In 1883 Thomas Kane came to Philadelphia from Ireland. He worked for a while in a shoe shop but soon headed west for Dakota Territory. He decided to settle in the same area his twin sister, Mrs. Thomas Davis, had settled.
On July 16, 1891, he married Roseanna Reid whom he had met before leaving Ireland. She, too, had come to Philadelphia with her family and worked as a seamstress. When Thomas got settled, he wrote to her and asked her to come to Dakota. She came to Courtenay, North Dakota, to her brother's farm. As the wedding date approached, plans were made for the two young folks to meet in Jamestown to be married. Roseanna's brother, James Reid, gave her a ride from Courtenay to Jamestown on a load of grain pulled by horses. Thomas met her in Jamestown. They were married by Rev. Phillips, and Thomas brought her back to his farm in what is now Brimer Township in a lumber wagon. On the way home they stopped at the Price Farm, north of Spiritwood, to rest their horses, and had supper with the Price family.
Thomas and Roseanna had five children; Mae, Rutledge, Walter, Edna and Harold. Two sons are still living. Harold, his wife Claudia, and their family make their home in Eureka, California. Rutledge has always made his home in Brimer Township. His mother, Margaret
Kane, also lived in the family home until her death. When Brimer Township officially became organized in 1909, Thomas served as Treasurer. He also was quite vocal on national politics, favoring the Republican Party.
Mr. and Mrs. Kane firmly believed their children should have a chance for an education. The children attended the local schools in the township for three months in the summer. Later in the early 1900's, they also opened the school for four months in the winter. In the Spring and Fall, the children helped with the farming. Rutledge remembers how he herded cows during the summer months by watching .out the schoolhouse window. No doubt he enjoyed going for a ride on his horse during the school day.
About 1900 the school building was destroyed by a tornado. Miss Edith Stowell, teacher, and the children from Brimer school finished the term in the haymow of the Kane barn. As the children grew older, they spent the winters in Courtenay with relatives and attended high school, and later attended Valley City schools. Harold completed his education at Jamestown College.
Roseanna passed on in December 1927, and Thomas in January 1936.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 119