From a booklet created for a Klusmann family reunion in New Salem on June 18-19, 2005

Charles C. Klusmann was born on February 2, 1886, the son of William Fredrick and Wilhelmina Klusmann. Meta Schwarting was born on October 30, 1890, the daughter of Dietrich and Wilhelmina (Brueggeman) Schwarting.

Charlie C. Klusmann and Meta Schwarting were married May 10, 1910, in Youngtown, North Dakota. John Holle and C.C. Klusmann were in partnership in the grocery store and C.C. also had his own blacksmith shop. A home was built not too far from the store. Meta cooked many meals for the carpenters who were building large dairy barns. The house was later sold to Gabe Hoffman and he had it moved to his own farm.

Five children were born in Youngtown: Wilbur, Gordon, Valence and Mildred. Their first child Elda died at the age of two years.

In 1926 C. C. Klusmann bought the John Deere Implement building from Philip Blank, located across the street from Gaebe Drugstore and Oscar Klusmann grocery Store. John Tellman was hired to help unload machinery from the freight train. The family moved to New Salem and rented the Kisner house and this is where their sixth child, Jeannette, was born. Wilbur and Gordon were so happy to move to New Salem because there were electric lights in town.

Wilbur remembers when the auditorium was built. All people, country and city folks alike, were asked to volunteer their help. Wilbur’s job was to load bricks out of boxcars onto Wm. Backsen's wagon and unload them at the auditorium site. Their treat for the day was blue grapes that came in wooden baskets with wooden handles. Everyone was proud of the new building. Many district basketball tournaments were played on the beautiful wooden floor. The New Salem Holsteins had many outstanding teams. In 1928 Charlie and Meta bought the Nellie Dietz house, located next to the public school. The dirty thirties were bad years for the implement business. The blowing sand, huge thistles and swarms of huge grasshoppers were very depressing. Wilbur joined the C.C.C. One of his jobs was to help build the bandstand across the street from the auditorium. Having a large house and living close to school, they provided room and board for some of the teachers. Rhubarb sauce with very little sugar was the usual dessert.

After graduation from high school, Gordon found a job in Park River picking and sacking potatoes, sleeping in the hay barn. The flies were so bad at mealtime that he lost his appetite and came home. Henry Engelter, the funeral director, needed someone to dig graves. Gordon accepted the offer. The only tools available were pick and shovel. The winter weather wasn't the most favorable. Butz Hein needed help at the creamery. Gordon was more than willing to heave cream cans and when testing the cream he made sure there were no flies buzzing around. His selective service number was called and he spent four years in the army. After his discharge he was married to Helen Ricksgers and they moved to West Linn, Oregon. He worked as a salesperson at Sears Roebuck and maintenance supervisor in a public school.    

Valence headed west on the freight train to find a job. He didn't get too far and thumbed his way back to help Wilbur and his dad finding parts for broken down machinery. He married Ester Christenson and later moved to Bismarck working in the parts department for John Deere until he started working for MDU (Montana Dakota Utilities). Wilbur married Goldie Stayton and continued with the implement business until it was sold to D & K Equipment and he moved to Brush, Colorado. Later they moved to Lennox, South Dakota to be near their son, Joel.

Mildred taught first grade and music in Hebron until she was married to Orein Feil, who owned Brick City Meat Processing Plant.

Jeanette graduated from Bismarck School of Nursing. She married Clifford Flegel who had an insurance and real estate business in Carrington. She became Director of Nursing at Golden Acres Nursing Home.

Charlie Klusmann died on March 30, 1963, and Meta died on February 22, 1980. Their house was moved from the school location to a location in west New Salem.