"This history begins long ago and far away - as long ago as 1878 and as far away as across the Atlantic. There, July 2, in Holstein, Germany, a young couple, Daniel Kuno Wilhelm Asmus and his wife, Catherine Christina announced a new arrival in their family, a son. They christened him Henry August Wilhelm Asmus. Henry's birth brought much happiness to the home as Daniel and Catherine had lost a son, August, in infancy. Sister Dora Wilelm Asmus, then age four, was very proud of her little brother and very proud again in 1880 when another baby brother arrived. He was named Carl Frederick Wilhelm Asmus.
"In the spring of 1880 this family of five came to the United States and settled at Marne, Cass County, Iowa. The father rented farm places and the family worked together overcoming one obstacle after another. Henry, being the oldest son, remembers working out receiving as wages $4.00 a month. This he did from springs work until after popcorn picking in the Fall, which left him about four months a year for school attendance. Even with this limitation he was able to keep at the head of his class.
"In 1901 Daniel Asmus realized his dream. He owned a piece of land, a homestead, purchased from the Johnston Land Company, situated in North Dakota, Griggs County, Rosendal Township. He and his son, Carl, came at once to put the land into cultivation and to start building their farm home. Henry remained in Iowa and farmed for his father. The following year, 1902, Daniel's wife, Catherine, Henry and his sisters, Elizabeth, Martha and Amanda, and the youngest family member, John moved to their new North Dakota home. Thus the Daniel Asmus Family became one of the first families to settle in Rosendal Township. Only Dora remained in Iowa. She had married Charles Meyers and the couple had established a fine home with two lively children, Hattie Meyers and Alfred Meyers, running about.
Daniel Asmus lived until October 21, 1912. The Binford Times paid this tribute, "His best monument will be the good report that he has left behind him in the community in which he lived. His wife, Catherine, nee Stockfish, entered into eternal rest fifteen years later on September 6, 1927.
Their youngest son, John Robert Wilhelm, farmed the home place. He married Clara Matilda Ramsey in 1918. They had three children:
a son, Clifford Wayne
and two daughters, Julia Henrietta and
Inez Lorraine.
Clifford served ably in the Air Force in World War II as a member of a Bomber Combat crew. He and his wife, the former Ruth Adamson now live in Fargo, North Dakota. They have two daughters, Barbara and Laurie Ann.
Inez Jackson and her two daughters reside in Seattle, Washington.
Julia and her mother continue to live on the home place though the ownership and operation has been taken over by Daniel Asmus's grandson, Elmer Adrian. Elmer also owns a farm less than a mile east from the Asmus homestead. John, due to poor health, is presently a resident in the Griggs County Nursing Home, Cooperstown, North Dakota. He is now the only living member of the Daniel Asmus Family of eight children.
In 1938, Carl Asmus and his wife, the former Rosette Hermenia Adrian, their son Herman Arthur Asmus, and daughters, Edith Agnes Asmus and Catheryn Elearnor Agnus, moved from their Rosendal farm home to New Richmond, Wisconsin, where Carl in partnership with Frank Bixby continued farming. All three, Herman, Edith and Catheryn graduated from the Binford High School. Herman, now deceased, is well remembered for his athletic prowess. He taught the Asmus country school for a time and thus instructed his sister, Catheryn and a number of cousins. He served with both valor and daring as a navy pilot in World War II.
Elizabeth Dorothea Asmus married Joseph Schwartz and the couple made their home near Belfield, North Dakota. Of their children, three sons:
Alfred Schwartz,
Walter Schwartz, and
Henry Schwartz
and two daughters:
Alice Schwartz and
Winifred Schwartz,
are living.
Martha Sophie Asmus married Oscar Adrian. They established their farm home in Rosendal Township about two miles south from the Home place. Four sons:
Arnold Oscar Adrian,
Elmer Daniel Adrian,
Martin Ernest Adrian and
Paul Edward Adrian,
and one daughter,
Agnes Helena Adrian,
blessed this union the youngest son, Paul, now farms the Adrian home place. Martin is deceased.
Amanda Catherina Asmus married Albert Benhardt Bjornson. Their farmstead was also located in Rosendal Township one-quarter mile west to the Asmus home place. It is presently owned and operated by their youngest son, Chester Allen Bjornson. Another son, Walter Ernest Bjornson and a daughter, Kathleen Amanda Bjornson, live in California while their oldest daughter, Wilma Iola Myers, resides in Moorhead, Minnesota. A daughter, Edna Bjornson, died at age four.
