The J.H. Newton Home
211 6th Ave NW
Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Newton built this home in 1908. They made Mandan their home for over 40 years, residing there until John’s death, at which time Mrs. Newton made her home in Bismarck.
At the age of 13, John arrived in Bismarck from Vermont with his parents. He served as a telegraph operator at Fort Hancock in Bismarck and then with Western Union, where he worked with Bismarck’s first telegraph operator, J. M. Carnahan, who sent the account of the Custer Massacre over the wires to the New York Herald.
John’s job with Western Union also took him to Fargo and Missoula. When he returned to Bismarck, he became affiliated with the North Dakota Milling Association and the Missouri Valley Milling Company, which had mills in Mandan and Bismarck. John later organized the Missouri Valley Grocery Company until the firm was sold to Stone-Ordean Wells in 1929. John then took over management of the Riverside Gravel Company until his retirement in 1950.
John was active in numerous affairs. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce for twelve years and was largely responsible for the United States Dairy Station, which was later discontinued, locating here in 1928.
The current owners, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Crouse, purchased the home in 1998. They have done some updating and remodeling, however, the home remains as close to original as it did when it was built by John Newton.
Draft transcription from the photographed sign; it has not yet received a second review.