Later in the spring the following notice appeared in the Big Sandy paper, along with a picture of the hospital.

By the end of the first year another nurse arrived from Washington, D. C., named Miss Simpson. Miss Ogle either had some help or she had moved on. Eventually a young woman named Annie went to work for Dr. Worstell. Annie came from Minnesota and got her nursing degree there. She moved first to Great Falls, then to Big Sandy after answering Gaylord’s advertisement for a nurse. Leah Dixon, Annie’s daughter-in-law, was librarian in Big Sandy in 1990 when she related a little bit about her. Annie was a nurse and midwife. She worked for Dr. Worstell until about 1917, when she married Mr. Dixon. Annie Dixon quit working for Gaylord after she got married, but continued to help when needed and to work as a midwife. She was called upon to deliver many babies. Leah Dixon remembered that Dr. Worstell used to open the windows and get the room cold for patients with pneumonia. “He knew that way back then, and they do that now,” she said.

Before the grand opening of the hospital, on January 5th, Dias’ notice to make final proof got published for a second time, testimony to be taken on January 12th. In his testimony on the 12th, he identified himself and reviewed his work on the homestead. In answer to the question, “Have you any personal property of any kind elsewhere than on this land?” he said he had “... personal property and household effects in a rental in town.” Final Proof was not completed when advertised; witness Christopher Jung was deposed on February 14, and witness Henry Mudd on the 17th. Dias had to make a deposition before Mr. Flint, U.S. Commissioner, to explain.

On February 20, 1914, Dias received his Certificate to Receive Patent for his land. On receipt of a patent, a homesteader could sell the land or mortgage it. That appeared to be the successful conclusion to the first Worstell homestead. Except that Dias had paid the necessary fees twice for having to apply for Final Proof twice, and he wanted a refund. Commission’s fee of $6.00 and Testimony fee of $2.25 were paid in 1913 and again in 1914. He applied to the Department of Interior, General Land Office in Washington, DC, which concurred, and in August the Department instructed the Receiver in Havre to return $6.00. He may have gotten his $6.00 but he didn’t receive his patent, and he wrote Havre to ask why not. His reply from Havre a year later, on February 2, 1915, was answered by a letter dated February 9 and delivered to Dias on March 10, and simply said they didn’t know, write Washington. On March 24, Schmidt Bros. & Greely, Inc., Farm Loans, wrote Washington saying they had an interest in (part of) this land and what is delaying the issuance of the patent? Washington replied they had issued the patent March 6, 1915, and mailed it to the Havre office on March 10th and that in order to secure the patents they, Schmidt Bros., should apply to the R & R at Havre. Presumably they did apply, because sometime over a year after Dias received the “certificate to receive the patent,” the loan office received the patent. Confusion may have arisen between the Certificate to Receive Patent and the Patent. The Havre land office may have been backlogged, or a little bureaucracy may have gotten in the way. Dias later sold his homestead to Dr. Everett Worstell, who sold it to Frank Worstell in February 1919.

Dias had a confectionery and evidently the Arbutus Pool Hall, as he sold these in January to Mr. A. C. Temple. He also advertised a relinquishment for sale. Information concerning the acquisition of this farm is not available. Dias and Bertha had each purchased residential lots in Big Sandy during 1913. During 1914, Dias added to these land holdings by purchasing a lot near the railroad water tank and one near the school. He also started construction on an implement shed for his business.

Frank’s progress toward his certificate to acquire patent went pretty much unimpeded. On April 4, 1914, he gave notice of intent to make proof. He gave the usual information and explained that he showed no residence for his wife since she had refused to reside in Big Sandy, and that she was self-supporting. He said his absences were to earn money to improve his claim, and that in 1914 he broke 12 acres, planted 20 acres of oats, 1 acre of potatoes and garden truck. Improvements were house 12' x 16', corral, stable, 3-wire fence with posts, hog house, chicken house 8' x 12'. He had purchased lumber for 16' x 32' house with basement, and 16' x 80' barn, and started a cistern. Gaylord testified on his behalf and said, “I have been back and forth past his place several times each month and have always seen him at home. I should say at least 50 times each year.” Frank promptly received his Certificate to Receive Patent dated the same day as the above testimony, May 16, 1914!

Frank had his heart in Verona and it seemed to have the makings of a nice little town. Frank’s homestead included railroad right-of-way and the town was platted next to the railroad on the homestead property. On July　2 the paper wrote about it.

