A collection of stories about Birkholz families.

Eine Sammlung von Geschichten über Birkholz Familien.

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Stories

Bertha Birkholz and John Ulrich (in English)

Bertha Birkholz and John Ulrich

A young German-Russian lady named Bertha Birkholz came to the United States in 1908. She had traveled with her father, August, to start a new life in America. They would send for the rest of the family when they were settled. In the meantime they lived with Bertha's grandparents, Andrew and Wilhelmina Goter, in Woodworth, North Dakota. Andrew and Wilhelmina Goter had come to America with one of their sons several years earlier.

The Goter home was located near the home of John Ulrich. John was an industrious, progressive-minded young man. He had come from Minnesota, and homesteaded 160 acres near Woodworth. While most of the new settlers lived in a "soddy", John lived in a two room frame house.

Before Bertha came to the United States, the Goters wrote to her about the ambitious young John Ulrich. Three weeks after Bertha arrived in Woodworth, she, her father, and John traveled by horse and buggy to Medina, North Dakota. There they boarded the train to Jamestown, North Dakota. In Jamestown, August served as witness to John and Bertha's marriage. The union was based on mutual respect, lasted 35 years, and produced nine healthy children: Agnes, Hattie, Hannah, Edward, Arthur, Gertrude, Eunice, Beatrice, Norman and Beatrice.

In 1915, John bought more land. The property included a five room house. The home seemed like a mansion to Bertha, after living in the two room house. By then thier family had grown to include five children.

Bertha helped John "break" the prairie, milk cows, pitch hay, and shock grain. During the busy season she came in from the field just long enough to prepare a meal and nurse the baby. Then it was back out to the field again. She was small in stature, but had an indomitable spirit.

The family had fun together. They were avid readers. Many hours were spent around the kitchen table, eating, playing games and visiting. They also enjoyed going to the Fair in Jamestown on the Fourth of July. The children knew Bertha would expect the garden and potato patch to be weed-free, and the potato bugs picked, before they could go to the Fair.

After 1916, travel became a bit easier. They bought their first car that year. Then they bought a tractor in 1919.

John was a key figure in organizing Lowery Township. He was the first township clerk and served in that office for many years. He encouraged parents to register the births of their children. Most children were born at home with only a midwife to help. Thus John was responsible for registering the births. John was also assessor of Lowery Township for many years.

In 1926 their home was remodeled and enlarged. John made sure the house was wired for electricity, even though there was no electric service to the area. A Delco plant was purchased to provide light. Later he was one of the first to believe rural electricity was a possibility. About nine years after his death, electric service came to the area.

Due to ill health, Bertha and John moved to Jamestown in 1942. John died in 1943, at age 63. Bertha died in 1970, at around 75 years old. They are buried in Trinity Cemetery near Woodworth, North Dakota.

This story was modified from p.323 of The Woodworth Rustler. To see a picture of the family, go to the Scrapbook To see Bertha's genealogy information click here.

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