History: Idaho homesteaders - Bruesch family
I wrote the following story for the South Idaho Press' Century Farm supplement.
By LISA DAYLEY
ALMO – In May 1902 Johann “John” Bruesch and his wife Hannah Bell headed to John Day, Ore., where they hoped to homestead.
The couple and eight of their 10 children had spent the past 20 years living everywhere from Vermont to New Mexico. Eventually the family became Oregon bound.
“I think Johann just got itchy after a while. He was seeking new opportunities,” said Alan Bruesch, Johann and Hannah’s great-grandson.
But Hannah was tired of traveling.
It was September, and Hannah wanted her kids in school. While the family rested along the Raft River near what’s called the Narrows, they learned about 240 acres for sale in Almo. Nestled between the City of Rocks and Castle Rocks, the Brueschs liked what they saw and purchased George Graham’s farm.
“They paid for it on November 2, 1902,” said Alan, who hails from Olympia WA., and who vacations at the ranch.
Alan and his sister Janet Powers, of Malta, say they’re glad Johann and Hannah decided on Almo.
“We’ve been through John Day, and we’re just glad they stayed,” Janet quipped.
John and Hannah eventually bought around 1,000 acres where they raised cattle. The couple initially lived in a log cabin but later built a home that included a kitchen, large living room and two bedrooms.
Eventually, the older Bruesch children moved away, but youngest child Jacob “Jake” homesteaded 640 acres near his parent’s ranch. He later married Ida Durfee, and the couple had six children.
By 1917, Johann retired and sold his property. The new buyer defaulted on the loan, and Jacob eventually purchased the ranch increasing its size to around 1,500 acres.
About 10 years later, Jacob was injured in a hunting accident where he lost one hand and severely mangled the other. As a result, his 17-year-old son, William - Alan and Janet’s father - was forced to leave school.
“I suspect Jacob was seriously laid up. Dad had to drop out and basically run the place,” Alan said.
William’s brother Lawrence “Bud” Bruesch helped out too.
“Bud was only five or six years old,” Alan said.
In 1940 William married schoolteacher Virginia. When the couple later learned their oldest child Richard was on the way, they built a home near Jacob and Ida. Later came Alan, and Janet. By the time the kids were eight years old, they were helping on the farm and driving tractors. Janet also regularly worked at home with her Mom.
“We had two teams of horses that we used quite a bit to go and rake the hay. In the winter, we used them to pull the wagon and feed the cows,” Alan said.
While Alan and Janet didn’t enjoy the work at the time, they are grateful for it now.
“Dad taught us to work, and that was probably the neatest thing,” Janet said.
During their free time on the farm, the Bruesch kids kept themselves entertained.
“We didn’t have TV. We had fun,” Janet said.
The children had pets, but theirs were found in the wild.
“We had a de-scented skunk. We had two pet deer that were just like dogs. We had the doe for 14 years,” Janet said.
In the 1950s, Jacob retired and deeded the farm to William. William, however, encouraged his children to find other careers.
“Dad knew we couldn’t make a living here like he had with his Dad,” Alan said.
William died in 1989 at the age of 77, and Virginia died in 1996 at the age of 80. Shortly before her death, Virginia created a trust allowing her three children access to the property. (Richard lives in Tempe, AZ.)
Today the family uses the ranch house as a vacation home. The family hopes to keep the ranch for many years to come. There’s so much nostalgia associated with the ranch, that it’s hard to stay away, Janet said.
“This place is a part of our lives. It’s a part of us,” Janet said.
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