Fred, Phillip, Albert and daughter moved into a two room house close to the old Roseglen store.

He bought a team, wagon, and a cow from John Snippen, and borrowed their cook car stove. In Oct. of 1913, they moved to a farm across the road from the John Haugen farm and bought beds. That summer, they had a big garden and raised chickens. He worked for various farmers in that area.

The east line of the Fort Berthold Reservation was moved farther west in 1916, and John Pollert drew number seven, which meant he was the seventh new homesteader allowed to pick and file on a quarter of land. He did file, and moved to a quarter south west of Parshall. He built a 14' x 16' house there. Things did not go well on the reservation, and he moved back to the Roseglen area. He passed away Dec. 8, 1924. He is buried in the Roseglen cemetery.

It must have been a big change for the Pollert family to leave the heavy, black soil of the land along the Muscatatuck River in south central Indiana, and move to North Dakota-however, many of his family remained in the Ryder-Roseglen-Douglas area for many years after their father's death.

The oldest son, Clarence H. Pollert, did not move to N.D. with the rest of the family. Clarence was born at Brownstone, Jackson County, Ind. on March 27, 1888. He married Dona Brown Sept. 17, 1911, and with his wife and son, Marshall, who was six weeks old, moved to North Dakota in July, 1913.

He worked for farmers and farmed south of Ryder. Find later moved to the Douglas area-first by Nelson Lake and later in town. He operated heavy equipment for several years. They moved to Minot, where he worked for Don Moe Dodge. Clarence and Dona had seven children-Marshall, Mildred, Orin, Lawrence and Bruce. One son passed away in infancy.

Clarence Pollert passed away July 25, 1971. His wife passed away Oct. 20, 1978. Both are buried in the Douglas cemetery.

Marshall was born June 1, 1913. He married Marian McKay. They had six children. They lived on a farm east of Douglas. Marshall later moved to Douglas where he passed away on Jan. 28, 1987.

Mildred was born May 20, 1917 on the farm south of Ryder. She did house work for several families, and at one time, did so in California. She returned to N.D. and worked in the Douglas Post Office.

Mildred married Joyce Roberts Jan. 2, 1944. They farmed and ranched southwest of Douglas until moving to Minot in 1984, her husband passed away March 14, 1993. Mildred continues to live in a condo in Minot.

Orin was born April 5, 1923. He served in the army and worked for several farmers in the Douglas area. He was married to Lita Bevers. They had one daughter. His life is unknown.

Orel was born Nov. 16, 1927. He served many years in the United States Navy. He married Joyce House. They were the parents of eight children. After he left the navy, he worked on a boat out of New Orleans. He spent two years in Brazil, and returned to N.D. in ill health. He passed away in the V.A. hospital in Fargo, on March 27, 1989.

Lawrence was born Oct.3, 1929. He also served in the army. He married Annabelle Kolden. He had two daughters. They lived in Bismarck. Lawrence worked as a barber as well as a teacher. He barbered in several towns on weekends. Lawrence passed away from cancer on Aug. 15, 1982.

Bruce was born March 20, 1933. He also served in the army. He was a teacher, and married one of his students, Ardell Rogers. They had three children. He quit teaching and worked for the Pfizer drug firm. He is on disability leave and lives in the Chicago area.

All of the deceased members of the Clarence Pollert family are buried in the Douglas cemetery.

Andolph Pollert was born Aug. 9, 1890. He came to North Dakota with his father, but returned to Indiana and married Ivas Garis in 1915. They returned to N.D. and farmed until moving to the Litchville area in 1938. They had two children, Wilbur and Dolores.

Wilbert was born Feb. 26, 1917. He married Grace Bickett. They had four children. They lived and farmed in the Litchville area, until he passed away July 22, 1985. He is buried in the Trinity Lutheran Church cemetery. Grace lives in Valley City.

Dolores was born Nov. 8, 1918. She married Selmer Bubach. They had four children. Selmer and Dolores farmed in the Litchville area until they moved into Litchville. Dolores cooked in the school for many years, and also cooked for many celebrations. She passed away Oct. 8, 2000 and is buried in the Trinity Lutheran church cemetery.

Andolph PoIlert continued to farm. He lived with the Bubachs for a short time. He passed away April 18. 1967 and is buried in the Trinity Lutheran church cemetery.

Johanna, Marie, Lucinda, Anna Pollert was born in Jackson county, Indiana, Sept. 21, 1893. She used the name "Lucy". She walked, along with her four brothers, four miles to a German speaking school-while an English teaching school was right across the road. She came to N.D. and kept house for her father's family, and moved with them across the road from the John Haugen farm in Oct. 1913. She married Rudolph Haugen, who was farming with his brother, John, on Jan. 4. 1916 in a double wedding ceremony at Washburn N.D. They moved to Ryder. N.D. where Rudolph was the Manager of a grain elevator for the next 25 years.