Dr. Worstell was seldom active in politics but did serve on the city council and was elected to the school board by a write-in ballot campaign. Gaylord ran for Coroner on the Republican ticket about this time, but it’s unknown if he was successful. If we knew where the Republican Party stood on prostitution, we might know if Gaylord had been successful in his campaign, if we knew where Gaylord stood on prostitution. You will get the gist of this sentence with a little history of the prostitution business, or “the flesh pots of Big Sandy,” as called by some. Lou Lawrence writes in Pioneer Days, “The more conservative and religious business people, and settlers with wives and children didn’t look upon the turning of a card, the selling of sexual favors, or the dispensing of alcohol as legitimate professions.” He continues:

Dr. Worstell treated the residents of the red light district, or “ladies of the night,” as he did the rest of the townspeople. A few members of the community as well as some members of his own family thought that he took some of his pay in trade. (“Since he could no longer have sex with his wife,” some descendants said.) Not that the ladies couldn’t have paid the bills, as they were some of the town’s biggest spenders.

Gaylord made no distinction in quality of care among those he treated, whether prostitutes, sod busters, Indians, citizens, or non-citizens. Mr. Lawrence in his story above made it clear that “citizens” did not include wives, yet this time in 1914 was only months away from the time when Montana would grant full suffrage to women. The woman’s suffrage amendment to the Constitution did not become law nation-wide until 1920. September 5, 1915, Big Sandy had its first all woman jury for a case before the Justice of the Peace. Montana elected the first woman to the United States Congress in 1916. The newspaper pointed out at the time that all women registering to vote would be required to give their correct ages, “which will without a doubt, for a while work somewhat a hardship on the fair sex.” A year or so later the court in Havre would prosecute the first offender of the “lazy husband law.” The man was convicted and given a “6 day suspended sentence and told it would be healthy for him to go to work and support his wife and children.” The ups and downs of the woman’s rights movement were already well underway.

Montana always had relatively liberal laws regarding rights of women. The following is from the Encyclopedia Britannica of 1911:

Elsie and Bertha Worstell were exercising their rights when they purchased Big Sandy property.

A variety of other business establishments continued to open in Big Sandy. Sales agent J.S. Palmer recommended Indian motorcycles for use in commuting to the claim. A ladies’ shop opened next door to the hospital carrying, among other ladies wear, pantaloon petticoats “especially adapted for the narrow or tight fitting outside skirt.” There was at least one show house and one garage as we learn from the report of Commissioner Flint. Mr. Flint said he was on his way from the show house to the garage with his automobile, when he “met H.G. Bollinger with a buggy load of ladies. The team became frightened, turned down the side of the railroad crossing, tipping out all the occupants but one lady who stayed until the buggy completely upset. There were no serious injuries.” Mr. Gurskey was doing blacksmithing on his claim and telephones had arrived; three or four neighbors in the Chamberlain school district were connected by telephone; the town system would be completed the following year. Keith Edwards, Big Sandy resident, was a young employee of the telephone company in the early 1930s, when the community telephone system could still be considered in its infancy. Keith was paid board and room and slept by the switchboard, the nerve center of Big Sandy, where he listened to all the calls that promised to be interesting. Mr. Edwards tells the following:

In March, Gaylord felt he should follow up on the lack of progress being made in the case of Oak Dale’s final proof. He wrote the following letter:

The March letter was answered by way of a letter dated Aug. 21, 1914 and addressed to the Register and Receiver of the Havre Land Office. It reviewed the status of Oak’s homestead, noting the Havre office had rejected Elsie’s proof on the ground that, “no evidence of authority to offer proof had been furnished.” The D.C. office accepted the letter from Mrs. Worstell as an informal appeal. They believe that Mary Jones Dale is still living and point out that the laws of Montana make the parents the heirs in preference to brothers and sisters. Even so the letter states, “The improvements placed on the entry were but slight, being valued at $104, but it would appear that the requirements of the homestead law have been met,” and directs Havre R & R to allow Mrs. Dale 30 days to furnish final homestead affidavit and if forthcoming to issue the final certificate in favor of the heirs. Mrs. Dale was further allowed to swear to the affidavit in Kansas, assuming she was living.

On August 29th Elsie made her deposition to the Register and Receiver for her identification regarding Oak’s homestead and identifying her brother and sister and explaining that their mother Mary J. Dale was deceased. Fees of $6.25 were mailed to the office of the R & R. The check and affidavit were returned by return mail; receipt made out to “Ellen.” It seems the office had gotten Oak Dale’s homestead mixed up with Mary J. Dale’s! Elsie returned their letter and the check with a note to that effect, “... Kindly notify where affidavits are lacking and we will comply.” A check was included.

On the 24th, Havre wrote to acknowledge the error in confusing Oak’s and Mary’s homestead fees.

The following letter was sent from the office in Washington D. C. to the Register and Receiver in Havre.

