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Manuscripts by Subject - Transportation - #10542

Title: Edward E. Heerman           

Dates: 1854-1984

Collection Number:  MSS 10542

Quantity: 13.5 feet, microfilm roll #4279

Abstract: Papers consist of minutes, correspondence, subject files, diaries, legal documents, steamboat ledgers, financial documents, scrapbooks of reminiscences and histories, printed material and photographs. The collection includes the papers of Edward E. Heerman, his daughter, Minnie (Heerman) Naugle, and Minnie’s daughter Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse. Material belonging to Minnie’s brother Elbert E. Heerman, son Heerman Naugle, and husband E. E. Naugle are also in the collection, but only to the extent that they were collected and saved by E. E., Minnie, and/or Halicia. Halicia conducted extensive genealogical research and studied her grandfather’s papers with the goal of writing a biography of Heerman to fulfill the promise that she had made to him. A seven page manuscript in the collection, written by Whitehouse, has been scanned and transcribed, but her book was apparently never completed. Her notes for this book can be found throughout the collection. MSS 20481 was added to the collection in July 2012.

Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota purchased the E. E. Heerman Papers from Judith Drouillard in March 1990. E. E. Heerman’s granddaughter Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse bequeathed the papers to Drouillard. The collection was processed, and the finding aid created by Emily Schultz in June 2012.
               
Property Rights:  The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
               
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs.  Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.  
               
Access:  This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
               
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.       

Transfer: Photographs transferred to photo archives. Publications transferred to publication collection. Please see case file for details.

Related Collections: Edward E. Heerman papers, 1855-1929 (Minnesota Historical Society Manuscript Collection Call #s ALPHA and A/.H459

Related Photograph Collections:              
2010-P-010 Edward E. Heerman Collection
C0333 Heerman, Edward E. (Capt.)
C3064 Heerman, Edward E.

Related Museum Artifacts:         
1978.00043          Gavel from the Minnie H
1978.0009            Anchor from the Minnie H
1981.00071.00001 Steamboat fragment, Minnie H Plank
1981.00071.00002 Steamboat fragment, Minnie H Plank
04759.A                Gavel – rudder of the Minnie H and Block
04759.B                Gavel base
7033                       Steering Wheel of the Minnie H
10879                    Oil portrait of Captain Edward Heerman
11234.A                Certificate of Achievement, Heerman’s Devils Lake Line
11234.B                Picture frame with glass for 11234.A

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
“Captain Heerman and the Minnie H”
Halicia Naugle

“The building of the steamboat Minnie H on the shores of Devils Lake was something of an epic in the history of the Midwest. In 1882-1883 the country was still almost a wilderness, opened to white settlement only the year previous, with no organized county, townships, or villages, and little or no shelter of protection except for the military post at Fort Totten.

Captain Edward Edson Heerman, born in Vermont, April 18, 1834, was at the age of 16 already launched on a career of steam boating. At 19 he had full charge of a side wheel steamer on the Mississippi River. His later steamboat business operations extended from Reads Landing, Minnesota, to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on the Chippewa River; from St. Louis to St. Paul on the Mississippi River; and on the Missouri River from St. Louis, Missouri, through the states of Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and as far as Fort Benton, Montana. Almost all of his boats were named in one way or another for his only daughter, Minnietta Heerman, later Mrs. Minnie Heerman Naugle of Devils Lake.

The coming of the railroads spelled doom for steamboat traffic on the rivers. In search of a new location, Captain Heerman, then forty-eight years old, came to the shores of Devils Lake November 2, 1882, and spent five days investigating the region.

‘Devils Lake was then a beautiful body of water, fringed with timber. I examined the soil and believed I had found an empire of undeveloped resources.’* At that time Fort Totten received its mail and provisions chiefly by overland haul from Jamestown – after the Northern Pacific reached that city. Prior to that time, all provisions had been hauled from St. Cloud. When the Great Northern was built, Captain Heerman foresaw the completion of the last link between Fort Totten and the outside world. ‘It would have been a drawback in the building up of this country without boats on the lake.’ *

Designing his own model of the Minnie H, he commissioned a boatyard on the Mississippi to cut and prepare timbers and woodwork. Mr. James J. Hill of the Great Northern was looking for business and settlers and did everything he could to advance the building of the boat. He informed the captain that if his material could be in Larimore early in December that it would be sent on to Bartlett as soon as the grade was constructed. Fourteen carloads of material were then under way. Part of the shipment reached Bartlett, while the remainder of it was left at Larimore. From these points the lumber and machinery were hauled by team and sled, at great expense, to the building place on the shore of Devils Lake in what is now known as Lakewood. One carload of material just disappeared, including the timbers for the rudder. Captain Heerman went into the woods adjoining the lake and cut native oak trees, trimming and shaping them for the rudder.

Difficulties and hardships were almost unbelievable. The first ton of hay cost $45; other things were in proportion. Cold and wind made construction of shelter very difficult, sometimes requiring one man to hold a board and one to nail it. Temperatures ranged from -25° to -50°. Nine span of horses and eleven days were required to haul the boiler from Bartlett to the boatyard. One night the captain sought food and shelter in one cabin on the way. The lady welcomed him, saying she had already fed ninety men and was then opening her third can of peas! Securing mail was a great problem. After waiting two months for word from home, he enclosed in a letter an envelope addressed to himself as follows: ‘To Captain E. E. Heerman, Devils Lake, Dakota Territory, fifteen miles north of Fort Totten, near the North Pole, just this side of Hell.’ He got the letter.

