Mellette County, South Dakota
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Family Histories & Biographies - Andrews Surname
The Henry Andrews - Years Spent in Mellette County
Author unknown
(Transcribed, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1986" published by the Mellette County Historical Society)
After years of the "Dirty Thirties" spent in Gregory County, we loaded up our meager possessions into an old truck and headed west, landing in Mellette County at Wood on February 28, 1928. The Butterfield Ranch was in need of a foreman to manage the large number of hogs and cattle kept there. In fact, the number of hogs was in the area of 1,500, which meant gallons of slop daily. This was hauled on a cart in barrels with a single horse. Besides caring for the stock we tried farming, but eventually dry weather put an end to that as not even thistles were available for feed for the cattle. So with many a tear, we watched our little heifers driven up over the hill for a wee sum of $20 per head.
WPA was the only source of work for a small income. Road work was available for men who had a team of horses, so Henry took a job wrestling a hand scraper.
In the meantime, two sons were born; Carrol, who now is located in Murdo, South Dakota and Orvis L., living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gladys remembers the trip to Winner with only $25 to shop for material for a family of four. She was a bit surprised at the amount bought, even some buttons. Everyone had to do sewing and a lot of fancy patchwork.
After seven years at the ranch, we moved into the small town of Wood so the boys could enter school. There were rumors of a "boom" and the railroad was coming from Winner soon— it did eventually. Here Henry accepted a job as Conoco bulk manager. He delivered gas to farmers—doling it by the bucketful (the hard way). Later the oil company closed. For another job, Henry accepted the road maintenance work over the county. Determination kept him busy at anything.
On June 4th, 1942, we decided to move to White River, which was nearer the central part of the road work. In the meantime, Gladys went back to teaching school at Kary, Cady and Riverview. She lived in the schoolhouse during the week and found it rather lonely—even a bit frightening when the hoot owls made their appearance late at night.
Working as a Star Route mail carrier from Mission to Murdo, South Dakota, we managed to buy a two-room house in the east part of White River—not much but happy to possess even that. We finally got a Jersey cow for the backyard and we had plenty of rich milk and cream. Life seemed to be looking up. Both boys attended school there. Carrol graduated from high school there. Shortly after that he was called to service duty in Korea.
Events that I recall were Frontier Days which were usually hot and dusty. One night during a celebration, Gladys was awakened by hearing someone entering the house and mumbling to himself. It proved to be an Indian badly intoxicated and not knowing where he was. Without any hesitation she talked him into backing out and on down the road.
Our close neighbors while we lived in Wood were Lee and Jessie McDonald, Grandma Lookabill, Orlo and Mabel Schaeffer, Bob Rosa and Ernie Wilmoth. In fact every one in Wood were good friends.
After locating in White River our close neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. George Bouman, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Scull, Mrs. Burgess and her daughters, Dolly and Violetta. Gladys joined the Rebekah Lodge while they lived in White River in 1945. She attended the Methodist church. When they left White River they moved to Murdo where Henry passed away. Gladys still lives in Murdo at this writing.
She says, "Mellette County was a good place to live in spite of the bad years."
Author unknown
(Transcribed, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1986" published by the Mellette County Historical Society)
After years of the "Dirty Thirties" spent in Gregory County, we loaded up our meager possessions into an old truck and headed west, landing in Mellette County at Wood on February 28, 1928. The Butterfield Ranch was in need of a foreman to manage the large number of hogs and cattle kept there. In fact, the number of hogs was in the area of 1,500, which meant gallons of slop daily. This was hauled on a cart in barrels with a single horse. Besides caring for the stock we tried farming, but eventually dry weather put an end to that as not even thistles were available for feed for the cattle. So with many a tear, we watched our little heifers driven up over the hill for a wee sum of $20 per head.
WPA was the only source of work for a small income. Road work was available for men who had a team of horses, so Henry took a job wrestling a hand scraper.
In the meantime, two sons were born; Carrol, who now is located in Murdo, South Dakota and Orvis L., living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gladys remembers the trip to Winner with only $25 to shop for material for a family of four. She was a bit surprised at the amount bought, even some buttons. Everyone had to do sewing and a lot of fancy patchwork.
After seven years at the ranch, we moved into the small town of Wood so the boys could enter school. There were rumors of a "boom" and the railroad was coming from Winner soon— it did eventually. Here Henry accepted a job as Conoco bulk manager. He delivered gas to farmers—doling it by the bucketful (the hard way). Later the oil company closed. For another job, Henry accepted the road maintenance work over the county. Determination kept him busy at anything.
On June 4th, 1942, we decided to move to White River, which was nearer the central part of the road work. In the meantime, Gladys went back to teaching school at Kary, Cady and Riverview. She lived in the schoolhouse during the week and found it rather lonely—even a bit frightening when the hoot owls made their appearance late at night.
Working as a Star Route mail carrier from Mission to Murdo, South Dakota, we managed to buy a two-room house in the east part of White River—not much but happy to possess even that. We finally got a Jersey cow for the backyard and we had plenty of rich milk and cream. Life seemed to be looking up. Both boys attended school there. Carrol graduated from high school there. Shortly after that he was called to service duty in Korea.
Events that I recall were Frontier Days which were usually hot and dusty. One night during a celebration, Gladys was awakened by hearing someone entering the house and mumbling to himself. It proved to be an Indian badly intoxicated and not knowing where he was. Without any hesitation she talked him into backing out and on down the road.
Our close neighbors while we lived in Wood were Lee and Jessie McDonald, Grandma Lookabill, Orlo and Mabel Schaeffer, Bob Rosa and Ernie Wilmoth. In fact every one in Wood were good friends.
After locating in White River our close neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. George Bouman, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Scull, Mrs. Burgess and her daughters, Dolly and Violetta. Gladys joined the Rebekah Lodge while they lived in White River in 1945. She attended the Methodist church. When they left White River they moved to Murdo where Henry passed away. Gladys still lives in Murdo at this writing.
She says, "Mellette County was a good place to live in spite of the bad years."
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