From: A History of Ambrose, by
Delroy J. Gorecki, State Teachers College, Minot, ND Up from the old lake bottom sprang a little town, surrounded by the endless rolling hills of maiden prairie, and settled by a strongly determined people. The settler, poor and sometimes weary, but hardy and full of hope, slowly conquered the unbroken sod, the unpredictable weather and the unforeseen enemies of domesticated grain. The town of Ambrose became a right lively community with community-minded citizens. But then a whole chain of events began to change the entire picture, and the flower amidst the prairie and newly broken sod began to wilt, despite the desperate attempts of its citizens to nurture it to full bloom and a long life.
In summing up the history of Ambrose it might be well to point out that Ambrose was one of the last pioneer towns of the old west. Established in 1906 and being at the end of the railroad until 1913 its citizens saw the settlement of a vast agricultural country and with it all the trials and tribulations of a newly settled area. The people saw a transition from ranching to farming. Much of the first breaking of the sod was done with oxen. Besides being aware of the rewards and feeling of achievement that comes with settling new land, these people were aware of the greed and graft practiced by a few. Many tell of how some men specialized in filing contests and protesting proofs. They would search for flaws in the homesteaders’ proceedings and then agree to keep quiet for a price. Sometimes the flaws actually existed, but often as not these men bluffed the homesteader and collected a price to remain quiet. Optimism was high in the early days. Success came easy for many and hard for others. The people were young and life was before them. But with the extending of the railroad, the glory that was once Ambrose faded. The Queen City was no longer a queen city. The farmers to the west no longer needed to come to Ambrose for provisions or to market their crops. Fires wiped out large sections of the business district and these most often were not rebuilt. Ambrose became just one more small town on a branch line. The proud little city received another harsh blow when it lost the fight for the county seat. This could have given the town a lift and at least helped them to hold their own. But the passing years took their toll. The young men who settled the territory become much older. Many passed on. A large percentage left the area for other parts. A few of the original settlers remain. Most of the younger generation felt that the town offered no advantages to them and established themselves elsewhere. The dry years came and went. Drought destroyed many of the crops. The farmers suffered profit loss from hail, rust, hot winds, excess moisture and insects. Recent years have brought the farmers their share of profits and good farming conditions. There have been a few downs, especially in the last two years, but still those who remain feel that their faith in the country has been justified. With each passing year the old settlers and the young who can be induced to stay seem to stand straighter and smile broader. Their laugher is heartier and their steps lighter. These people continue to look to the future with a hope and courage that the first settlers had. Ambrose has never been a big town and perhaps it will become smaller. But the citizens still echo the pride of their forefathers in their QUEEN CITY.
From A History of Ambrose, by
Delroy J. Gorecki
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