The Minnie H was completed and launched in May, 1883, and made her first official trip on the Fourth of July to meet the first passenger train [end p.2] into Devils Lake.

She was 110 feet in length and about 20 feet across. She drew three and one half feet of water. She was a 100 ton burden and could carry 500 passengers. For years during the two weeks of Chautauqua Season, she often carried as much as 1400 tons of freight and 3000 passengers to Fort Totten and other points of interest on the lake. Over a period of many years, Captain Heerman held exclusively the mail contract to the Fort. Later, two other smaller boats, the Rock Island and the Maria Theresa were added to handle the traffic.

The Minnie H was in operation on Devils Lake every summer from July 4, 1883, until the fall of 1908. Lack of business and the receding shore line made it necessary for the boats to be dry-docked. They have never been moved since and lie now like a pile of bones in the pasture of the Belcher farm south of the city of Devils Lake.

Captain Heerman often remarked that he would present to the first native-born governor of North Dakota a gavel made out of the native oak rudder. Former Governor George Shafer was the first to quality for this award and received his gavel while in office.

Interest in diversion of fresh water into Devils Lake has been of long standing. Captain Heerman originated a survey of diversion of the Mouse River into Devils Lake. Army engineers pronounced the revenue insufficient to warrant the expense of such a project. Captain Heerman, Frank Palmer, and others prominent in the Lake Region did all they could to promote the diversion of the Missouri River. In his later years, with the revival of interest in the project, Captain Heerman had gavels made out of this same native oak rudder and through the kind efforts of Sivert Thompson of Devils Lake had them presented to the President of the United States, the Speakers of the House and the Senate, and others who might be [end p.3] interested in diversion.

Since that time most of the material has been used for gavels and presented to various personages and institutions more for the reason of sentiment. The whistle form the steamer blows several times each day at the School for the Deaf in Devils Lake. The pilot wheel may be viewed at the State Historical Society Building in Bismarck. The pilot house is in the yard at the home of Mrs. Naugle, and the old lettering of the name is still visible. The flagstaff is in the yard with the cabin museums at the Fort. In the Governor’s cabin, just completed at Camp Grafton by Custodian Captain Phil Christopherson, are furnishing s made in part or in full from timber taken this winter from the hull of the Minnie H.

Captain Heerman passed away in October 1929 at the age of 95. It was indeed a satisfaction to him that his boats attracted tourists and settlers, helped them find locations, provided many of them with a means of earning a living, and were a great aid in opening up the Lake Region to settlement. In a total of fifty-nine years of steam boating, Captain Heerman’s record shows no serious injury to passengers and not one loss of life. His story is one of hardship and endurance, ingenuity and skill, courage and faith. The very timbers now in use in the Governor’s cabin might, in a sense, be symbolic in their strength, endurance, service, and beauty of the contribution of the pioneers of our state. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should ‘honor the past as an inspiration for the future.’” [end p.4]

 * Captain Heerman’s personal records.

Primarily from Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse’s letter to her grandson Anthony, Christmas 1983

Edward Edson Heerman was born near Salem Pond, Vermont, April 18, 1834, the tenth child of fourteen born to Timothy and Amelia (Barter) Heerman. Amelia was the daughter of Robert Barter Jr. and Phoebe Heath.  Timothy was the son of Frederick William Heerman and Sally Priest.

When E. E. Heerman was a young boy, his family moved by horse-drawn wagon to Pennsylvania; a few years later, they moved on to Ohio. There he saw his first river steamboat, on which the family steamed down the Ohio River to St. Louis, Missouri, where they boarded another steamer to take them north up the Mississippi River. They settled in Burlington, Iowa, close to the river.

E. E. Heerman married Halicia Hanna November 10, 1856. Halicia was the daughter of William and Mary (Flack) Hanna, born on April 7, 1828. E. E. and Halicia had three children: Elbert E. (born January 6, 1859), Willie, and Minnietta (Minnie Etta) (born August 30, 1864). Willie died of typhoid at a young age, and Halicia also died of typhoid October 20, 1866 when Minnie was two years old. According to family members, Elbert, the oldest, was beaten and abused by an unknown roustabout, became insane, spent time in the Minnesota Hospital for the Insane and escaped March 10, 1885 and disappeared [a man surfaced in Oklahoma, later Idaho, claiming to be Elbert Heerman].

Because Heerman had to be on the river most of the time, his daughter Minnie was cared for by relatives near Hastings, Minnesota. When he knew he would be steaming up the river past their home, he would send word for her to stand on the tall river bluff near their home so that he could at least see her and then blow several blasts on the whistle to let her know that he saw her wave to him. When Minnie was about 12, they rented some rooms in a home in Read’s Landing, Minnesota, and friend helped Minnie learn how to “keep house” for her father.

Minnie married Edward Emanuel Naugle in September 1900 and they had two children, Heerman John Naugle (born September 1, 1901, died November 1969) and Halicia Amelia Naugle (born August 14, 1905, died July 1984). The family lived near Chicago. Edward Emanuel died June 21, 1905 in a railroad accident, just two months after the birth of Halicia. After his death, Minnie, Heerman and Halicia moved to Devils Lake with E. E. Heerman. Minnie H. Naugle passed away May 15, 1946 in Jamestown, ND, and was buried with her father in Devils Lake.

