Bessie Sando was my grandmother, maiden name Bessie Judd.  She came to Ogilvie from Indiana with her parents in 1898. He had worked for the railroad as a teletypist, had poor health  and thought the new frontier of Minnesota would be beneficial.  They lived east of town, across the road from Henry Niemann.  My father walked to school with Nita's father and the rest of his siblings. 

Bessie had 10 children, one died as a toddler, the rest reached adulthood.  There are two living, Dorothy and Vernon.  Bessie's husband, Martin Sando was a carpenter and farmer.  Pat Fredricks is my first cousin, her father is Martin Sando Jr.  -----Kathy

In 1898, the railroad was the chief interest and income of Ground House. Most of the dwellings were lined up along the edge of the railroad right of way. A road ran along on both sides of the railroad track in front of the buildings. There were many more trains passing through than at the present time.

The depot was located across the track behind what is now the Henry Niemann residence. The depot agent (Mr. Crossin) lived in a small house on what is now the back end of the Neimann lot. He was dark with black hair and mustache and a friendly way. He had a wife and several small children.

You probably remember the railroad section house. Mr. and Mrs. Nels Bangson and two children, Ella and Elsworth lived there. They were friendly and added much to the social life of Ground House. The traveling salesmen came in by train and Mrs. Bangson always had her guest room ready for them. with comfortable bed and good food on the table.

She also fed the single men who worked on the section and any one else looking for a place to eat.. Nels Bangson was foreman of the section. There was always a big section crew. Most of the men living in Ground House worked on the section. This was the only paying job to get.

Farther along the road west of the Crossin residence was the general store of J. W. Bragg. He was rather stout and very accommodating.

He sold just about everything a person might need, and if one didn’t have the cash one could bring in butter or eggs or stove wood or cord wood or ties or animal skins, what ever one had to trade --- always giving credit at market price. One corner of his store was the post office.

The Bragg family lived in a house next to the store. His wife was tall and blond. They had two children, Robert and Ethel, later another daughter was born to them.

Across the track in what is now the Shultz residence lived Mr. and Mrs. Joe Roberts and family. He worked on the section. They were very nice people, Mrs. Roberts helped in Sunday School.

Next to the Roberts home east in what is now the Hookstra residence lived Mrs. Robert’s mother, Mrs. Way. She had two grown children, Mamie, who taught the school and her younger brother. One day while hunting, he climbed through a barbwire fence, dragging the gun after him, the gun accidently discharged, the load lodging in his leg. He was taken to Mora, blood poison set in and in a week he died.

Along the road farther east about where the creamery now stands was a long low building that Noah Adams had used for a bunk house for his sawmill men. There Mr. and Mrs. Hans Nyberg and family lived.

West of the Robert‘s home was the Anderson home, two young people, Hannah and her older brother lived with their father and mother.

I remember years later, after the young people had left home, one evening the house got on fire. The men formed a line from the well and passed pails of water along to C, M. Wall who stood at the top of the ladder pouring water on the roof. The house burned to the ground. The community got together and built the old folks a little house to live in.

On what is now our main street were dwellings of Mr. and Mrs. Bobildyke. They were young folks, he worked on the section.  The John Berglund dwelling, home of Albert, Oscar and Jennie Berglund. The Albert Adams dwelling. home of Archie and William Adams.

Here also was the little white school house where Mamie Way taught school. Each Sunday afternoon we had Sunday School followed by church service conducted by the Methodist minister from Mora, (Rev. Robinson, a young minister having a wife and one small son)

The Sunday School Superintendent was Mrs. Lockwood. She was one of the best women I have ever known, a true Christian. When sickness or sorrow came into our homes she came to help. She and her husband and son lived on what is now the Bewalda place.

Next to them about half a mile south was the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Arter and daughter who married Jim McCormic. Will McCormic was staying there at that time. Soon after, Mrs. Hainlen , Mrs. Arters daughter, and sons, Bert, Paul, Leo and Ben came to live with them.

Nearly everyone came to Sunday School and church. When Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood moved away, Mr. W. A. Judd was elected superintendent, which office he held for many years.

The ladies formed a group to help pay minister’s salary and any other expenses. Mrs. Judd was elected president. We would have socials and debates. I remember especially a hard times social and stately Miss Way coming in necklaces of carpet rags. Mrs. Braggs brother who was helping in the store came with a ladies night gown on over his suit and ladies night cap on. They won first prize.

The debates were equally interesting. There were usually three debaters on each side. Many arguments were carried on here.

Mr. Parks, the Parks family lived on what is now the Haack farm, Mr Hinchery, they lived on the Aaberg farm, they had two small boys. Mr. Krienke, a middle aged, well educated bachelor, he had a pony ranch a few miles south of the South Fork of Ground House river. He spoke with a German accent and always came to town horse back. W. A. Judd from east of town and a Mr. Brown were the principle debaters.

The Hollanders living south of Ground House came to Sunday School and Church too. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Toussaint and family Jake, David, Harry and Fannie. The Desota young folks, Will, John, Kate (Mrs. Sam Hastings) Fannie (Mrs. Joe Olson) Lena. Lena was a Sunday School teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Notabam and three daughters, Marjory (Mrs. J. C. Block) Helen, Nellie.

 There was a very nice young man ( Eric Johnson, a brother of Mrs. Dave Songberg) stayed at Bangsons and worked on the section. He had an organ and kept it in the school house. On Sundays he played the hymns very nicely. One winter he had pneumonia, recovered and went with others to get a Christmas tree for Sunday school. They came back with a beautiful tree but he had relapse and died.

The main transportation was the railroad handcar. If one found it necessary to go to Mora or Milaca, they rode on the handcar. I remember years later the Odd Fellows took the handcar to Mora where they attended an Odd Fellow meeting.

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