George Worner
Encyclopedia
George Worner was a public official in Richland County
in the U.S. state
of North Dakota
. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives
from 1925 to 1932.
October 13, 1855. His father George (1828 – 1905) emigrated to the United States
with the family, settling in Fond du Lac
, Wisconsin
. His mother died after they had arrived in Wisconsin. His father remarried and had three more sons. In 1874, the family moved to present day Richland County
in Dakota Territory
, homesteading near what is now the city of Great Bend
. In 1879 married Augusta Brendel, a fellow German immigrant whose family had moved to the Dakota Territory
from Iron Ridge
, Wisconsin
. George and Augusta had 8 children.
in Richland County
. They established a post office on their homestead in 1875, and named it Berlin
in honor of their homeland. The post office was moved in 1882 to a site closer to Great Bend, North Dakota
, and was closed permanently on July 12, 1883.
George Worner was instrumental in the eventual establishment of Great Bend in 1888. Part of the city was platted
on his homestead. Worner served as one of the first station agents in town for the Northern Pacific Railroad, operated the first general store
, and served as one of the town's first postmasters. Worner reportedly hired future U.S. Senator Porter J. McCumber
to work on his farm.
commissioners. He was elected in 1924 to the North Dakota House of Representatives
, and served from 1925 to 1932. Senator McCumber
reportedly offered him the position of U.S. Marshall for North Dakota, but Worner declined.
Richland County, North Dakota
-History:Richland County wa formed in 1873. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, an early settler in the area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,998 people, 6,885 households, and 4,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives
North Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
from 1925 to 1932.
Early life
George Worner was born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
October 13, 1855. His father George (1828 – 1905) emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the family, settling in Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, for it is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. His mother died after they had arrived in Wisconsin. His father remarried and had three more sons. In 1874, the family moved to present day Richland County
Richland County, North Dakota
-History:Richland County wa formed in 1873. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, an early settler in the area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,998 people, 6,885 households, and 4,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There...
in Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, homesteading near what is now the city of Great Bend
Great Bend, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 118 people, 40 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The population density was 207.6 people per square mile . There were 42 housing units at an average density of 73.9 per square mile...
. In 1879 married Augusta Brendel, a fellow German immigrant whose family had moved to the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
from Iron Ridge
Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
Iron Ridge is a village in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 998 at the 2000 census. The village was founded on a railroad line, named for the iron mined in the area...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. George and Augusta had 8 children.
Time in North Dakota
The Worner family settled in Brandenburg TownshipBrandenburg Township, Richland County, North Dakota
-External links:*...
in Richland County
Richland County, North Dakota
-History:Richland County wa formed in 1873. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, an early settler in the area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,998 people, 6,885 households, and 4,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There...
. They established a post office on their homestead in 1875, and named it Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in honor of their homeland. The post office was moved in 1882 to a site closer to Great Bend, North Dakota
Great Bend, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 118 people, 40 households, and 33 families residing in the city. The population density was 207.6 people per square mile . There were 42 housing units at an average density of 73.9 per square mile...
, and was closed permanently on July 12, 1883.
George Worner was instrumental in the eventual establishment of Great Bend in 1888. Part of the city was platted
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
on his homestead. Worner served as one of the first station agents in town for the Northern Pacific Railroad, operated the first general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
, and served as one of the town's first postmasters. Worner reportedly hired future U.S. Senator Porter J. McCumber
Porter J. McCumber
Porter James McCumber was a United States Senator from North Dakota. Born in Crete, Illinois, he moved with his parents to Rochester, Minnesota the same year. He attended the common schools and taught school for a few years, and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at...
to work on his farm.
Political career
Worner was also active politically. He served in county government as one of Richland County'sRichland County, North Dakota
-History:Richland County wa formed in 1873. It was named for Morgan T. Rich, an early settler in the area.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,998 people, 6,885 households, and 4,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There...
commissioners. He was elected in 1924 to the North Dakota House of Representatives
North Dakota House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and is larger than the North Dakota Senate....
, and served from 1925 to 1932. Senator McCumber
Porter J. McCumber
Porter James McCumber was a United States Senator from North Dakota. Born in Crete, Illinois, he moved with his parents to Rochester, Minnesota the same year. He attended the common schools and taught school for a few years, and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at...
reportedly offered him the position of U.S. Marshall for North Dakota, but Worner declined.