Heerman Naugle married Myrtle Thompson in 1922 and had one daughter, Dorothy Alice Naugle, born 1923, formerly Director of Nursing at the Veterans’ Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

Halicia Naugle graduated from Devils Lake Central High School in 1923 and from Carleton College in 1927. She then taught high school English for 43 years in Hettinger, ND, Fergus Falls, MN, Devils Lake, and Loveland, CO. She married Howard Parker Lincoln Whitehouse (born December 12, 1889 in Cherokee County, Iowa) on February 15, 1943 in Hastings, MN. The couple lived in Devils Lake for a period, where they had two children, Robert Parker and Richard Edson Heerman Whitehouse. Robert was born June 26, 1944 and Richard was born March 11, 1947. The family moved to Loveland, CO. Howard Whitehouse passed away September 6, 1976 in Loveland, Colorado.

Richard was a machinist in Fort Collins, CO.  Robert married Melody Jane Savage February 14, 1970. They had three children: Anthony (born July 16, 1972), Sabrina, (born September 24, 1975) and Bonnie Leigh (born August 17, 1979). Bob had his doctorate in psychology and taught in the psychology department of CO Mountain College, Glenwood Springs, CO. Melody was also a teacher.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The E. E. Heerman Papers date from 1854 to 1984 and occupy 13.5 feet. The papers are divided into ten series: Minutes, Correspondence, Subject Files, Diaries, Legal Documents, Steamboat Ledgers, Financial Documents, Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Materials, Printed Material, and Photographs.

Series I, Minutes, consists of minutes from the January 20, 1875, meeting of the Reads Landing Village Board and minutes from several 1901 meetings of the Devils Lake City Council. According to another document in the collection, Heerman served as Mayor of Devils Lake in 1899 (box 2, folder 18). Heerman could have been involved with the City Council because of his past service as Mayor, or because of the construction of the Pelican Point Bridge. The City Council minutes in the Series deal primarily with the construction of the bridge and include a contract between the city and Wicanhpiwakan (resident of Fort Totten Indian Reservation). The Reads Landing minutes are in good physical condition, but the Devils Lake minutes are fragile and in poor condition. One folder of material.

Series II, Correspondence, dates from 1871-1957, and includes correspondence of E. E. Heerman, Minnie Heerman (Naugle), Heerman John Naugle and Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse. The Series measures approximately one-half foot and is arranged chronologically.

Most of the correspondence relates to E. E. Heerman’s businesses. In general, the important business related correspondence can be found in the late spring and early fall for each year, when Heerman was preparing for, or wrapping up, the steamboat season.  Subjects covered in the correspondence include: the construction of the Minnie H., advertising, the steam boating business on Chippewa River and Devils Lake, finances, legal issues, titles to town sites, the organization of Benson County and various business projects that Heerman was involved in, including farmland and rental properties. Some of the correspondence is to family members, especially E. E.’s brothers. The correspondence is in varying degrees of fragile condition and should be handled with care, and photocopies should be created and used when possible. There are gaps in the sequence of correspondence, with no correspondence during the years 1876, 1889, 1893, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1915, 1924, 1930, 1933, 1935-1937, 1940 and 1940-1956.

The first folder in the series pertains to E. E.’s son Elbert, containing correspondence from Elbert, about Elbert, or with doctors from the two hospitals where Elbert was institutionalized. This folder of correspondence details Elbert’s illness, his time at the institutions, escape, E. E.’s efforts to find his son, and the emergence of a man living in Idaho claiming to be Elbert. The Shahan family correspondence relates to E. E. Heerman’s involvement in the Shahan family farm and interest payments to family members. Correspondence relating to Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse’s genealogical research is filed with the genealogical information in Series III. Several miscellaneous pieces of correspondence by Halicia, Heerman and Minnie Naugle are filed in the Series, but the Series is primarily comprised of E. E.’s correspondence.

Series III, Subject files, dates from 1921 to 1984 and measures about three-fourths of one foot. The series includes subject files about Minnie, Heerman and Halicia Naugle, although the majority of the files relate to Halicia. The bulk of the series is comprised of genealogical research compiled by Halicia on the Heerman family, which also includes the names Barter, Creese, Perry, Hanna, Beulah Hudson and Whitehouse.

An attempt was made to maintain the original order of the genealogical material as created by Halicia; as a result, the record series is loosely arranged (mostly by family name), although all of the material is related because the family trees include Halicia. So some digging might be required to find information about specific individuals within the families.

It was nearly impossible to organize and separate Halicia’s genealogical research and notes and writings for her book, as they are so closely intertwined. Groupings of similar material were loosely organized, but it will take a discerning eye and some time on the part of the researcher to find specific items of interest. The collection was received in such disarray, since several individuals – E. E. Heerman, Minnie Naugle, Halicia Whitehouse, and likely others – had used it for their own personal research, had perused it, and/or added material of their own.

