Gottfried Michael Borchert and his wife Fredricka Behm came to Griggs County from Neue Kircken, Prussia, Germany in 1888. They took a homestead on Section 32 in Tyrol Township. They had been married in 1879. Some of their 10 children were born in Germany. Fredrica died in 1899. In 1905 Gottfried returned to Germany to visit relatives and friends. There he remarried to Maria Schwan of Midling, Bavaria, Germany. Of this family, three are living.
By 1887, Gottfried had a frame house and a sod barn. A snowstorm covered the barn and almost covered the house. They dug a tunnel from house to barn and had steps down in the snow bank to the well. Snow lasted till May.
One day this family hooked up their team of oxen intending to drive on to visit a neighbor near by. They never did get there for the oxen took them into a slough. The outcome of this story is not remembered!
The Borchert family attended German Lutheran Church in homes and schoolhouses.
Max Borchert, their son, married Ida Urness on January 24, 1920. They bought the farm from Gottfried and also bought Section 4 in Cooperstown Township. Two sons were born to this union:
When Floyd and Hillard were going to Country school, their parents bought them a Shetland pony so they didn't have to walk.
This family always looked forward to neighbor-get-to-gethers when they would have ball games in the pastures or schoolyard.
The love of horses and ballgames continues in Floyd's family.
Max and Ida are retired now but they still live on the homestead where they raise raspberries, strawberries and a large garden.
Another of Gottfried sons remained in Griggs County. He was Frank, married to Elsie Tetzlaff. From this union 4 children were born:
Richard, Marvin, Dorine and Frances. All have moved away except Marvin. He and his family live in Jamestown, North Dakota. Frank lost his life in an auto accident in 1948.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 267