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Collection Summary
Collection: 00032 - North Dakota Oral History Project Photograph Collection
Folder: RI-17
Item: 00018
Title: Lidgerwood Roller Mill and mill office Lidgerwood (N.D.)
Date: 1895
Creator: Movius, Gilbert H
Inscription/Marks: [on caption below photograph] Col. 32-RI/17-18 [caption below photograph] The Old Mill [facsimile file] Written on reverse in Sprunk's handwriting: Movius Roller Mill, Lidgerwood approx. 1895.
Summary: Three-quarter view of front and entrance to Lidgerwood Roller Mill and mill office. Owner, William Robert Movius, and workers stand outside door to mill office. Another man in winter clothes and blanket over his legs drives a horse drawn wagon parked in front of the mill entrance. [History- North Dakota History and People Vol2p362-363] William Robert Movius, the chief stockholder in the Lidgerwood Mill Company, one of the important industrial concerns of Richland County, was born in Germany on the 1st of November, 1850, and received an excellent education in his native land, attending high school and college. Following his removal to this country he engaged in merchandising in Big Stone City, South Dakota, where he remained for three years, after which he devoted a similar period of time to agricultural pursuits. He then returned to Big Stone City and for three years dealt in real estate. He continued to reside there until 1890 and was recognized as one of its leading citizens. He served as the first postmaster for twelve years, proving very efficient in that capacity. Soon after his arrival in Lidgerwood, North Dakota, in 1890, Mr. Movius built a large flour mill, which, however burned four years later. He at once rebuilt and has continued in business to the present time. The mill, which is conducted under the name of the Lidgerwood Mill Company, has a capacity of two hundred and fifty barrels per day and ships flour all over the United States. As it is in the heart of one of the best wheat producing regions in the world and is thoroughly equipped with the most improved machinery, while the utmost care is taken in the manufacture of the flour, it is but natural that the flour should be of an unusually high quality and should find a ready sale. Mr. Movius is president and general manager of the company and to him is due the greatest credit for the success of the business. He is also interested in the First National Bank and in the Movius Land and Loan Company. Mr. Movius was married in 1876 to Miss Marcella Murray, a native of Fillmore County, Minnesota, and a daughter of Duncan Murray. Her father, who was of Highland Scotch descent, removed from Nova Scotia to Fillmore County, Minnesota, in the early days of the history of that state. Subsequently he came to Dakota, where he was frozen to death in a blizzard. Mr. and Mrs. Movius have eight children: Arthur J., a physician located at Billings, Montana; Winfred D., who is associated with his father in the mill; Marcella, the wife of Dr. N. J. Shields, of Wahpeton, this state; Pearl, who married A. W. Rosenkranz, bookkeeper and electrician in the mill; Rex Murray, who is engaged in the real estate business in Plentywood, Montana; Walter R., who is employed in a real estate office in Billings, Montana; Harold E., who is ranching in Montana, and Margaret, the wife of H. E. Warren, of Jackson, Tennessee, who is superintendent of the dining car service on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Mr. Movius casts his ballot in support of the measures and candidates of the democratic party and has served acceptably as a member of the city council and as a member of the school board. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which he contributes, and he strives to conform his life to the teachings of Christianity. He has contributed in no small measure to the industrial and business development of his section and has also done his part in promoting the advancement of his community along moral and civic lines.
Red ID: PH_I_123146 Image ID: 170900 Image Notes: 00032-RI-17-00018

Collection: 00032 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: North Dakota Oral History Project Photograph Collection
Date: 1880-1977

Summary: Consists of copies of photographs belonging to people interviewed for the North Dakota Oral History Project. The Project was undertaken by Larry Sprunk, with the cooperation of the North Dakota American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, the North Dakota Farmers Union, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The primary objective of the North Dakota Oral History Project was to conduct oral tape recorded interviews with North Dakotans who lived through the state's history and who could speak of this history from a first-hand basis. Interviewees were photographed at the time of their interviews. In addition, the project borrowed over 6,000 historical photographs which were copied and added to the State Historical Society's collection. Many interviewees also donated family histories, documents, letters, ledgers, books, and artifacts.

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