Gertrude (Zurbruegg) Schwind’s Memories of Montana about 1908 to 1923

After a Visit to the Zurbruegg Homestead in 1984

Retyped from the Kubly Family Historical Document

by Walter E. Bruetsch in February, 2001

PAGE 1

           Montana was the last American frontier that gave free land to those that were willing to clear and work the 160 acres.  This was called “homesteading”.

            Two Zurbruegg brothers came from Wisconsin and their father Samuel, with a younger son Ernest.  Arnold and Emil Zurbruegg with their young families settled 10 miles (west) from Broadview, Montana and about 14 miles from Belmont.  A little further was Roundup.  The year being 1909- I was about 6 months old- my sister Olga being only 11 months older.  So I lived with Grandma and Grandpa Zurbruegg to help out.

            This was a vast prairie of primitive beauty - the white snow capped Rockies in the distance.  It was early spring time- they all lived in tents until the log houses were built along with a small cheese factory.  Having made Swiss and brick cheese in Switzerland, the  Zurbrueggs were going to run a cheese factory besides farming.

            It must have been hard work and especially rough on these young wives, lonesome too.  Like my mother Lena Richard, coming from a large family and all the rest being in Wisconsin.

PAGE 2

and I had many lessons - learned early to milk the cows and feed the calves.

            I can remember many interesting things happening - like going after the cows with Grandpa and the dog.  I remember the night my sister Bertha was born - this was in 1912 - Grandpa attending.

            At age 5, I can remember when Grandpa died.  There was no embalming - it was on a hot summer day - they put little pieces of white cloth dipped in vinegar on this eye lids, nose and mouth to keep the flies from entering.  They had to carry him outside for faster burial.  This they did, near the cheese factory - a tree was planted at the foot of this grave.  We then moved Grandma over to the cheese factory - Uncle Ernest lived there too.

            I can remember the eeriness of a pack of coyote’s howling at night time.  They would steal our chickens.  Mother used the gun to scare them off, but one still kept the chicken in his mouth and ran off.  Mother took us berry picking - there were a great variety - wild currants, gooseberries, choke cherries, and an orange red buffalo berry.  She did check with the chickens - figured if they ate them, they were safe!

            The men built new houses and barns.  Our farm was a quarter of a mile from the cheese factory and spring. So we had to drill a well and a windmill to pump the water.  The water was not good for drinking - it must have contained sulfur.  So, we had to carry our water for drinking.

PAGE 3

            I remember the storms - once lighting struck one of the horses.  Dad used to haul water in a barrel on a stone boat.  He immediately poured several gallons of cold water on the horse.  Prince got up and was put to pasture.  In time he made a full recovery and was put back to work.

            Then in 1915 my brother Albert was born.  He was attended by a neighbor - she was a mid-wife named Eunice Rebbahn - came from Germany.

            Remember the time Dad bought a saddle horse from an Indian - we named him “Spot”.  He was special - our boy cousins often wanted to ride him, but he would not let them catch him.  They would ask Dad, he would say, ask the girls - when they did, we’d have to catch him for them.

            What a celebration when Uncle Ernest came home with a Model T Ford.  All got a chance to take a ride - must have been 1913.  He had moved to Ryegate, Montana.  Every Sunday we drove several miles to a neighbors house for church services.  The Lutheran minister came from Roundup, via bicycle.  Pastor Legge taught all the Lutheran children the German catechism - would stay at each family a few days.

            Remember the time when Dad purchased our touring Chevrolet, with side curtains.  Dad ground our wheat and milled grain for the neighbors too.  They had by this time given up making cheese.  We had a separator and made butter.

            I remember the rattling hail storms, often we’d hurry and go to the storm cellar;  it was also our root cellar.  We kept our milk and cream to make butter there.  After the storms, we’d gather the hail stones to make ice cream.

PAGE 4

           Our mother, Lena Richard Zurbruegg, died on March 16, 1919.  I remember the service at our house and the hymns that were sung;  Nearer My God to Thee and Rock of Ages.  I could not go to the funeral since I had chicken pox.  Did locate the grave in the Broadview cemetery in 1984.  Her marker is on of the larger ones.

            Dad then remarried Marie Knecht from Switzerland.  Later they had a daughter named Freda.  Uncle Ernest married Elizabeth Lange from Germany.

            The coming drought for several years force many farmers to give up.  The up and down finally proved to be too much, so, the two older brothers and their families moved back to New York State.  Montana really is God’s country.  The area had its beauty - the wild flowers are plentiful.  Bitterroot, wild roses, crocus, cactus and sunflowers.  There were rattlesnakes and quite a few other kinds of snakes.  On the way to New York we stopped to visit in Wisconsin.  Ernest and family and Grandma stayed there in 1923.

            In 1984, I was privileged to return to Montana with son David and Sue.  After 61 years it gave me untold joy and peace.  The buildings were gone with cattle roaming around the pasture land.  A rancher purchased many acres.  We located where the buildings used to be and also Grandpa’s grave.  We drank from the spring - too bad the rancher didn’t replace the trough.  Yes, I heard the meadowlarks and warblers and even saw a Magpie, which is related to the crows.

            We returned to Billings, Montana.  No where do the stars shine any better!!