The series also includes important histories and manuscripts about E. E. Heerman and the Minnie H. by Heerman Naugle and Halicia, Halicia’s correspondence with the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) about E. E. Heerman records in their holdings and the possibility of donating the Heerman papers to the MHS, files about the 1976 Chautauqua, Devils Lake High school reunion (1976), a genealogical workshop she participated in at Winona State University (1979), the Devils Lake Centennial (1983) and Halicia’s continuing education (1984).
Finally, the subject files include a short reminiscence by Minnie about her first ride on the Minnie H. and her memorial and obituary, and miscellaneous schoolwork and insurance information that belonged to Heerman.

Series IV, Diaries, dates from 1877 to 1942 and includes 36 diaries. The series measures about one-half foot and is arranged chronologically. 34 diaries belonged to E. E. (1877-1929) and detail his daily activities and also contain addresses. These diaries provide important insight into Heerman’s personal activities – and the work of a steam boat captain – across five decades. As a result, they have considerable research value. Minnie’s diary dates from 1931 and only contains a couple entries. Halicia’s diary from 1942 has notes about her activities from nearly every day.

Series V, Legal Documents, spans from 1874-1922 and measures a little over one-half foot plus oversize material. The Series includes legal documents which are filed alphabetically by last name or company name, relating to legal cases or land ownership issues that E. E. Heerman was involved in. The Series also includes information about Heerman’s patented invention, the Water Back Heater and Purifier, his inspector’s license to navigate steam vessels, notifications of elected offices, information about land owned, and Minnie’s legal documents relating to her husband’s estate, guardianship of their children, and miscellaneous legal documents. Oversize material is located in box 8.

Series VI, Steamboat Ledgers, 1878-1905, consists of ten steamboat ledgers in phase boxes, measuring about three feet. The ledgers are from Heerman’s Chippewa River Line and Heerman’s Devils Lake Line. Most of the ledgers are in fairly good condition for their age but need to be handled with care. Several have been damaged over the years. The ledgers document the passengers and freight that Heerman carried and the fees for services. They are of considerable research value, because they document product prices, passenger rates, traffic from Devils Lake to Fort Totten, and trips and passengers on the Chippewa River.

Series VII, Financial Documents, dates from ca. 1859-1950s and occupies about two feet. The Series includes receipts and statements that were removed from A-Z accordion files that are organized alphabetically by name of business or last name, three personal financial ledgers, three bank books, registers of arrivals and departures of steamers carrying mail, miscellaneous financial material, a weekly time book for contractors, employers and workmen, and several account books that belonged to Minnie and Edward Naugle.

Series VIII, Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Material, spans from 1878 to the 1920s and is the largest series in the collection, measuring 6 feet. The series is divided into three subseries: Scrapbooks, Loose material from scrapbooks, and Newspaper clippings. Throughout the series, there are a number of typed histories with handwritten notes by Heerman. It is unclear whether the articles were published in a book or newspaper and edited by Heerman, or if they were indeed his original stories and histories.

Subseries I is comprised of scrapbooks which contain reminiscences, logs, personal ledgers, typed articles, news clippings and printed material. This Subseries contains a book, “On the Missouri River, wood book from St. Paul to Fort Benton and return to Bismarck - 77 days out, 1880,” as well as scrapbooks with a variety of reminiscences and typed published articles about Chippewa River steamers and history, steamboat captains, politics, news, and Heerman’s experiences on Devils Lake and the Chippewa River. Several of the scrapbooks contain only news clippings about steamboats and news items. The series “The Life and Adventures of Captain Stephen B. Hanks” was also included in a scrapbook. The Subseries includes individual items that were probably intended to be included in the scrapbook, like a story about E. E. Heerman’s weeding day, information about the steamer Rolla, the poem “Have you Ever Heard of the Minnie H,” and other materials. Finally, a ledger kept by Minnie Heerman with schoolwork, recipes, news clippings, receipts, and accounting information is also located in the Subseries.    

Subseries II, Loose material from scrapbooks with reminiscences, is all of the loose material from Subseries I, put into folders.

Subseries III, Newspaper Clippings, consists of loose newspaper clippings about Heerman and the Minnie H, and many other topics. The clippings may have been saved to be included in the scrapbooks.

Series IX, Printed Material, dates from the 1870s to 1938 and consists of one folder of material plus oversized items. Family information of the Heerman and Naugle families includes pages from the family bible which document births, marriages, deaths, baptism and church membership information, and marriage certificates. The Series includes a variety of posters and broadsides from Chautauqua and July 4th events at Fort Totten, to which the Minnie H and other Heerman steamers provided transportation. Printed material from Heerman’s steamboat lines and steamers includes time cards for passengers, letterhead and blank invoice slips. Political printed material includes a broadside by the Independent-Democratic State Central Committee regarding railroad companies’ appeals to unionized railroad workers, and a variety miscellaneous material on the anti-red flag law, socialism, and a pamphlet for H. T. Helgesen. Organizational printed material includes supplements to the Read’s Landing Association constitution and by-laws, application for membership in the Pioneers Association of the Devils Lake Region. The Series includes printed advertisements for the “Triple Thermic Motor,” steam boilers, and household goods, the poem “The Call of Old Dakota Days,” miscellaneous letterhead, pages from books, booklets, leaflets, business cards, and a program from Devils Lake High School play.

