A Letter from Cousin Emma

The following letter was received from cousin Emma (Koehler) (Mrs. Vurle Shortle) 621 Fourth Avenue, North Williston, North Dakota:

March 15, 1959

Dear Cousin Ed,
Well Ed I'm really sorry and ashamed to think I never got to answer that nice letter you wrote me which was a surprise when I rec'd it and being you wanted some information about the Seebart family if I knew of any item that would help you out in that line and I expect you have it all arranged by now, and all that I would know I'm afraid wouldn't be of much help to you--all that I have about spelling the Seebart name is a little note book that I took when I left Uncle Fred's when he got married to Aunt Mayme and nothing was written in it only the name on the inside was August Ziebarth and I'm sure it's our Grandfather's writing as it's the kind of writing a German would use but in American letters as near as I can explain it and on the outside leaf is printed the name Ziebarth--but not in the same handwriting as on the inside, it's too bad the name was ever changed. So you are unable to figure out how it is spelled on your baptismal certificate, and I expect it's as you wrote me we evidently had some poor scholars in the early days as we have some poor scholars these days. Lots of high school scholars these days can't spell words write or even write so you can make out what they write as I know of some here

So you and George visited the German Cemetery, south of the Ben Hall Place, where Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Emmett are buried. I expect the old church is still there or isn't it? I used to go to church there as a young girl, what was the Cemetery like when you and George were there just wondered if it has been taken care of or not by the people there. You asked if I remembered things that happened on the old Ben Hall place. I remember living there when Grandpa was so ill before he passed away, seems as if I remember it was in August when it was so hot. I just remember him lying in the front room on a bed or cot and I remember also of going to school from the Ben Hall place, til the folk moved on a farm north I think of the Ben Hall place. Then we had a long ways to walk to school. I know we kids, Charlie, Frank and I used to have to stay alone when all the folks would all be gone and they called roaming men hoboes when they used to travel on the road and we used to be scared to death when we would see them coming and stay in the house and lock the doors and hide until they would be gone again. We were quite young yet when Grandpa was still living and I don't just remember how long he lived after they moved from Grand Forks to the Ben Hall place. I also remember being or living on the place down on the Turtle River when we were little. Was that Grandpa's homestead or not or do you know if his homestead was across the Turtle River or not? When Uncle Will visited us the last couple of times before he passed away he told of how the Indians used to go through the yard then when they lived on this side of the Turtle River. I think Uncle Will's homestead must have been on the other side of the Turtle River but I don't know if Grandpa's was or not. "Uncle Will" Vurley just said told when he was here last time of how the white men used to make love the the squaws. They used to throw pebbles at them, Uncle Will said, Ha! I remember I had been told of how Grandma's brother's family had been massacred. I think that was in Minnesota. They had left their home I think in a wagon when they heard the Indians were coming and they had forgot something and went back to their home to get what they forgot and the Indians overtook them and massacred them all. I don't remember being told what Indians they were if they were Sioux or Chippewa Indians. Too bad Uncle Will isn't still living he probably could have told alot about the massacre and knowing about the Indians. you asked me if I knew who the red-headed woman was whose remains were found on the George Lee Ridge by a road crew. No I have no idea. No doubt that was a trail used by Indians and early settlers and later called the Fort Totten Trail. Really I'm afraid I'm not much help to you in writing your book. You may have it about done or done by now. If you haven't write and let me know and if I can find out anything of help to you from anyone I'll write you. Laura was trying to find some things if she could from her dad who used to live in the eastern part of the state but has yet hasn't been unable to ask, he is ill. Well Ed so long and hope you will forgive me for not answering your letter right away when you wrote me. Hoping you and George have a nice Easter together. I'm enclosing this letter with George's letter so you will get the two letters together. will be glad to hear how you are coming with your book. So long your Cousin,

Comment
The present spelling of our surname has ben used since Grandfather Ziebarth's death in 1892. Some of the other forms that have been used are: Ziebarth, Zeebert, Seebert, Siebart, Seebirth, Ziebarth, Ziebert, Seibert, and Siebirth.

July 24, 1960