James Edward Sullivan, who homesteaded in the spring of 1916, was the only child of James and Mary Sullivan, The elder James was an immigrant from Ireland who found work as a policeman in New York City, New York. (It is not known if Mary was an immigrant, but she was part English and part Welsh).
James Edward or "Jim" as he was later called assumed the birth date of July 4th, 1879 as he was never certain of the exact date of his birth. His mother died when he was about two years old and his father was killed in a big fire called "The Blizzard Fire" in New York City in the year of 1889. Little Jim went to live with an uncle by the name of Mr. Shehan from Indiana, a contractor who built many roads and canals up and down the eastern part of the US. Little Jim grew to be big Jim amid the rough tough construction camps.
He told of a time when he was twelve that he had to guard the payroll all night with a shotgun. He earned the love and respect of his uncle who claimed him as a son and planned to give him an equal share of his property along with his own sons. His cousins seemed to resent this, so at the early age of 16 or 17 he left the Shehans and joined the army with other volunteers to fight in the Spanish American war. He signed in the Philippines where he became ill with disintery. He was shipped back to San Francisco where he was treated and discharged. After the service he drifted and tried a number of jobs, including a stint as a professional baseball player for a San Francisco team, While there he experienced the great earthquake of 1906.
His drifting finally lead him to Montrail County where he had heard of homesteads being offered. He filed in the spring of 1916. He built his house and barn that summer, plowed and planted his crop, and then helped others put in their crops. Along with all this activity, he still found time to attend the social functions which included dances and picnics. At one of these occasions, he met a pretty school teacher by the name of Louise Augusta Watterberg.
She was born Feb. 29, 1892 at Wilkin Co., Minnesota to John Watterberg and Charlotta Swenson Watterberg. John and Charlotta were immigrants from Sweden. After her education Louise accepted a teaching position in Canada and it was during her summer vacation while she was visiting her sister, Mrs. Ed Larson of Sanish, that she met and fell in love with big Jim Sullivan. They were married September 9, 1916 in the Minot Presbyterian parsonage. They had only been married about two months when Jim's horse fell with him, breaking his leg and causing a lot of pain and inconvenience, Jim and Louise enjoyed neighbors and friends and spent many evenings visiting and playing cards or attending picnics and dances, One time some friends came to surprise Louise on her birthday and were caught by a sudden storm and had to spend the night. They enjoyed their home on the prarie but with a growing family and hard times. They were compelled to look for better opportunities. After several farming ventures, Jim settled into the job of a constuctioner. This was during the period of World War Two and his job of building defense projects took him to Idaho and Washington. After the war he settled down in Idaho to operate a small service station but his failing health soon made it necessary for him to retire.
Jim died Jan. 17, 1950 at the home of his daughter in Louisiana. The body was shipped back to Sanish for burial in the land he really called home with the friends he never forgot.
The Sullivan family has been unable to find any information on James Edward Sullivan and his parents James and Mary Sullivan in New York City. We are very interested in learning more about his Uncle Shehan and the family. If anyone has any information that will help us find this family please e-mail Kathy Hamaker. Thank you very much for any help.
Family stories say that James Sullivan was burned in The Blizzard Fire of 1889. It is also possible that it could have been during "The Blizzard Storm of 1888". There were many fires in New York City during this storm. If anyone has any more information concerning a Blizzard Fire or the Blizzard Storm of 1888 please contact Kathy Hamaker. Thank you very much for any help.
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