John Maresh

John Maresh (1850-1937) was born in the Village of Rodna, Bohemia, now Czechoslovakia. He attended school in the city of Tabor, then he attended school in Eblan, Moravia, to learn the German language. He was apprenticed to a miller in Tabor, serving for a year. He was employed by a larger flour mill and traveled thru Austria and Hungaria. He left his native land in 1869, sailing from Bremen for New York. He worked for a hotel in New York and in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Chicago. In Iowa City he found work as a miller; he helped to build a mill in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1870 he enlisted in the U.S. Infantry and was assigned to Co. "H," 22nd Infantry. They were an escort for the surveyors and a protection for settlers from Indian attacks. He received his discharge from the U.S. Army at Fort Lincoln, Dakota Territory in 1877. He traveled horseback from Fort Lincoln to '2nd Crossing (Valley City). He sold his ponies to Otto Becker and was persuaded by George Harsman to stay in (Valley City) where he worked for Jim Harrington. In 1878, he filed on a homestead - Section 24 - in Stewart Township on the Sheyenne River - nine miles north of Valley City. He added more land to his holdings by purchase. In 1880 he married Mary Padden, the daughter of Thomas Padden who came to Barnes County in 1878. The children born to John and Mary Maresh were:

  1. Mathias - (1881);

  2. Josephine (1883);

  3. Sarah (1885); Mrs. C. E. Reid;

  4. Mary or Mayme (1887) - Mrs. Charles Brislin;

  5. John Jr. (1889);

  6. Thomas (1890);

  7. Charles (1892);

  8. George (1893);

  9. Catherine (1896);

  10. Florence (1899) - Mrs. Knute Frosaker;

  11. James (1902) and Andy (1903-1965).

Mathias (1881-1958) and Emma Hendricks lived on several farms in Barnes County. Their children are:

  1. John C. (Jack) (1909-1975);

  2. Edward (19101975) married Neva Zaun;

  3. Margaret (1911) Mrs. Melvin Aaker;

  4. Lawrence H. (1912-1950) married Ethel Elledge;

  5. Thomas J. (1913-1965);

  6. Marion (19141974) married Everett Kiser;

  7. Irene (1916 - 1966) married Oliver Mikkelson;

  8. Mathias (1917) married Myra Nonenson;

  9. Frances (1919) married Charles Hall;

  10. Alice (1921-1972) married Wilbur Gilbson;

  11. Helen - Pate (1923);

  12. Josephine (1926) married Donald Wick;

  13. Alvin A. (1927) married Jean Cherney.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 150