Lucy was active in the Presbyterian Ladies Aid, the Rebecca Lodge, and community affairs. They had three children-a daughter, Bernice, who passed away at the age of two and a half years, a son, Wendell, and a daughter, Selma.

Rudolph retired from the elevator in 1941, and they bought a farm in Hiddenwood Township, where they rebuilt and repaired all the buildings. They moved to Minot where they lived until Lucy passed away May 10, 1971, Rudolph moved to the Lutheran Home complex and passed away Nov. 8, 1980. Both are buried in the Roseglen church cemetery.

Wendell E. Haugen was born upstairs in a two room house on a farm near Roseglen, N. D. He was raised and attended school in Ryder. He worked with his father in the elevator. In 1941, he married Frances Hatfield, a nurse at Trinity hospital in Minot. She is a direct descendent of the Hatfield’s of Tennessee. They established a home on the farm S.W. of Ryder, and lived there for the next fifty-two years. Wendell was active in the community, and Farmers Union. He was deeply involved with the Rural Electrics and served on the local, state, and national Boards. He made many trips to Washington, D.C. In 1993, they moved to a condo in Minot.

Selma Haugen was born in Ryder, July, 7, 1927. Her brother had every kid in town come and look at his sister. She played the piano for the Presbyterian Church. Her dad played violin and her brother played guitar, and together they would have a few good old time waltzes many evenings before retiring to bed. After high school, she was a bookkeeper for the F. U. Oil Co. in Velva, N.D. She married Lawrence linrud Sept. 1, 1946. They had three children, find farmed north of Velva. Lawrence passed away May 21, 1979. Selma married Kenneth Hopkins, member service manager for McLean Electric, Oct. 16, 1982. They live in Minot. She is still active in the North Prairie Lutheran church and does volunteer work for Trinity hospital.

Fredrick John Pollert was born in Jackson County, Indiana, .Aug. 31, 1897. He came to North Dakota with his father in 1913. He married Mabel Mathiesen. They had four daughters-Helen, Evelyn, Freda and Irene. They lived on a farm S.W. of Ryder until moving to McLeary, Wash. In 1925. Fred worked in a mill and was injured in a railroad accident, and passed away Feb. 10, 1927.

Helen Pollert was born Oct. 23, 1920 in the Ryder area, she moved with her parents to Washington State. She married Alvin Rach, an electrician, and they lived by Lake Washington in Seattle. Helen worked for a wholesale meat firm. She and Alvin were campers and traveled many miles in their different units. Alvin passed away Jan. 8, 1976. They had one son, Frederick, who lives in Spokane. Helen married Clarence Sommers and they lived in Quartzite, Ariz. in the winters. He passed away Dec. 29, 2002. Helen lives in an apartment in Spokane, Wash.

Evelyn Pollert was born near Ryder, N.D. on Sept. 7, 1922. She moved with her parents west in 1925. She lived in Washington, then moved to Shelby. Mont. after being married to Harris McKecknie. Harris was a meat cutter by trade. They later moved to the Seattle area, and both worked for Boeing aircraft until they retired. They had three children. Evelyn has health problems.

Freda Pollert was born near Ryder, N.D. Sept. 9, 1924. She moved with her parents to McLeary Wash. in 1925. She had two sisters at that time. She married Halver Halverson, an accountant, and they lived in McMinnville. Ore. They had two children. Freda goes to Alaska in the summer and works in the gift shop at the entrance to the Denali National Park.

Irene Temple Burger was born in McLeary, Wash. Nov. 26, 1926. Her husband, Chet, is a mortician, and still works even if he is 78 years old. Irene worked at the same funeral home. Irene had three boys and three girls. They live in Puyallup, Washington.

Phillip Pollert was born in Jackson County, Indiana, on Jan. I, 1904. He came to N.D. with his father in 1913. His age went with the years. He worked for various farmers in the area, and at one time, worked for Rudolph Haugen in the grain elevator in Ryder. He married Inez Talbott in 1927. They had three children. They farmed in the Ryder, Douglas area. At one time, they lived on a quarter of land now owned by Wendell and Frances Haugen. They moved to the Litchville area in 1938, and continued to farm until moving into Litchville. Phillip passed away July 18, 1989, and is buried in the United Methodist Cemetery at Marion. N.D.