Series X, Photographs, includes 36 images that date from about 1895 to 1979. The series measures about one-half foot. The photos include images of family members, friends and colleagues. Most of the photos were created or collected by Halicia Naugle in her quest for genealogical information. Individuals in the photographs include: Minnie Heerman, her cousins Nellie Louise and Mary Tirzah (May) Hanna, Heerman Naugle, Minnie (Heerman) Naugle, Anna Prang, Mrs. Frank Palmer, Nalicia (Naugle) Whitehouse, Francis X. Kirsch (editor and publisher of the Warwick Weekly Sentinel), Beula Emily Heerman Hudson, James Andrew Hudson Sr., Janet Hanna Jouvenat, Mary Purves, May Hanna Stoudt, Parker Whitehouse, Frank Stoudt, Halicia’s grandson Anthony, Helen Mary Stoudt Crawford, L. L. Row family, Alice Kay Starks, and Halicia Ann Starks. Also in the Series are post cards from tourist attractions in South Dakota, Colorado and Minnesota.

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Series I.                Minutes, 1875 and 1901, Box 1

Consists of minutes from a single meeting of the Reads Landing Village Board (January 20, 1875) and minutes from several meetings of the Devils Lake City Council (1901). Arranged in one folder.

Series II.               Correspondence, 1871-1957, Box 1

Includes correspondence of E. E. Heerman, Minnie Heerman (Naugle) and Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse. Primarily business and legal correspondence of E. E. Heerman.

Series III.             Subject Files, 1921-1984, Boxes 1-2

Consists of files of Minnie (Heerman) Naugle, Heerman Naugle, and Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse. Includes histories and manuscripts about E. E. Heerman and the Minnie H. by Heerman and Halicia, extensive genealogical information compiled by Halicia, Halicia’s correspondence with the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) about E. E. Heerman records in their holdings and possibly donating the Heerman papers to the MHS, and files about the 1976 Chautauqua, Devils Lake high school reunion (1976), Genealogical workshop at Winona State University (1979), the Devils Lake Centennial (1983) and continuing education (1984).

Series IV.             Diaries, 1877-1942, Box 2

Includes 36 diaries that belonged either to E. E., Minnie, or Halicia. E. E.’s diaries
are very complete, and document his daily activities for about five decades.

Series V.              Legal Documents, 1874-1922, Boxes 2-3 and oversize in Box 8

Includes legal documents are filed alphabetically by last name or company name, relating to legal cases or land ownership issues that Heerman was involved in. Miscellaneous legal files of E. E. and Minnie.

Series VI.             Steamboat Ledgers, 1878-1905, phase boxes

Ten ledgers of freight and passenger information from Heerman’s Chippewa River
Line and Devils Lake Lines.

Series VII.            Financial Documents, ca. 1859-1950s, Box 4 and phase boxes

Includes a variety personal and business receipts, ledgers, account books and information of E. E. Heerman, Minnie and Edward Naugle. 

Series VIII.          Scrapbooks and Scrapbook Material, 1878-1920s, Boxes 5-6 and phase boxes

Includes three Subseries: Scrapbooks, Loose material from scrapbooks, and Newspaper clippings. Scrapbooks include reminiscences, correspondence, typed articles from newspapers and publications, clippings, and printed material.

Series XI.             Printed Material, 1870s-1938, Box 6 and oversize in Box 8

Includes family information such as a wedding announcement and birth, death and marriage information; broadsides from Fort Totten and Devils Lake events; printed material from Heerman’s steamboat lines and steamers; political material; organizational material; advertisements and information about steamboat products and miscellaneous household goods; poetry; letterhead; booklets; leaflets; business cards; and a program from Devils Lake High School play.

Series X.               Photographs, ca. 1895-1979, Box 7

36 images of Heerman family members and relatives, and post cards of tourist attractions in South Dakota, Colorado and Minnesota.

BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY

Series I.                Minutes
Box 1:
1 Reads Landing village board minutes, 1875; Devils Lake City Council meeting minutes, 1901

Series II.               Correspondence
2 Correspondence from/about Elbert Heerman, ca. 1871-1932
3 Correspondence, 1874-1879
4 Correspondence, Shahan family, 1874-1875
5 Correspondence, 1880-1883
6 Correspondence, 1884
7  Correspondence, 1885
8  Correspondence, 1886
9  Correspondence, 1886
10 Correspondence, 1887-1899
11 Correspondence, 1902-1905
12 Correspondence, Edgar LaRue (Secretary of ND Chautauqua), 1902-1909
13 Correspondence, 1906-1909
14 Correspondence, 1910-1919
15 Correspondence and mailings from oil companies, 1919-1920
16 Correspondence, 1920-1929
17 Correspondence, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1957
18  Correspondence, n.d.

