Richard & Katherina Isaak
Richard Isaak was born in 1894 at Parkston, S.D., to August and Katherine Isaak. When he was two weeks old, his parents brought him and his two-year old brother, David, to Mercer County traveling in a covered wagon, accompanied by 26 head of cattle and two riders on horseback. Tied under the wagon were two cages: one for chickens and the other for pigs. The water barrel was attached on the outside of the wagon. They also brought along a small laundry stove on which to cook. It took them 20 days to travel the 450 miles.
They arrived south of Hazen at the farm of the Kuch family, distant relatives of Richard’s father. They rested a couple of days and had Richard baptized while there, Mr. Kuch serving as Richard’s godfather.
When Richard was five, he started school, which was taught in his parents’ house. The teacher lived with the Isaaks during the six-month school year. Richard’s father sent him to college at Eureka, S.D. One thing he learned was excellent penmanship.
Richard married Katherine (Katie) Buchfink, who was the daughter of George and Maria (Krause) Buchfink in 1917 in Stanton. They farmed about seven miles north of Krem. In the early 1920’s they moved into Krem where he and his father had a car (Star) dealership, sold Case machinery and had two mechanics to do repair work. Later they moved to Hazen, and in 1935 they bought the Jacob Krause grocery and dry goods store.
In the early 1940’s Richard sold his business to John Malke, had an auction sale and moved to Lakeland, Fla. They both got homesick, and soon they were back in North Dakota and settle in Bismarck. There Richard bought the 18K Food Market Store on South 9th Street. After a few years Richard sold his store to Oscar Sailer, who had worked for him in the Hazen store and again in the Bismarck store.
For a few years Richard sold insurance before retiring. He had many hobbies: one was making a replica of the covered wagon that they came in to North Dakota. This included his parents, his brother David as well as himself, horses, harnesses, saddle and saddle horse; another hobby was engraving rocks and putting the Isaak family tree together. This latter project took him two years. Richard’s father had many records (letters) of history since 1758.
In his late 70’s, Richard had a stroke as well as a severe case of arthritis. He died in 1977. He and Katie had no children. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed for people in Krem and in Hazen. They belonged to the Lutheran Church.
~Source: The Hazen Jubilee 1913-1988 history book
The Richard Isaak house at Krem, North Dakota.
Richard & Katie
Richard & Katie Isaak
~Photos submitted by nephew, Fred S. Isaak
More Photos of Richard & Katie
~Photos submitted by family friend, Dale Sailer