Again quoting from the Binford Times:
"Tuesday, February 4th, 1908 at eleven o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Wilson of this city, occurred the marriage of their daughter, Zoe Maude Mullin to Henry Asmus. The ceremony was performed by Reverend Reininga in the presence of only a few of the most intimate friends and relatives of the contracting parties. They took the afternoon train for Lisbon this state where they will spend their honeymoon. The Times join their many friends in wishing them happiness and prosperity in their new venture."
Their farmstead was also in Rosendal Township about two miles East of the Asmus home place. Here in 1918 Henry built a spacious new family farm home.
This modern home was enjoyed by all seven children from eldest to youngest. Yet all recall such daily events as churning butter, making cottage cheese, hand milking of cows, butchering and rendering lard, making head cheese, sewing garments from flour sacks, flat irons heated on a wood burning kitchen range, basement refrigeration, raking hay with horses, shocking grain, curling irons for the hair and walking across the field to the one room country school known in Rosendal as the Asmus school.
On April 24, 1924 the Times carried this new item. "A fine baby boy came to gladden the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Asmus, on Thursday, April 24. As there are five girls in the family it is needless to say that the son was doubly welcome." He was named Donald Eugene Asmus. The five girls were Edna Banche Asmus, Audrey Ruth Asmus, Dorothy Adelia Asmus, Shirly Zoe Asmus and Maxine Margarie Asmus. Two years later Geraldine Beverly Asmus was born thus completing the family of seven children.
Henry Asmus was active in Rosendal Township affairs serving on both school and Township boards. He was highly esteemed in the community. Though his means were modest he never hesitated in sharing what he had with others. He lived to be 81, entered into eternal rest September 2, 1959. His wife survived him until February 22, 1958. She was 83. Their seven children are living though somewhat scattered about.
Edna and her husband, Elbert Whitman, live in Bothell, Washington. They have two daughters Zoe Marla Gonzales and Donna Lee Schaal.
Audrey, Mrs. Arne Helland of Binford, North Dakota, is an R. N. and is presently the Director of Nursing Service at the Friendship Manor Nursing Home, McVille, North Dakota. She served in the A. N. C. World War II. Her husband, Arne Helland, likewise served in World War II being in the Air Force for three years, seven months and seventeen days. Their son, Richard Allen Helland had six years of army service including two tours in Vietnam. Their youngest son, Neal Dana Helland, a college student, is now registered, having attained to eighteen years, October 22, 1974.
Dorothy, Mrs. Edwin Flamme, is a beautician. She and her husband are living on the Henry Asmus home place in Rosendal Township. Dorothy is well known for her seed pictures designed with seeds grown in North Dakota. Ed was in the mounted Police three years and three days during World War II. At the present he is Township clerk in Rosendal. He is not actively engaged in farming having rented out the land. They have no children, but all their nieces and nephews enjoy an open door relationship with their Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Ed.
Shirley and her husband, Curtis Hansen, live in Bothell, Washington. They have two children, Lowell Curtis Hansen and Penny Sue Hansen. Curtis is a retired Drag Line Operator. Shirley is a teacher and is presently operating a nursery school in her home.
Maxine and her husband, Joseph Berger, live on a farm near Dazey, North Dakota. They have four sons:
Henry Joseph Berger,
Jerome Edward Berger,
Dean Loren Berger and
George Anthony Berger.
Maxine has completed twenty-five years of teaching elementary grade schools in North Dakota.
Donald and his wife Inez LaVerne (Nee Halvorson) live in Binford, North Dakota. They have two daughters, Beverly Jean Black and Dyanne Marjorie Streff. Donald farmed in Rosendal Township for thirteen years and then moved into Binford. He has driven a city school bus for the past fourteen years besides working for the city in various capacities through the years. Inez has worked in the bank since 1955. At the present she is manager of the Binford station and assistant cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank.
Geraldine is the busy wife of Leland Hedlund, the busy executive vice president of DeVac Window Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have two sons, Lorry Lee Hedlund and Kevin Bruce Hedlund and a daughter, Leisel Renee Hedlund.
At the present time, as of June 1975, the Henry Asmus Family consists of the seven children and their spouses, the sixteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren as follows:
two sons, Beverly Asmus Black, Donald Jay and Eric Jay
two sons, Loory Hedlund, Nicholas Todd and Jason Lee
Son and daughter, Dyanne Asmus Streff, Christopher Noel and Miranda Gail
one son Henry Berger, Jason Henry
and two sons and a daughter, Arlys Helland Overby, Jody Eugene, Wade Richard and Ronda Rachelle.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 413