Series III.             Subject files
19 Minnie (Heerman) Naugle reminiscence and memorial book, memorial gifts, and obituaries, 1946 and n.d.
20 Heerman J. Naugle miscellaneous schoolwork, insurance card and policy, 1921-1924
21 “The Story of the Steamer ‘Minnie H.’” by Heerman J. Naugle manuscript, published ca. 1958
22 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse miscellaneous news clipping, invitation to Devils Lake Diamond Jubilee, Fort Totten Little Theatre program, Summerthing Chautauqua program, flyers and programs relating to Halicia’s son Dr. Bob Whitehouse, 1925-1984
23 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse manuscripts and notes for book on Heerman and the Minnie H., 1950s-1980s
24 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse genealogical information, Heerman (and Creese, Barter), ca. 1983
25 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse genealogical information, Heerman (continued), ca. 1980s
26 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse genealogical information, Heerman to Perry
27 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse genealogical information, Hanna (E. E. Heerman’s wife’s family) 

Box 2:
1 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse genealogical information, Beulah Hudson
2 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse genealogical information, Whitehouse (including autobiography of Howard Parker Lincoln Whitehouse)
3 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse genealogical information, miscellaneous, ca. 1980s
4 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse, Minnesota Historical Society, 1970s
5 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse Chautaqua 1976 and high school reunion
6 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse Genealogical workshop, Winona State University, 1979
7 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse Devils Lake centennial, 1983
8 Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse continuing education, 1984

Series IV.             Diaries
9 E. E. Heerman diaries (6), 1877, 1878, 1881-1882, 1884, 1886
10 E. E. Heerman diaries (6), 1887-1890, 1893-1894
11 E. E. Heerman diaries (6), 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1905
12 E. E. Heerman diaries (8), 1908, 1910, 1911, 1913-1914, 1916-1918
13 E. E. Heerman diaries (8), 1920-1924, 1926, 1927, 1929
14 Minnie Naugle diary/day book, 1931
15 Halicia Naugle diary/day book, 1942  

Series V.              Legal Documents
16 Application to the Board of Supervising inspectors of steamboats regarding the Heerman and Smith Water Back Heater and Purifier, February 5, 1880
17 Inspector’s license, E. E. Heerman skillful master of steam vessels and can be entrusted to perform duties upon the waters of Mississippi River and Chippewa Rivers, February 15, 1897
18 Elected offices (Alderman 1st ward, 1896 and Mayor, 1899)
19 Booklet of land owned by E. E. Heerman
20 Notes from unidentified E. E. Heerman legal case

Legal Documents, A-Z and Minnie Heerman Legal Documents

Box 3:
1 Aldrich, 1918-1930
2 Complaint vs. the Beef Slough Manufacturing Booming Log Driving and Transportation Company, et. al, ca. 1874           
3 Bell, 1900
4 Bradley, 1883-1905
5 Brown, 1884
6 Buisson, 1892-1894
7 Burris, 1886
8 Dakota County (MN), 1867
9 Devils Lake Chautauqua Association, 1892-1895
10 Dumerce, 1883
11 Dussche, 1883
12 Egan (Duluth, MN), 1887
13 Grant, 1895
14 Hanna, 1902
15 Heerman, Moses, 1884
16 Hopkins, 1884
17 Huffman, 1914
18 Hughes, 1903
19 Judd, 1899
20 Mission Township, Benson County, organization and petition for a road, 1912-1913
21 Mohler, 1874
22 Morris, 1885-1888
23 Naugle, Edward E. estate, 1910
24 Nelson, 1895
25 Oak Forest cemetery, 1940
26 Oleson, 1874
27 Pitcher, 1918
28 Prentis (Prentice) estate, 1880-1888
29 Rae, 1884-1897
30 Rasmussen, 1897
31 Rolfe, 1914
32 Smith,  1877, 1909
33 Stansbury, 1932
34 Steamer Union, et. al, 1875
35 Taylor, 1874
36 Thompson, 1897, 1908
37 True, 1883-1899
38 United States vs. E. E. Heerman, 1915
39 “Water back heater” patent, 1877-1879
40 Wilbur, 1884-1912
41 Life insurance, 1872
42 Blank forms, n.d.
43 Unsigned documents, 1917 & n.d.
44 Miscellaneous, 1854-1915
45 Minnie H. Naugle guardianship of children and Edward Naugle estate, ca. 1917-1932
46 Minnie (Heerman) Naugle legal documents, miscellaneous, 1922-1930

Series VI.             Steamboat Ledgers
(phase box)        Steamboat ledger, 1878-1894
(phase box)        Heerman’s Chippewa River Line freight log, May 9, 1882-June 15, 1899
(phase box)        Heerman’s Chippewa River Line freight log, June 20, 1882-May 22, 1885
(phase box)        Devils Lake Line Steamboat ledger, 1882-1905
(phase box)        Heerman’s Devils Lake line freight log, June 26, 1885-May 4, 1891
(phase box)        Devils Lake Line Steamboat ledger, 1887
(phase box)        Devils Lake Line Steamboat ledger, 1888
(phase box)        Steamboat ledger, 1892-1895
(phase box)        Steamboat ledger, 1896-1898
(phase box)        Steamboat ledger, 1898-1901                    
                               
Series VII.            Financial Documents

Box 4:
1 Three bank books, First National Bank, Devils Lake (ND), 1890-1913
2 A-Z receipts, A
3 A-Z receipts, B
4  A-Z receipts, C
5  A-Z receipts, D
6  A-Z receipts, E-F
7 A-Z receipts, G-H
8 A-Z receipts, I-J
9  A-Z receipts, K-L
10  A-Z receipts, Morrong, Joseph H. (caretaker of house in St. Paul), 1887-1891
11 A-Z receipts, M
12  A-Z receipts, N
13 A-Z receipts, O-P
14  A-Z receipts, Q-R
15  A-Z receipts, S
16  A-Z receipts, T
17  A-Z receipts, U, V, W
18 A-Z receipts, X, Y, Z
19  Miscellaneous financial
20 Register of arrivals and departures (steamboats carrying mail), 1884
21 Weekly time book for contractors, employers and workmen, 1908
22 Minnie and Edward Naugle account books, 1904-1937
                 
