This photo shows the Logan County Museum grounds in North Dakota, featuring several historic buildings and a large exhibit hall. On the right, a modern white metal building marked “Logan County Museum” serves as the main display space. In front of it, a wooden sign also reads “Logan County Museum.” To the left are smaller white historic structures, including a farmhouse and outbuildings, representing early rural life. The grounds are open and grassy, with farm equipment visible in the distance, reflecting the museum’s focus on preserving the county’s agricultural heritage.

Pioneering in the late 1870’s and 1880’s in what is today North Dakota was pioneering indeed! Anyone who wanted to make a living on the prairie had to rely very much on their ingenuity, even if he had some experience in the world. Towns where any market existed were few and far between. There were very few railroads; this was especially true here in North Dakota where many Germans from Russia immigrated to. The first railroad to Bismarck wasn’t established until 1878--this was the Northern Pacific. The Great Northern Railway established their route to Minot around 1886, and other railways came much later.

When our pioneers arrived in this region they were not alone out there on the prairie--if they were lucky some relatives had arrived before them. The first thing they had to do with winter coming out on the prairie, was to build their shelter. The head of each family selected the place to build their future upon, and worked to erect something of a home. Meanwhile his wife and children would often stay at the home of a nearby relative. They would take the breaking plow and a yoke of oxen, to break up the prairie, and then cut pieces of sod with their spade. That was the main material used when constructing a home. They would go to the nearest river for timbers to make the frame of the roof. Then they would cover the home with small trees, branches, and leaves. They were poor, but they were happy. They would gather as a community on Sundays to pray to overcome their challenges. After a winter storm, they would go out on horseback to check on their fellow neighbors often miles apart, to make sure they did not freeze or starve to death. They made pathways so they could more easily visit one another. It’s no surprise these strong Germans from Russia have the motto “Work makes life sweet” because this group of settlers certainly were not afraid of some hard work.