Doris Pollert was born near Ryder an Oct. 17, 1929. She married Wilbert Wallner, and they live in Berlin, Wisconsin. He is a truck gardener. They have three children. Doris has worked for many years in a leather factory as a sewing machine operator. They make black leather clothes for the people who ride motorcycles.

Duane Pollert was born in the Ryder, Douglas area on July 6.1932. He moved to Litchville area in 1938. He served in the army in the Korea conflict. He married Elaine Hardee and they had four children. Elaine cooked at the school for many years, and also worked in a green house. They live in Katherine, N.D. where Duane worked at the elevator and delivered propane. He helps several farmers during harvest after he retired from the elevator. They winter in Arizona.

Clifford Pollert was born in the Ryder, Douglas area May 26, 1934. He moved to the Litchville area with his folks in 1938. He married Ruthie Webber and they had five children. They live in Miles City, Montana. He was a mechanic and worked for many years at the Ford garage, and later for the state of Montana. They have a 5th wheeler. Cliff likes to hunt, and they spend the winters in Arizona.

Albert Pollert , the youngest of the John Pollert family, was born in Jackson County, Indiana, May 9, 1903. He came to N.D. at age 10, and lived in the Ryder, Roseglen area. He married Edna Simonson Oct. 12, 1926. They had seven children. They farmed S.W. and west of Douglas, and moved to the Litchville area in 1938, and continued to live on a farm. Albert lost an arm in a corn shredder accident. His wife lost an arm in a grain auger accident. They both loved to dance. Albert passed away Nov. 19, 1970. Edna passed away May 2. 1986. Both are buried in Trinity Lutheran cemetery, Litchville.

Mural Pollert was born in the Douglas area, May 29, 1926. He moved with his parents to the Litchville area in 1938. He married Leola Bickett Sept. 25. 1948. They had five children. Lee lives in Jamestown. N.D. Mural played in a dance band and managed a grain elevator until he retired and they moved to Jamestown, where he was janitor of the library. Mural passed away March 14, 1989 and is buried in Trinity Lutheran cemetery, rural Litchville.

Leona Pollert was born in the Douglas area, May 29, 1928. She moved with her parents to the Litchville area in 1938. She attended beauty school and practiced her trade as a fully licensed operator. She married Don Severson, an electrician on May 1, 1949. They lived in Minneapolis, Minn. She and Don had three children. Leona passed away Nov. 29, 1973. She is buried in the Trinity Lutheran cemetery, rural Litchville.

Lila Pollert was born Jan. 3, 1930 in the Douglas area. She moved to the Litchville area in 1938. She married Raymond LeBahn June 15, 1948 and they had four children. They farmed south of Litchville for fifty years and then moved into Litchville. Ray and Lila were active in community affairs, including the Farmers Union. Lila taught school for forty years - she actually taught several parents and then their children. Their home in Litchville is surrounded with flowers.

Donald Pollert was born in the Douglas area, May 24, 1934. He moved to the Litchville area in 1938. He married Georgine Klaver June 1, 1957. They farm south west of Litchville. Donny drives a school bus and does custom work for other farmers. Georgine does public relations work for the bank in LaMoure. They had three daughters and one son. They built a fine new home and continue to live on their farm.

Phyllis Pollert was born in the Douglas area on Sept. 27. 1936. She moved to the Litchville area in 1938. She married Curtis Smedshammer, April 24. 1955. They live on a farm on highway #1, south east of Litchville. They had four daughters. Curtis has been a county commissioner for many years. Both have been involved in the Farmers Union. Phyllis recently retired after many years as a Farmers Union worker.

Clayton Pollert was born near Litchville, June 16, 1944. He married Verginea Olefson, June 4, 1966. They have four children. Clayton teaches at the W.C.T.U University and they live in LaCross, Wis. Verginea works in the insurance field.

Kenneth Pollert was born at Litchville, Sept. 30. 1948. He married Pat Mauck on May 22, 1971. They have two children. Kenneth has some machines used in the operating rooms at hospitals. His wife was a nurse, and now works at the Merit Care hospital in Fargo. They live in Horace, North Dakota.

Conclusion: March 8, 2003.

This history of the first four generations of the John Pollert family, consisting of thirty-two individuals. Nineteen men and thirteen women.

I have attempted to be fairly accurate in some small part of each member's life. I believe all of the dates used are correct.

I could not have done this without the help of Lila Lebahn and Mildred Roberts. I thank my sister for typing, and my good wife, Frances, for all the patience and editing.

It would be interesting to have someone in the fifth generation do a similar work. Your comments are solicited.

Respectfully submitted,
Wendell E. Haugen

---