(phase box)        E. E. Heerman financial ledger, 1889-1917
(phase box)        Minnie H. Naugle financial ledger, 1902-1924
(phase box)        Minnie Naugle (and E. E. Heerman) financial ledger, 1909-1927
               
Series VIII.          Scrapbooks

                                Subseries I. Scrapbooks
Box 5:
1 Scrapbook of typed articles and reminiscences about steam boating on the Chippewa River, compiled ca. 1920s
2 Scrapbook of typed articles and reminiscences about steam boating and steamboat captains on the Chippewa River, compiled ca. 1920s
3 Scrapbook of typed articles and reminiscences about steam boating and steamboat captains on the Chippewa River, compiled ca. 1920s (continued)
4 Loose typed articles and reminiscences about steam boating and steamboat captains on the Chippewa River, compiled ca. 1920s (continued)
5 Loose reminiscences, correspondence, typed articles, news clippings about steamboats, material added by either Minnie, Halicia or Heerman Naugle
6 Loose reminiscences, correspondence, typed articles, news clippings about steamboats, material added by either Minnie, Halicia or Heerman Naugle (continued)
7 Loose pages from reminiscences
8 Loose typed steamboat histories, news articles
9 Notes from Major Farquhar’s report dated December 28, 1878
10 “Have you ever heard of the Minnie H.”
11 “E. E. Heerman’s wedding day”
12 Rumsey’s Chippewa River line
13 Steamer Rolla
14 Miscellaneous:  sketch of water gauge, booklet with names of steamboat captains, drawings and invitations

(phase box)        On the Missouri River, wood book from St. Paul to Fort Benton and return to Bismarck - 77 days out, 1880
(phase box)        Reminiscences, Chippewa River steamers and history, captains, biographical, and miscellaneous news clippings, compiled ca. 1920s
(phase box)        Reminiscences, Chippewa River steamers and history, miscellaneous news clippings, compiled ca. 1920s
(phase box)        Reminiscences, Chippewa River history, steamboats and captains on the Chippewa, historical news clippings (Rivers, politics, transportation, steamboats, biographical), compiled ca. 1920s
(phase box)        Minnie Heerman ledger - Schoolwork, recipes, clippings, receipts and accounting, 1880s-1920s
(phase box)        News clippings: steamboats, news items, 1883-1909
(phase box)        News clippings: steamboats, news items, ca. 1910s
(phase box)        News clippings: steamboats, news items, ca. 1910s
(phase box)        News clippings: steamboats, news items, 1911-1917
(phase box)        News clippings: steamboats, news items, historical, 1918-1920s
(phase box)         “The Life and Adventures of Capt. Stephen B. Hanks” articles, 1920s

Subseries II. Loose material from scrapbooks
15 Loose from reminiscences, Chippewa River steamers and history, miscellaneous news clippings, compiled ca. 1920s
16 Loose from reminiscences, Chippewa River history, steamboats and captains on the Chippewa, historical news clippings (Rivers, politics, transportation, steamboats, biographical), compiled ca. 1920s
17 Loose from news clippings: steamboats, news items, 1883-1909
18 News clippings: steamboats, news items, ca. 1910s
19 Loose from news clippings: steamboats, news items, 1911-1917
20 Loose from news clippings: steamboats, news items, historical, 1918-1920s

                                Subseries III. Newspaper clippings
21 Miscellaneous news clippings, probably intended to be included in scrapbook
22 Miscellaneous news clippings (continued)
23 Published articles and news clippings
24 News clippings

Box 6:
1 Articles and news clippings about Heerman and the Minnie H
 
Series IX.             Printed Material 
2 Pages from the Heerman’s family bible: births (Sarah Charlotte Naugle, Ruth Aleen Naugle, Edward Emmanuel Naugle [Sarah, Ruth and Edward were from Edward’s first marriage], Heerman John Naugle, and Halicia Amelia Naugle), marriages (Edward E. Naugle and Minnie E. Heerman), deaths (Allie Royce Naugle, Edward Emmanuel Naugle, Minnie Heerman Naugle, and Heerman John Naugle) and information about baptisms and church memberships
2 Edward E. Naugle and Allie E. Royce marriage certificate, August 15, 1888
2 Broadside for July 4th Fort Totten Indian Celebration, transportation provided by the Minnie H.
2 Steamers Time Card, Minnie H. and Rock Island
2 Letterhead and blank invoice slips, Heerman’s Chippewa River Line and Heerman’s Devils Lake Line Steamers, 1870s-1900s
2 Read’s Landing Association supplements to the association’s constitution and by-laws, ca. 1910 and 1912
2 Application for membership in the Pioneers Association of the Devils Lake Region, February 10, 1911
2 Pages from book with images of Chippewa and Mississippi River steamers and captains
2 Illustration and information about “The Triple Thermic Motor” and steam boilers
2 “The Call of Old Dakota Days,” F. E. Farrell, Territorial of 1882
2 “Chronological and other valuable tables: designed to promote and facilitate the study of the sacred scriptures”
2 Ledger from The Tribune, 1904
2 National Correspondence Institute booklet, 1896
2 Miscellaneous government leaflets (Internal Revenue Service, Department of Agriculture, and Printing Services)
2 Miscellaneous advertisements
2 Miscellaneous political printed material (anti-red flag law, socialism, H. T. Helgesen)
2 Wedding announcement, Minnie Heerman and Edward Naugle, September 19, 1900
2 E. E. Naugle Company (Omaha, NE) business card        
2 Program from the Junior class of the Devils Lake High School performance of “Growing Pains,” 1938

