KENSAL, NORTH DAKOTA, is situated in the northeastern part of Stutsman county on the main line of the Soo railway, 340 miles northwest of St. Paul. When in the fall of 1892 the railroad builders reached what is now the town of Kensal, its situation in the midst of an unsurpassed farming country determined the location of a station at this point.
At that time there were but two framed buildings included within the corporate limits of Kensal. One of these was a small un-plastered shack, 12x16 feet, built in 1887, by Anton Frederickson on his claim at a point immediately north of the present Commercial hotel, of lumber which he had brought with him from Maple Valley, Oconto county, Wisconsin, where he formerly lived, and which he hauled overland from Pingree, North Dakota. This shack is not without honor of its own, for, after having served the purpose of assisting the original owner in proving up on his claim, which he did in 1890, it was bought by F. W. Bartz the following year and by him moved to his homestead five miles north of town (NE1/4 Sec. 20-145-63). It is now incorporated in the Charles Pierce farm house, Mr Pierce having succeeded by purchase to the owner-ship of the Bartz homestead. The other building was a counter-part of the first, and was erected in 1888 by Julius Frederickson on his claim adjoining that of his brother, Anton, and was substituted for the small sod house made in June of 1886, located near what is now known as the Sletten property and which up to this time had served to satisfy certain demands of the homestead laws. This shack, still used as a grainary by the original owner, was succeeded by a frame building, 14x18 feet, which not only for the sake of its utility, but because of its associations, was included in the architectural plans for the splendid home which he completed last year.
This early humble home has the honor of receiving the first bride brought to Kensal. To its shelter Julius Frederickson brought his bride, who was Miss Emma Johnson, and to whom he was joined in wedlock Nov. 1, 1893, in the Kirkwood hotel at Carrington, North Dakota, by the Rev. William H. Gimblett, pastor of the Congregational church of that place. Here, too, Ralph their eldest son, announced himself as Kensals firstborn. Mrs. Julius Frederickson however, was not the first woman to live in the town. That honor falls to Miss Lizzie Schuler, C. W. Pottgeiser's aunt, who presided over his home at the depot. A sod barn, the type of building familiar to the Dakota pioneer, antedating in time of construction the above named building was located near by and furnished shelter to the Frederickson oxen.
The original townsite was laid out by the Minnesota Loan and Trust Co. and included exactly one quarter section of land. The northwest forty was purchased of Anton Frederickson and the northeast forty of his brother, Julius. The south half was secured from the Metcalf Land Co., which had succeeded to the ownership of the same from the Northern Pacific railway as part of their land grant from the government Legally speaking this included the southeast quarter (SE1/4) of the southwest quarter (SW1/4) and the southwest quarter (SW1/4) of the southeast quarter (SE1/4) of section twelve (12) in township one hundred and forty-tour (144) range sixty-four (64). Also the northeast quarter (NE1/4) of the northwest quarter (NW1/4) and the northwest quarter (NW1/4) of the northeast quarter (NE1/4)of section thirteen (13) township one hundred and forty-four (144) range sixty-four (64). In general terms the original town site extended from a point just west of E. W. Stroh's dwelling to the row of willows east of C. J. Croonquist's home, and from a point just north of Albert Hanson's residence to a line of which the north side of the lot on which Anton Feckler's dwelling is located is a part.
Since then numerous additions have been made, until all the dwelling houses near town are now included in its corporate boundaries. '1 he depot, coal sheds, section house and the Osborne-McMillan elevator, of which Ellis Tyler was first manager, were erected simultaneously, but completed in the order named in the latter part of 1892 and the early part of 1893. The building used as the first Soo station and in which the first telegraph instruments were placed, was a small 10x12 shack now utilized as a hand car shed.
G.W. Hawes was the first telegraph operator and was succeeded by C. W. Pottgeiser who was the first station agent. He also represented the Rogers Lumber Co. as their first manager at Kensal. His accommodating disposition is not forgotten by the pioneers.
C. W. McDonnell became the second Soo agent, succeeding to that position in March 1893 and continued to serve the railroad and the public until February, 1905, a period of twelve years, when he established a dray line.
To John Putnam must be given the credit of being Kensal's Pioneer merchant. In the fall or winter of 1892 he received a car load of lumber from Minneapolis with which he erected a building on the corner where now stands the Kensal Implement company's tore in which he placed a few groceries and a limited quantity of dry goods that he had secured at Carrington. His want of success compelled the closing of his store and his own removal to Minneapolis the following spring.
In the fall of 1893 C. J. Croonquist opened with a line of general merchandise in the Putnam building since which time he has done an increasing business both here and in the building which he now occupies, to which he moved in the fall of 1894.
J. S. Tufford having bought the lots on which the Putnam building stood, and desiring to erect a larger building, sold the first store building to F. W. Bartz who removed the same to his property in the eastern part of town where it has since been used as a granary.
The first hardware store was established in 1901 by C. J. Croonquist, and was located immediately in the rear of his present store building. In 1904 the Jacob Peterson Co. bought the stock and building and moved the same to the location which they now occupy This building was consumed in the fire of 1908. The debris of the fire was soon cleared away, and an up to date building erected in its place, where this thriving concern continues to supply the needs of its increasing customers.
In 1902 H. M. Tucker & Co. opened a second hardware store, as a branch of their Courtenay business, which a few years later they sold to the Kensal Implement Co. The latter company continued the business at the original site. Their business has been greatly extended and continues to exhibit a vigorous growth.
In the winter of 1892 Dan C. Clancy erected a small building where the Croonquist store now stands in which he opened the first restaurant and where he ministered to the gastronomic needs of the bachelors of those early days. Here he also furnished lodging to a limited number of transients. This building he continued to occupy until the fall of 1893 when he sold it to Thomas Nihill, who moved it to his claim where it is still doing service.
The Soo restaurant, of which T. M. Hjorth is proprietor, though not situated on the identical spot of the Clancy restaurant, is in the same locality, and its increasing patronage certifies to the high esteem in which Mrs. Hjorth's culinary ability is held. It is never closed.
The first blacksmith shop was built by the first blacksmith, F. W.Bartz, on the present site of the Guenther butcher shop. This lot was the first lot sold by the townsite company, and its price at that time was $35.00.
When in 1901 Gustavo Guenther succeeded to the ownership of this building and became Kensal's first butcher, he removed it to make room for his present up-to-date butcher shop.
John W. Wilson, who had been the Bordulac blacksmith, now opened the shop which he later sold to N. M. Boe whose increasing business testifies to the character of his work.
The early Kensalites were not the proverbial bewhiskered westerners, for as early as 1894-95 Frank Smith, who lived on his claim west of the "Jini" river came to town on Wednesdays and Saturdays of each week and in Hugh Smith's livery barn cared tor the tonsorial needs of the bachelors of those days, being the first to handle the razor in that capacity in the town. Of course he had no such pretentious establishment as our genial townsman T. R. Clemo, who about five years ago shook the Courtenay dust from his shoes that he might get some of the golden coin that the east is glad to pour into Kensal's lap for the golden grain which her rich farm lands produce.
