Julius Backen, Mathilda Backen, Catherine Davids, and Fred Davids.

The shorter lady is Mathilda Backen, known as Anna. The taller lady is Catherine, known as Tante Tina. -Julius and Catherine are siblings (along with George). The car belonged to Julius Backen.

Pictures courtesy of Sandy (Backen) Barton from the collection of her Aunt Mildred.

St. John Luthern Church near Maple Grove Cemetery

This is St. John Lutheran Church. Across the road is Maple Grove Cemetery. That is where Johann and Lucia Backen, Mathilda (also known as Anna) and Julius Backen, and Catherine and Fred Davids are all buried. I think George is buried there too as there is a tombstone for him, although I never knew why he was there alone without his wife and family. Interestingly, on their tombstones Johann and Lucia are listed as John and Lucy.
Johann and Lucia, Mathilda and Julius, and Catherine and Fred are all listed as founding members of the church, although neither Johann or Lucia lived to see the building actually built. They were meeting in local school houses until 1894.
I think this photo was taken in 1934 at the 40th anniversary of the church building. In the front row behind the hitching post and holding his hat is Julius Backen. To his right is Mathilda. To her right is Catherine and Fred. I know I am related to many of those other people, but I can't identity most of them.
In later years, the church building was expanded. I can send an updated photo if you'd like. But this is the way it looked when your ancestors were here.

Submitted by Sandy (Backen) Barton

Claude M. Backen

Claude Julius Backen
Born: July 23, 1887 in Larrabee, Foster County, North Dakota
Died: Nov. 30 1945 in Los Angeles, California

(From a letter written on June 1, 1994 to Kieth and Ruby Backen from Don and Jeanette:)

"I was unable to get any information on Claude, other than that which Barbera and I could remember. Claude was a carpenter. He would build two or three houses a year, sell them and buy some lots, then take a long vacation – I think to visit his children. He would return and stay at our house. He built a living quarters behind our garage. During the war he traveled the country building military barracks. He passed away in 1947. "

There's also a "Pages from the Past" newspaper clipping.
It was published on Mon. July 9, 1990 by Foster County Independent. It has a section that has a section that says 50 years ago, "Claude Backen, son of a former Juanita farm couple, spent last week visiting friends in Carrington and in the Juanita community. Mr. Backen has just published No. 1 of Volume 1 of a monthly magazine, "The Voice of Democracy" at Los Angeles, CA. This new magazine advocates a system of monetary reform. It centers around a depreciation charge of one per cent a month on all amounts of $1 and over. This depreciation charge would become due on a certain day, each month, and tax stamps would have to be affixed to the money to bring it up to par value. This, the magazine explains, would lead to more rapid circulation of money to avoid depreciation charges; and everyone would benefit by the increase in trade. The plan also involves tax exemption on real estate, up to a limit of 2,500, to promote the ownership of homes."

Letter from Mavis and Bill Backen

Letter from Mavis and Bill Backen to Roy and Ruby Backen on the subject of geneology.

(Note from Sarah, -A large part of the research listed here is due to research of Mavis and Bill and Roy and Ruby Backen. They wished for it to be organized...I'm not sure I will be able to take things that far but hopefully this is a step in the right direction. Thank you very much for all the work you did to make this happen. Your interest was not wasted. I will do my best to preserve Backen history. ~Sarah)

Tama Iowa Deeds continued

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