homesteading

European settlers arriving in what today is North Dakota faced many challenges as they homesteaded or otherwise tried to obtain land. Some difficulties included working this unknown land, living in areas that could be isolated, and trying to persevere through difficult weather. On top of this, some also dealt with legal issues relating to the land.

This German woman from a well-to-do family was in for some shocks when when she got to Stanton, North Dakota.

In 1881, a 21-year-old bachelor named Irving Gardner headed to Hope, North Dakota, to homestead. As he later wrote, he was unprepared for what lay ahead…

Getting around our prairie country, I often encounter people who are justifiably proud of their lineage as descendants of homesteaders. They share in our…