Levi and Dolly Ellsbury
Children of Henry & Lizzie Ellsbury
Henry and Lizzie Ellsubry came to Crook County by team and wagin in 1884 with their small children Merton (4 years old) and Levi (2 years old). Henry’s brother and wife, David and Clarinda Ellsbury soon joined them. In 1878 they had filed on homesteads on North Redwater, but because of a drought, they stayed in Beulah until 1891. Henry and Dave ran a store, post office and livery stable. Lizzie and Pet (as Clarinda was known) ran a hotel at the south edge of town.
A daughter, Dorothy was born to Henry and Lizzie in 1886. In 1891 they lost in the same week both Levi and Dolly due to a diphtheria epidemic that claimed the lives of several other children in the area.
In 1891 the two families moved to the North Redwater homesteads and began building up the ranch in partnership. In 1893 Henry and Lizzie had another daughter, Marjorie.
During the 1890s they filed on homesteads fifteen miles to the West in the Bear Lodge, always referred to as “the Divide.” David, Pet and their son Walter lived there while Henry, Lizzie and Marjorie lived on the Redwater place. In 1914 Dave, Pet and Walter moved to a ranch in North Dakota and then retired in Minnesota.
Henry and Lizzie remained in this area, Henry was active in local politics – school board, county commissioner, state representative for one term. Henry and Lizzie retired to Spearfish in 1929, where he died in 1934. Son Mert and his wife Ella Truax stated on the Redwater place and her brother Charles ran the Divide place from 1914 to 1919. After Henry’s death Lizzie lived in Oregon with her daughter Marjorie until her death in 1942.
Marjorie’s husband, Charles Smith was born on North Redwater. Their homestead later became part of the Ellsbury ranch as well.
Ranch life progressed over the years from grain threshing on the divide with a machine run by horse power to the iron wheeled tractor to the combine. Before the Farrall Hall was built a special floor was laid I the hay mow of Henry’s red barn and many dances were held there. Before cars the young people entertained themselves and the community by riding their saddle horses through the various forms of the “Horseback Rider’s Quadrille.”
Children of Henry & Lizzie Ellsbury
Henry and Lizzie Ellsubry came to Crook County by team and wagin in 1884 with their small children Merton (4 years old) and Levi (2 years old). Henry’s brother and wife, David and Clarinda Ellsbury soon joined them. In 1878 they had filed on homesteads on North Redwater, but because of a drought, they stayed in Beulah until 1891. Henry and Dave ran a store, post office and livery stable. Lizzie and Pet (as Clarinda was known) ran a hotel at the south edge of town.
A daughter, Dorothy was born to Henry and Lizzie in 1886. In 1891 they lost in the same week both Levi and Dolly due to a diphtheria epidemic that claimed the lives of several other children in the area.
In 1891 the two families moved to the North Redwater homesteads and began building up the ranch in partnership. In 1893 Henry and Lizzie had another daughter, Marjorie.
During the 1890s they filed on homesteads fifteen miles to the West in the Bear Lodge, always referred to as “the Divide.” David, Pet and their son Walter lived there while Henry, Lizzie and Marjorie lived on the Redwater place. In 1914 Dave, Pet and Walter moved to a ranch in North Dakota and then retired in Minnesota.
Henry and Lizzie remained in this area, Henry was active in local politics – school board, county commissioner, state representative for one term. Henry and Lizzie retired to Spearfish in 1929, where he died in 1934. Son Mert and his wife Ella Truax stated on the Redwater place and her brother Charles ran the Divide place from 1914 to 1919. After Henry’s death Lizzie lived in Oregon with her daughter Marjorie until her death in 1942.
Marjorie’s husband, Charles Smith was born on North Redwater. Their homestead later became part of the Ellsbury ranch as well.
Ranch life progressed over the years from grain threshing on the divide with a machine run by horse power to the iron wheeled tractor to the combine. Before the Farrall Hall was built a special floor was laid I the hay mow of Henry’s red barn and many dances were held there. Before cars the young people entertained themselves and the community by riding their saddle horses through the various forms of the “Horseback Rider’s Quadrille.”