3 Hartje/Alfred William Hartje marriage

The census in 1920 was enumerated on January 5th, 1920.  The treaty ending WWI was signed six months prior to this date.  Farming communities were hit hard at this time. During the war the government gave price supports for crops, when the war ended so did the extra support.  This photo is from "11 Historic Photos of North Dakota in the early 1900's."  Click this link to see the other ten.

Typical North Dakota Farm House5

This was a time of huge political change in North Dakota.  The Nonpartisan League(NPL), North Dakota's greatest "political insurgency"1 was born in 1915.  This united progressives who wanted reform.  Their platform called for improved state services, full suffrage for women, state ownership of banks, mills and elevators, and insurances.  They took control of the Republican Party in 1916 and by 1918 they dominated the state government.  Fierce opposition rose up against them fueled by funds from out-of-state corporations.  The anti-NPL, Independent Voter's Association or IVA, gained strength during WWI.  They were able to cause a split in the groups that had helped to start the NPL.  Economic distress caused by the decline in grain prices after the war and a drought in Western North Dakota were also factors that were blamed on the NPL.  In 1920 the opposition, IVA, took control of one legislative house and in 1921 forced a recall election that deposed the NPL Governor and other members that governed the state.

"The NPA left an indelible mark on the state.  The Bank of North Dakota at Bismark, opened in 1919, has become a large and powerful economic force; the State Mill and Elevator at Grand Forks, completed in 1922, provided a market for grain and a source of feed and seed; the state hail insurance program benefited many farmers until its elimination in the 1960s.  Perhaps most importantly, the NPL established an insurgent tradition in the state that blurred party lines for four decades, and both the League and the IVA elevated a generation of leaders to power.  Each official recalled in 1921, for example, later regained public office."1

1920 U.S., Federal Census
Elna Township, Pembina, North Dakota2

So, this is a volatile time in the state of North Dakota both politically and economically.  There are many reasons why but after the War more North Dakota banks closed in 1921 than in any other year.1  The result caused many farm foreclosures.  So, maybe renting was the best option at this time.  The Hartje family is now enumerated in Elora Township, still part of Pembina County, but a different township.  I haven't found anything else yet to give us a clue where they were farming but it looks like they are now on a different farm.  Remember the previous news article said they rented that property for a three year period.  They may have rented again for a time or they may have moved on at the end of the three year rental.  In 1920 this is where they were renting, somewhere in Elora township.  I'll keep hunting.

Elora Township3

You can find Elora Township near the bottom of Pembina County, next to Crystal township.  They didn't move far but they did make a change.  Still renting the land so I guess I need to look for a new landowner.

Pembina County3

Alfred is 23, and he is working for his father as farm labor.  He is single, and is listed once again as being born in North Dakota.

Not even a month later Alfred is married.  On February 2, 1920 Alfred and Bertha traveled to Gretna, Manitoba and married.  Not sure why they chose Gretna as the place to get married.  I do know from reading some of the social news from that time in the newspapers, travel to Canada was very commonplace.

Marriage index
Ancestry.com online index4

I sent for a copy of their marriage certificate from Canada, I found their names listed in the Canadian  records.  Hoping it arrives soon, they have taken my check so hopefully, not too long.  Alfred William Hartje (1896-1969) married Bertha Louise Abraham (1900-1994) on February 2, 1920.  Alfred was 23 and Bertha was 19.  The next post will be about Bertha and the beginning of her life.  We'll continue after with their lives together  once she catches up.

Happy Discoveries to you from one Ancestral Explorer to another,
Janet

Sources:
1.   North Dakota State Historical Society, 'Summary of North Dakota History -  Nonpartisan League'; https://www.history.nd.gov/ndhistory/npl.html 

2.   'Alfred Hartje' 1920 U.S., Federal Census, Elora Township, Pembina County, North Dakota; Sheet 1 A, Line 27; Ancestry.com online.

3.    'Elora Township and Pembina County North Dakota',  Brock & Company.  Standard atlas of Pembina County, North Dakota:  including a plat book of the villages, cities and townships of the county, map of the state, United States and the world:  patrons directory, reference business directory and departments devoted to general information, analysis of the system of U.S. land surveys, digest of the system of civil government, etc.etc.  Chicago: Brock & Co, 1928. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2007626719/.

4.   Ancestry.com. Web:  Manitoba, Marriage Index, 1881-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. 

5.  North Dakota, OnlyinYourState.com; 11 Historic Photos of North Dakota from the early 1900's;   https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-dakota/1900s-photos-nd/