ELIZABETH PROMERSBERGER FAMILY STORY

	John Promersberger and Elizabeth came to this country in 1904 had 1 child 1 year and 2 months old. Were just on to buy a house in a beautiful Mountain Country and the deal just about made. When we came home there was a letter from my brother who was in Mankato, Minn saying: before you buy something come over to see America first. So we did. We sold all our things what we could not take along. On March the 5, 1904 we left Bavaria over Munich. With us came John and Andrew Hauner brothers of Mrs. Promersberger and our Mother Theres Hauner. We were Bavarians came across on the Liner Kronland from Belgium in Antwerp had a wonderfull trip but when we saw Liberty we were glad. Everybody was so friendly on the Kronland, in New York, until we came on the train and were greeted in Mankato by our relatives they all got work in a brewery for about 1 year the Hauners stayed in Mankato then finaly they went to Murphysboro Ill. to find a better place they thought,
	but we stayed in Mankato. We always talked about farming looked over several places but one day a cousin of mine came from Littlefork he had a homestead up here it was John Zieglmeier. He talked John Promersberger in to a homestead and there was one for us. John came to Littlefork in the fall of 1906 filled on a homestead, worked in a camp in winter and in June 1907 he came to Mankato to get his family. We had 3 children by the time, Hans 4, Frances 2, and a boy he lost his parents he was about 10 years old and his father was Johns brothers so his name was John too. We only could go to Big Falls that was the end of the railroad and someone said they have to walk to Littlefork. Mr. Gordon had a store in Littlefork he was there looking for a place on that gravel car he spoke up that lady and her children can't walk to Littlefork, too far. You take then along he helped us up to that gravel car and on we went thank you to Mr. Gordon. The wind came from the Northeast the smoke in our faces black and dirty it was 6 in the morning when we came to the Littlefork River
	had to cross on a boat. Mr. Cingmars a friend to the Zieglmeier, took us to his home. Had a good cleaning up got breakfast at 8 oClock we started out for John Zieglmeier place. Had to go on the south road about 12 miles crossed the river on a barge. After we were about 4 miles out a dark cloud came black, lightning, and thundering no house in sight where we could go in. It rained it just poured down. Hans and Frances our poor children, Andrew Zieglmeier carried Frances in a pack sack and Dad carried Hans. It rained for about 1/2 hour when we came to the crossriver our good luck was a big windfall. Around 7 oClock that day we came to Jay Williams right across the Littlefork River from John Zieglmeier were we made our home until we had the house on our place. There we sat down on the river bank and waiting for the boat to come. We were all dead tired. Pius Zieglmeier took us across
	had some hot supper for us, was that a blessing. The next day was glorious, how we liked it there in a few days our railroad car came to Littlefork from Mankato where John Promersberger brought 2 cows, about 40-50 chickens some cowfeed and for the chickens, and some furniture. John Zieglmeier did the transport. What a big day was that when our cows came swimming across the river and the chickens in boats covered with chicken wire. Then the trailblazing began to our homestead. 1 1/2 mile up river from the boys place. Very soon the Hauner boys in Murphysboro got some enthusiastic letters from us they found homesteads too for them 3 miles east from the Littlefork River still in Cingmars Township. Soon there were 3 more settlers here, they stayed at John Zieglmeier too until they had a house and there was a write up in the Littlefork Times. When you call for a John at the Zieglmeiers 5 will raise to answer. Good he had a big house. Soon we had a real stopping place there even for breakfast. The boys had a boat there taking people across. Mostly potato pancakes were ordered. The boys had to help me, one had to peal and another grind them and I baked.
