In March 1911, a widowed mother placed her four young children into a small two-person buggy and began an extraordinary journey from Oklahoma to the northern edge of North Dakota.
She carried little more than a few articles of clothing, a small supply of food, and the hope of reaching her sister’s home in Portal. The family’s horses were weak, their money was nearly gone, and the youngest child was not yet two years old.
By the time they reached Kenmare, the mother had survived a wagon crash, exhausted her last nickel, and been forced to beg for bread. Only the final stretch of the long overland journey remained.
Woman Drives Long Distance
KENMARE, North Dakota. — From Oklahoma to Portal in a buggy suitable to carry two persons was found a widowed mother, with four fatherless children. The unhappy party was in Kenmare, having reached the last lap of their long drive.
The unfortunate family lost the husband and father last fall. With but little of this world’s goods the mother loaded up her little family in the buggy and with what few remaining articles of food and wearing apparel that could be taken along, started out in March on the long overland trip. The progress was made slow on account of the impoverished condition of the horses, and owing to the financial condition of the woman, she could not afford to get the animals shod, hence they had become foot sore and lame as a result of the long drive.
On arriving at Carrington, the last of the money that the family possessed gave out, and to make matters worse, after leaving that town, an automobile collided with the rig, throwing the little ones and their mother out, and smashing the buggy.
The automobile party, however, had the damage to the rig repaired and gave the woman $5 with which to help her along on her journey.
On reaching Minot, the last nickel was spent for bread and the brave mother was forced to beg for food to sustain her little ones until the destination was reached.
On arriving at Kenmare the woman appealed to the public here for aid. The woman stated she was making her way to Portal, where she was promised a home with her sister.
The oldest of the children was 9 years, the youngest being scarcely two.
Source: The Evening Times. Grand Forks, N.D. August 1, 1911.
