Jeanine Martin of Grand Forks, ND:Information about Mary Ullrich
Mary Ullrich (b. April 22, 1862, d. 1944)
Notes for Mary Ullrich:
Mary Ullrich was born in Baden, Ilvesheim by Manheim, Germany, on April 22m 1862 to Mr. and Mrs. Karl Ullrich.
More About Mary Ullrich and Phillip Jacob Allmaras:
Marriage: April 1882, New York.10
Marriage Notes for Mary Ullrich and Phillip Jacob Allmaras:
Mary Ullrich was born in Baden, Ilvesheim by Manheim, Germany, on the 22nd day of April, 1862 to Mr. and Mrs. Karl Ullrich.
Jacob Allmaras was born to Ferdinand and Katherine Shotthoeffer Allmaras of Otterstadt by Speyer, Bavaria, Germany, on the 15th day of February, 1862.
As young people, Mary and Jacob became acquainted in Germany, and as time passed, fell in love.Due to unstable political times and impending war in Germany, Jacob was drafted into the army.He and Mary saw their plans for marriage crumbling, so Jacob fled to Luxembourg.Plans were made for Mary Ullrich to leave Germany by boat for the United States.Jacob also left Luxembourg by boat.His destination was the United States.
Mary Ullrich and Jacob Allmaras were united in marriage in April of 1882 at Grand Central Station, New York, on the same day of their arrival in the United States of America.To tell you that Mary and Jacob lived happily ever after, without hardships, disappointments, heartache, or sorrow, would be far from the truth.
Nonetheless, Mary and Jacob set out from New York with love and hope in their hearts.At their fingertips was a whole new world to settle and conquer.The new frontier was theirs-regardless of the cost.
Not much is known of Mary and Jacob's journey from New York to Reynolds, North Dakota, which they had chosen as their destination because other families and relatives from Otterstadt had settled there.The Adams, Bertholds, Ackermanns, and possibly the Floreys were among these friends and relatives.These people had arrived in the late 1870's or early 1880's at at Reynolds by stagecoach, as the construction of the Great Northern Railway from Fargo to Grand Forks had not been completed.By the time Mary and Jacob arrived, it is believed the construction of the railway was complete, so barring a few miles, their journey had been totally by railway.
Jacob had intended to settle in Reynolds.It seems that the best land had already been taken and he felt there wasn't much of a chance to establish himself well enough to fulfill his dreams.He was informed that there was land to be homesteaded around the New Rockford area.In 1883, traveling either by oxen or on horseback, he arrived in the New Rockford area.His homestead was filed and approved in 1883.
It is believed that for at least the next two years, Mary stayed in Reynolds with relatives.Jacob would go to the New Rockford area in the summer months and return to Reynolds during the winter.During this time, their first daughter, (Katherine (1883) and their first son (194) were born.The son lived a very short time, probably no longer than twenty-four hours.He is buried at Reynolds.
Jacob thought that he had now established himself well enough to bring his family to live on his homestead.He returned to Reynolds to get his wife and infant daughter, and traveled back to New Rockford with yoke of oxen and a covered wagon and a few possessions.They arrived at their destination-across the road from the southwest corner of the section where the Ted Allmaras farm is now located.Here, their second daughter, Mathilda (1884) was born in the covered wagon.She was the first white child born in the area which is now Bremen Township.
Because he could not get an ample supply of water for his livestock at the original location, Jacob relocated at the present location of the Hank Allmaras farm.Here he dug a well which produced oceans of water.
What is referred to as the "first house", was built at this location probably in the year of 1885.The second house was later built in an unknown year.During the period of the "first and second houses", seven children were born to Mary and Jacob:A. Fred (1887), William (1889), Charles (1891), Louis (1893), Joseph (1895), Mary (1897), and George (1899).About 1901, construction on the "new" house was begun.Henry (1902) and Herman (1904) were born in the "new" house. That house still stands today,
Mary and Jacob had a strong Catholic faith which they successfully passed on to their children.In the late 1800's, few churches had been established, so it was necessary to travel long distances to attend Mass.And still this faith was preserved.As time passed, mission churches were established.Still the distance was long by horse and buggy and it was not always possible to attend Mass on all Sundays.The winter months made attendance at Mass even more difficult.A son of Mary's remembers his mother taking her prayer book to a quiet area of the house on Sundays and praying most of the day.Common remarks by the four living sons were:"Mother was a saint" and "Mother was the best person in the world."