Gaylord and Elsie received an early Christmas present; they received the Certificate to receive Patent on Oak’s homestead that was dated December 11, 1914. The land later passed to John Dale and he sold it to Florence and Elsie in 1915; Elsie purchased her sister’s half in 1917. Elsie willed this farm to her son, Richard. Richard clearly disposed of the farm, but when or to whom is not known by the author.

THE HEIR TO AUSTRIAN THRONE ASSASSINATED was the headline of the Los Angeles Times and across America on Monday morning, June 29, 1914. By August, Germany was invading France. This event would ultimately affect everyone in the United States, but some more than others. Not many of the Worstell family served in the military. Not many were eligible by age and few volunteered.

The Mountaineer reported that Richard “completed the course offered at the local schools” in the spring of 1914 and would be attending Great Falls High School in the fall. Grace was home from GFHS and got a job teaching in a near by country school. Country schools often offered the summer term for the children who were unable to attend during the severe winter months. “The law at that time required that all children between the ages of 8 to 14 attend school for at least 3 months in any calendar year,” wrote Richard in a letter. Grace’s transportation into town was by horseback, and it was reported that “though not used to it said she enjoyed it thoroughly.” Grace Worstell is recorded as one of the three regular teachers at Eagle Creek country school for the 1914 school term.

Emery D. Harnden had become a frequent visitor to the Worstell home. He reminded the Worstells of earlier days. Elsie thought of all her Wisconsin relatives and her visits to Wisconsin. Gaylord enjoyed discussing the local politics and world affairs. More and more their conversations were shortened as Emery and Gracie’s conversations grew longer. Gaylord did not think too highly of any of the local young men as a prospective son-in-law. How fortuitous that their daughter Grace was interested in this young man with his charm and intellect! Their relationship developed into a romance. It must have been like an answer to prayer for Elsie and Gaylord. By the end of summer, love had blossomed and they planned a fall wedding. While Dr. Worstell may have had the usual parental concerns such as, do they truly love each other, will they be compatible, et cetera, the prospects for these two young people looked bright. Within a few months, the Mary J. Dale contested homestead suit would hold Emory’s interest and the prospects for his legal career would look pretty bright, also.

The following week, October 1st, the paper reported as follows:

Those with vision to see the mountains far to the west answered that longing in a more dramatic way. Glacier National Park was established in 1910, thanks in part to the efforts of James J. Hill and the Great Northern Railway. Louis Hill, son of James Hill, became president of the Great Northern in 1907. It was he that had the passion and the vision for a system of roads, trails, chalets, and major hotels to serve the tourists — tourists who would be traveling by train. In 1912, the railway was given permission from the federal government to purchase land on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation just outside the park at the east entrance. Glacier Park Lodge, the third national park lodge and the first in Glacier Park, opened at Glacier Park Station in 1913. It is the most majestic of the Great Lodges of the West. The bark-covered colonnades came from the trunks of Douglas firs 48 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in diameter. They caused the Indians to call it Big Tree Lodge. The Indians had never seen trees that large because the logs didn’t come from Montana; they came from the Pacific Northwest.

On the west side of the park is Lake McDonald. Homesteaders settled on the shores of Lake McDonald in the 1890s. George Snyder built the Snyder Hotel in 1895. A businessman from Columbia Falls, Montana, named John Lewis, acquired the property. When the park formed in 1910, he determined to build a lodge, if not as large as Glacier Park Hotel, at least with as much style. He moved the old hotel and prepared the site to be accessed from the lake. Travelers would arrive by train at Belton station, and then be ferried by steamboat to the lodge. Concrete and foundation work were completed before the winter of 1913. The lodge opened in June 1914. It is of Swiss chalet design, with a three-story lobby, bark-covered columns, and Indian and western decor.

Richard Worstell was employed to work at the Lake McDonald Lodge sometime during its construction. In later years, arriving by car with his family, he would park and walk around to the back, to what had formerly been the entrance. Standing and looking out over the lake, he would describe the arrival of the boats, laden with the logs, the lumber, and every type of material needed. “Every nail had to be shipped in,” he would say. It would be to Glacier Park that Richard took his family when he felt that longing for a trip to the mountains. Richard was only 13 when the lodge was built. The law making 16 the minimum age for employment in the mines passed in Montana in 1904. Other industries, such as manufacturing, were added in 1907. No age limit was applied to farm labor and other work that was limited to non-school hours. Age 14 remained the national norm for entering the labor force in non-mining and non-manufacturing industries until 1938.

In 2001, Ann Jean acquired two of Elsie’s pastel scenes. While working on the draft of Happiness Was Born A Twin, she had a telephone conversation with a Big Sandy resident about her project, who passed the word on to another Big Sandy resident. In due time a package arrived at the Cloonan residence unannounced. It contained two pastel paintings by Elsie Worstell. The owner no longer had a need for them and thought it would be nice if the paintings “returned home.”