Series X.               Photographs
Box 7:
10542-01              Portrait of Minnie Heerman with cousins Nellie Louise and Mary Tirzah (May) Hanna. Nellie was born December 25, 1871 and died August 12, 1954. Mary was born December 18, 1879 and married Frank L. Stoudt October 25, 1905. They were the children of Jerome and Julia (Browning) Hanna
10542-02              Nellie Hanna portrait, ca. 1895
10542-03              Minnie Heerman Naugle, Heerman Naugle, Anna Prang, Mrs. Frank Palmer and Halicia Naugle, ca. 1910
10542-04              Unidentified residence (Hanna or Heerman?)
10542-05              Halicia Naugle portrait, ca. 1930
10542-06              Halicia Naugle portrait, ca. 1940
10542-07              Ed (last name unknown( in row boat), before 1929
10542-08              Post card: Francis X. Kirsch, Editor and Publisher Warwick Weekly Sentinel, ca. 1911-1919
10542-09              Probably Halicia (Naugle) Whitehouse with unidentified woman, ca. 1970s
10542-10              Beula Emily Heerman Hudson and James Andrew Hudson Sr., 1981
10542-11              Cousin Janet Hanna Jouvenat (?), Lincoln, NE, 1974
10542-12              Cousin Janet Hanna Jouvenal (?), Lincoln, NE, 1974
10542-13              (copy) Mary Purves portrait, wife of John Hanna
10542-14              May Hanna Stoudt
10542-15              Halicia Naugle, Chautauqua, Devils Lake, ca. 1911
10542-16              Parker Whitehouse and May Hanna Stoudt, Aberdeen, SD, ca. 1972
10542-17              Frank and May Hanna Stoudt, October 1967 (at Jerome’s)
10542-18              Mary Hanna Stoudt, Parker Whitehouse, Helen Mary Stoudt Crawford of Yuma, AZ, 1972
10542-19              Mary Hanna Stoudt and Helen Mary Stoudt Crawford of Yuma, AZ, 1972
10542-20              Anthony (Halicia’s grandson), December 1976
10542-21              The L. L. Row family, Devils Lake, January 1979
10542-22              Alice Kay Starks, age 10 and Halicia Ann Starks, age 5, on their horse named “Squire” 1954
10542-23              Unidentified home
10542-24-27        Unidentified wedding and family photos
10542-28              Post card - “Buffalo roam as of old in Custer State Park,” SD
10542-29              Post card – “Grave of ‘Buffalo Bill’ on Lookout Mountain, Colorado”
10542-30              Post card – Buffalo in Hot Springs National Park, SD
10542-31              Post card – “Bares repeating…a ‘Hearty’ Hello!”
10542-32              Post card – Facilities at Glenwood Springs, Co
10542-33              Post card – Pueblo of Red Rock Park, near Denver, CO
10542-34              Post card – Mount Rushmore, SD
10542-35              Post card – Cave of the winds, Manitou Springs, Co
10542-36              Post card – Main Street looking north-west, Wabasha, MN
(loose)                  drawing of E. E. Heerman property and surrounding properties (was located with photographs), probably Hastings, MN
10542-00067 Edward E. Heerman portrait circa 1865
10542-00068 Steamer Minnie H underway on Devils Lake 1883-1908

Oversized           
Box 8:
-              Tacandutawin (of Devils Lake Reservation) certificate of land allotment from the General Land Office, April 10, 1893 (Series V.)
-              Certificate of corporate existence, Heerman’s Devils Lake Line of Steamboats (Heerman, Albert M. Powell and George W. Mooers), July 1st, 1903 (Series V.)
-              Plat map of township 24 North Range 14W with notes and writing by Heerman (Series V.)
-              Plat map township 65 North Range 3W with notes and writing by Heerman (Series V.)
-              Plat map township 66 W Range 5W with notes and writing by Heerman (Series V.)
-              Plat map township 66 W Range 5W with notes and writing by Heerman (Series V.)
-              Broadside advertisement for an Indian celebration of the 4th of July at Fort Totten, Steamers Minnie H. and Rock Island providing round trip transportation (Series IX.)
-              Broadside advertisement for an excursion to Graham’s Island on the Steamer Minnie H (Series IX.)
-              Broadside advertisement for Grand Parade and Sham battle at Fort Totten, July 4th, Minnie H. providing transportation from Chautaqua grounds at Devils Lake to Fort Totten and back (Series IX.)
-              Broadside, “A Gigantic Fraud Exposed” by the Independent-Democratic State Central Committee, exposing deceit by railroad companies to working and unionized men, Finley Grant and E. C. Carruth, 1896 (Series IX.)

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