Often times a priest from Carrington, Father McDonald, would arrive at Jacob's home.He would stay overnight and at times, would say Mass there.Jacob was instrumental in establishing the first Catholic Church in Bremen Township.The church was built in 1896 and Jacob hauled the lumber by horse and wagon from New Rockford.
All the children of Mary and Jacob received a formal education.The children had to walk several miles to attend school or stay at a boarding school a greater distance from their home.
Jacob and Mary were the first settlers in the area that is now Bremen Township.They acquired three quarters of land-one quarter by the Homestead Act, one quarter by Tree Claim, and one quarter by Pre-emption law.As time passed they acquired much land and eventually developed their "bonanza grain belt farm" which was one of the largest in the county and long noted for its wheat and horses.Remember that this land was originally all prairie and a great deal of time and hard work was spent to make the land productive.Before the land was productive, Jacob needed cash so he took a job on the railroad.While working for the railroad, he named the town of Bremen and Hamberg.
Jacob was responsible for bringing many people from Germany to the United States.He would pay for their transportation here, and they would work for him until their debt was paid.Jake then helped them establish themselves in farming or what ever they chose.Some of the people who came to United States under these conditions are:Paul Reis, Mrs. Paul Reis, Babara Schmidt, Mrs. Joe Seiler (sister of Jake Ackermann), Mrs. John Hitz, Adam Ullrich (Mary's nephew who would later on marry Emma Ackermann), Herman Muller, and possibly many more.
Jacob was prominent in the organization of the Congressional Township 149 North, Range 68 West, organized as Bremen School Township on May 16, 1891.He, Nick Broeder and Mike Lies were the first directors.
The Sells County Fair Association was organized in 1907 by a company of share holders.Jacob was on of the share holders and a director of the original organization.He became a prominent breeder and exhibitor of Percheron horses at the fair.Following is a list of perfectly sound and pure bred registered stallions exhibited by Jacob at the fair in 1918-1919:
No. 5441-Eugene
No. 6511- Granite
No. 6508-Grandin
No. 6506-Gildaroy
Jacob returned to Germany several times.In 1910, Jacob and Mary and two of their children, Mary and Herman, visited Germany.At this time they also attended the last showing of the Passion Play in Germany.The last time Jacob visited Germany was in 1923.
In 1918, Jacob and Mary retired from Farming and distributed their land among their children.They moved into the city of New Rockford and lived there until their deaths.Jacob passed away after a lengthy illness from heart trouble at a St. Paul, Minnesota hospital in the year 1928.Following a six week illness, Mary passed away at City Hospital in New Rockford in the 1944.
Jacob and Mary Allmaras have most certainly left many things, both tangible and intangible to their descendents, for which they can feel a great deal of pride.
Children of Mary Ullrich and Phillip Jacob Allmaras are:
- +Katherine Allmaras, b. 1883, d. 1953.
- +Matilda Allmaras, b. November 01, 1885, d. November 14, 1957.
- +Fred Allmaras, b. June 05, 1887, New Rockford, ND.
- +William Adam Allmaras, b. June 12, 1889, Wells County, ND, d. December 06, 1976.
- +Charles Allmaras, b. January 05, 1891, d. March 1942.
- +Louis J. Allmaras, b. December 08, 1892, d. October 01, 1956.
- +Joseph T. Allmaras, b. March 22, 1895, d. December 28, 1971.
- Anna Mary Allmaras, b. January 22, 1897, d. December 11, 1932.
- George R. Allmaras, b. 1899.
- Henry Allmaras, b. 1902.
- Herman Allmaras, b. 1904.