	One day a card came in the mail for me: "hurah for the potato pancakes" from L.D. who was he? Finally the day came when we moved to our home. Had a big house, barn, big because we had 4 cous, pigs, chickens, horses, a real farm right on the Littlefork River but we could not see the river to much brush and small trees. So we went on. As the children looked for Axes dad got some really small ones for the children and we cleaned out that riverbank so we could see the river from the house. Dad was gone for 2 weeks working on the road when he came home he said "who cleaned that riverbank?", the boys proudly said we did and Ma helped. That is not ours that belongs to (I forgot the name) but soon he came he was logging this winter and his men working for him got the order "keep that riverbank clean, it belongs to these kids up there. Good people. We found even the big trees were ours when we washed down by the river we used those trees to put our clothesline on. The school was a problem had one to go it was Johnnie the one we adopted. The school was 5 miles in Nett River Township he stayed at T.Y.Johnson, Alma Johnson was the teacher very well liked. Then Hans had to go. They did not take them before they were 8 years old. But Hans was OK he went with his big brother. On weekends he walked home.
	So hans started in the fall, in January he was 8. The time went by in work and leasure and then the time for Frances to go to school. As long as Johny was going she was OK had 2 protectors with her each had a gun. But we decided to send Johny to another school down to St. Joseph where he could go to church and relatives there. He did well graduated from 8th grade, came back, but later went to St. Paul took up cabinet work, went to Montebello Cali, is married has 2 daughters last year he was here visiting. Wish he is here now could help me. Then Frances saw wolftracks and heard them bawl then Frances was afraid. She said I like school, I like my teacher but I don't like to go to school like this one Sunday afternoon I walked with them 2 1/2 miles when I turned back she started to cry and her brother Hans said, don't be afraid I have a gun, be a good sport. When I came home I told there father this has to come to an end. We had two houses in Littlefork already and my mother was ready to go move up on her homestead. We told her if she would go to Littlefork and stay with the children in one of those houses. Those happy faces. We had 2 more Elizabeth and William not ready for school. We had good neighbors around the Swansons 3 miles from us, Mrs Swanson was such a good help to me.
	One Saturday afternoon Hans came walking from Littlefork, we were so surprised he hollared at me Mom we going to have a surprise party tonight I heard it in Littlefork what you going to do. Thank you for letting me know and we get the rest. Hans was tired so he had to eat and rest first. I put on a big kettle of Sauerkraut, homemade and a big porkroast and pig hox we just butchered a few days before. Did you know that somebody is coming. I said yes you surprised me. I want to can that sauerkraut, now we have to eat it I told them when they came. Some of the ladies helped me. At 12 we had a big feast, they had cakes and cookies along and they danced. I think it was 5 in the morning when they broke up but not before having coffee and leftovers.
	We were 9 years in our homestead first we thought we stay but so far from the school a bus was promised if more children could go so in April 1910 we moved down stayed in a campbuilding for the time being, put up new ones, then all our children went with the bus and from other settlers, Bill Kiefer a old homesteader was there before we came. We bought another house in town remodeled it in 1929 we moved there. Hans took over the farm put big new buildings on, married a neighbor girl Margaret DeLack and they went on very ambicious. Frances graduated from high went to St. Cloud Teacher College graduated from there and was teaching for 14 years in Koochiching County is married to C.W.Bray ag teacher in Northome. Elizabeth took up music 1 year in International Falls and 2 years in Minneapolis. Gave lessons in Littlefork to children until she married to a farmer in Wisonsin. Mrs John E. Matchey, Whitehall Wisc. William or Bill graduated from highschool wanted to be a flyer like his friend Donly Olson but Mr. Andy Anderson the Ag. teacher told him you better take Ag. Engineering.
	You can do well on that it's new it was just started so he did, had 4 years in U of M., was teaching in Crookston for 2 years and went to Manhatan Kansas graduated there and now he was teaching in Fargo N. Dak. I was visiting there last year and saw on his door: W. J. Promersberger Professor of Agriculture Engineering- thank you Mr. Andy Anderson. from the old settlers when we were here died John and Pius Zieglmeier (drowned in the river)Pius Bill Kiefer, John Hauner, Theres Hauner, Bill Swanson John Promersberger died February 4, 1940- Frank Hauner in Cross River (Settler) I don't know any more. If I put down too much cut some of the write up out just the way you think. I hope I helped you some. Greetings Mrs. Eliz. Promersberger, Littlefork, Minn