Bio: Dameier, Will & Family

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Dameier, Clair, Lamovec, Decorrak, Thundecloud, Big Soldier

----Source: Family Scrapbook

Will Dameier and his wife bought 160 acres of land from Uncle A.L. Clair in February 1908. Will came alone at first and spent his time building a house. They had a new arrival in the family, so mother and baby Alvera stayed behind until everything was well-set.

Alvera was born December 5, 1907 and when seven months old, she and mother came to Willard. They had built a 28'x28' house, two stories, and it still stands on the corner of Dove Street and Highway "G". (Now owned by Lamovecs) Doris Dameier was born in this home September 30, 1910.

Mr. Dameier became Willard's first postmaster and he had the first Post-Office in his home. He used one room in his new home for the post-office. He used his own drop leaf desk, which contained 14 pigeon holes, which worked fine for the new settler's mail. They also had mail for several Indians like John Big Soldier, Frank Thundercloud and David Decorrak. The 36"x20" desk was quite full.

Mail was two cents per letter, and that was also their pay (Postmaster's) and rent of the office space, plus taking the mail pouch to the railroad, and picking it up on the return trip. Mrs. Dameier had a field day one time, she cancelled 80 letters one day when they were advertising land for sale. The Dameiers left in about 1913.

By: Doris Dameier Brown