“Each year there was always a Spelling Bee held down town in the Oliver C. Tingley Opera House which stood where the Geibel Garage and Machinery Co. of recent years now stands. I was the winner of the Spelling Bee in 1911,” wrote Richard. Richard Worstell and Arthur Jung had captured awards as the best spellers in the county in 1914. They represented Chouteau County at the state spelling contest held during the state fair in Great Falls. Richard no doubt won the county bee more than once; however, he also didn’t have the time anchors to remember incidents that most of us had. For example, his letter said, “When I was in fifth grade Mr. Christy thought I read too good for a 5th grader so he put me in the 7th grade. The result was that I spent but a single term for the 5, 6, and 7, grades.” Yet he graduated in the expected year for his age. Was he two years in 8th grade perhaps, or home schooled?

The details of a certain family story are long since forgotten, but the following event became such an inside joke that only its mention was enough to cause laughter between Gaylord and Richard. The hospital was across the street from a popular business for the owners of horses and wagons. Gaylord did not have a garage at the hospital and liked to park his car in front. Exasperated with a team and wagon that often parked there, as it was on this day, he went upstairs. There he got a bedspring and he and Richard carried it out onto the upstairs porch and released it over the hapless horses, which bolted down the street.

By fall, Grace was married and teaching, and Richard was attending Great Falls High School. Elizabeth Jane Worstell, who had not made any improvements on her homestead, returned from Ohio and established residence on her claim September 7, 1914. The shack description reads “12 x 14 x 12 x 16,” each time it is written. One might assume this is a two-room shack and that Jane’s mother, Isabel, will be living with her. In December, Jane gave notice to be absent for five months working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. No other work was done on the claim in 1914.

Earlier in the year, May 14, the Worstells had turned their attention to Mary Jones Dale’s homestead. Elsie filed a new Notice of Intention to make proof as “...Elsie D. Worstell, one and for the heirs of Mary J. Dale (Deceased)...” The witnesses remained the same but testimony had to be taken anew. This time they were a little more precise in their statements, for example: “My claim was a mile and a half from her place and during the time she was there I saw her occasionally,” from Mr. Comer, and “I saw her there three times each week during her period of residence.” Public notice was printed that proof would be made before L.E. Flint on September 8th. So on September 8th, Mr. Silvernail, Mr. Comer and Elsie Worstell all presented their testimony anew on the final proof for Mary J. Dale’s homestead, since Elsie must now file in her own name as heir to the homestead.

On September 18 Elsie’s claim for Mary’s homestead was again rejected. This time for “the reason that the land has not been cultivated by the heirs, for such period as added to the actual residence of entryman will make three years. For the further reason that no money has been received.”

The Worstells mailed a check for $8.25 to the Havre office for Mary Dale’s homestead fees as per Havre’s letter. These fees, which might have paid room rent for 2 weeks or more, were not insignificant.

After having sent the fees for Mary’s homestead proof, the Worstells wrote their congressman, Rep. Tom Stout. The congressman forwarded the letter to Clay Tallman, Commissioner of the General Land Office. Rep. Stout requested they answer the Worstell letter and then return the letter to him. Along with the letter from the Commissioner, GLO, was a letter to Rep. Stout as follows:

In a letter hand-written by Gaylord and signed by Elsie, the Worstells made their appeal for Mary’s homestead to the General Land Office in Washington. In his letter, the Doctor reviews the letter received from the Havre office and adds the information concerning the military service of Mr. Dale as follows:

A couple of years later, Emery filed on a 40-acre homestead adjoining his original homestead. A couple of years after that, the same land appears under the name Ziban Harnden. A notation beside the date of June 16, 1917 references an original homestead NW4 Sec 18 T41 R18 Warsaw, Wisconsin 1893 – 5 year-proof. A good guess would be that Ziban is Emery’s father. Perry Hagan, who also had land adjoining these 40 acres, also filed for it. Both cases were rejected and closed. The map in the Gathering of Memories indicates the land was in the name of the Great Northern Railroad, the only 40-acre piece of land so designated in the book.

Homestead concerns were put aside as Christmas approached. Dr. Worstell and Attny. E. D. Harnden extended their season’s greetings to the community with advertisements in the Mountaineer. Gifts exchanged in the Worstell household were not of a frivolous nature, but of a practical nature, such as ties, socks, mittens, and scarves. Possibly there might be something from Elsie’s hand, such as crocheted dress collars, embroidered antimacassars, or knitted mittens. For others, the businesses in the community offered buyers a wide variety of choices for the Christmas season; items for the home such as lamps and crockery, silverware and china, and toys for the young people such as sleds, skis, skates, and dolls, and jewelry and watches for the ladies and gentlemen. Nineteen fourteen had been a pretty good year.