McIntosh County, North Dakota Area Information
Area Coordinators: Geneva Roth Olstad
Date Formed:
County Seat: Hoskins: 1884-1888, Ashley, 1888 - present
Cities, townships and historical communities:
CITIES - Ashley, Danzig (ghost town), Lehr, Venturia, Wishek, Zeeland. (See Histories of McIntosh County Towns.)
TOWNSHIPS - Albrights
Valley, * Antelope, Beresina, Berlin, Blumenthal, Coldwater, Danzig, Frieda,
Friedenstal, Green Lake, * Hoffnungsthal, Hoskins, Iowa, Jewell, Johnstown,
Kisslingberry, Lowell, Rosenthal, Lydia, Moscow, Myrtle, * Roloff
(Springfield), Rosenfield, * Rosenthal, Salem, Strassburg, Youngstown, Zeeland. (See
Histories of McIntosh County Towns.)
* Fredonia 2004 history book has maps of these townships showing schools,
cemeteries, post offices, original farm locations
McIntosh County History:
McIntosh County legally became a county on March 9, 1883. The first courthouse was built at Hoskins, on the south shore of Lake Hoskins about 3.5 miles west of present-day Ashley. When Ashley was established in 1888, the courthouse was moved there along with several other buildings which had been at Hoskins. That building was replaced in 1920 by the present courthouse. It was refurbished in 1985. The site of Hoskins is marked by a stone monument dedicated to the early pioneers. In the 1960 Census, the county had a population of 6, 700 people. McIntosh County has an area of 1,008 sq. miles.
ASHLEY: The town-site was established in 1888. It was named Ashley in honor of Ashley E. Morrow. As an inducement to the town-site of Hoskins, Ashley agreed to donate lots to all those who would move their buildings from Hoskins to Ashley. From these humble beginnings, the town grew. The Soo line railroad came to town in 1901. A modern hospital and health facility was begun in 1951. A new high school was constructed in 1961 and grades seven through twelve were moved to the new facility. The airport was established in 1934.
DANZIG: This little town was started in 1908. It is about in the center of the county and is half-way between Ashley and Wishek. It was a booming little town with a population of about 240 people in the 1940s. The town’s demise came about the time when the more modern automobile could take the residents to nearby towns to conduct their business. The post office was closed in 1955 and the school was closed in 1958. A few remaining buildings are in disrepair and will soon crumble and that will be the end of this little town.
LEHR: In 1896, the Soo line railroad was extended from Kulm west through Lehr and finished to Bismarck. Mr. Johann Lehr offered 40 acres of land to be used as a town-site. Lehr was organized as a village November 18, 1907. It was incorporated as a city on May 18, 1909. Lehr bills itself as the smallest city in the U.S. situated in two counties, Logan and McIntosh. The school closed its doors for the last time in May 25, 1997. See also the Logan County page.
VENTURIA: The village was settled in 1901. It was incorporated in 1912. It is situated 9 miles west and 2 miles south of Ashley. The town-site was at one time the homestead of Michael Tesky and Philipp Huber. The Venturia post office was established in 1901 and served the area until August, 1996. It had a grade school but no high school. Most of the children went to high school in Ashley, Wishek or Zeeland.
WISHEK: It was founded with the coming of the railroad. It is named in honor of John H. Wishek, Sr., an early pioneer and builder of the Dakota Territory who helped organize McIntosh County and founded Ashley, the county seat. The rails were laid in September of 1898. A fire in 1916 destroyed six main street buildings including the Wishek News office. The Wishek Community Hospital opened in 1954; the Wishek Nursing Home was opened in 1964. Wishek has been hosting the county fair since 1926.
ZEELAND: The town is located in the southwestern part of McIntosh County only two miles from the South Dakota state line. The town was platted in 1902. The name “Zeeland” originates from Holland, and means” sea land”. Zeeland was organized as a village in 1905 and was incorporated as a city in 1946. By 1938, the town reported a population of 500. However, the population has been dwindling but it seems to hang on .
McIntosh County Historical Sites:
MUSEUM: The McIntosh County Heritage Center opened a beautiful museum located on the eastern edge of Ashley. This operates mainly on donations and has a great collection from our pioneers. The museum is open by appointment only. The Danzig depot is on display at the Heritage Center along with many other interesting items.
THE FORT YATES TRAIL: This trail meandered from Old Fort Sisseton at Big Stone Lake in Minnesota with off-shoots to various forts off the line. At last it came to the Missouri River opposite Fort Yates, ND
The trail runs thru McIntosh County from east to west, starting at: SE corner of Sect. 1 Twp, 129, R67, west thru Sect. 2,3,4 of same township and range. It then runs in a NW direction thru Sect. 33, Twp. 130, R67, then in a westward route into Sect. 33, Twp. 130. R.67, then westward through Sections 32 and 31. It then continues west into township 130, R68, thru Sec. 36. 35. 34,33, 32, and 31, then into Twp. 130 R69 thru Sect. 36, 35, 34, 32, 29, 30, and 19. It then runs into Twp. 130, R70, thru Sect. 24, 13, 12, 11, 2, 3 and 4. It follows thru Twp. 131, R70, thru sec. 33, 32, 31, then thru Twp, 131, R71, thru Sect. 36, 35, 34, and 33. It follows thru Twp. 130, R71, Sec. 4, 5, 6 then into Twp. 130, R72, thru Sect. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. It then runs thru Twp. 130, R73 thru sec. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 passing westward out of the county thru Sec. 6 Twp. 130, R73Articles:
| Name | Type | Source |
| Confirmation in Wishek, McIntosh Co., ND (Staats-Anzieger, 1917) | Letters | Heritage Review #31-1, 2001, p. 30 |
| Diphtheria - McIntosh County, ND - 1898, by Dr. Timothy Kloberdanz | Medicine | Heritage Review #28-1, 1998, p. 5 |
| Lehr Tabernacle, by Arnold Marzolf | History | Heritage Review #21-3, 1991, p. 2 |
| Lehr Tabernacle, by Carolyn Schott | History, Memories |
Heritage
Review #37-1, 2007, p. 11 
|
| Lehr Tabernacle - Readers Respond | History, Memories |
Heritage Review #37-2, 2001, p. 31
|
| Lehr, ND, by Gottlieb Harr (Dakota Freie Presse, 1935) | History | Heritage Review #12-2, 1982, p. 6 |
| Marriages (McIntosh Co.) 1890-1903, by Gwen Pritzkau | Research | Heritage Review #13-1, 1983, p. 3 |
| McIntosh County, by F.W. Sallett (Dakota Freie Presse, 1909 | History | Heritage Review #18, 1977, p. 26 |
| McIntosh County, Dakotas, by Armand & Elaine Bauer | History | Heritage Review #20, 1978, p. 39 |
| McIntosh County GR's in WWI, by Gordon L. Iseminger (Midwest Review, 1992) | History | Heritage Review #27-4, 1997, p. 11 |
| Officeholders in McIntosh Co | History |
Heritage Review #12-3, 1982, p. 26 Heritage Review #12-4, 1982, p. 1 |
| Pioneer Settlers in McIntosh Co., by John Fisher (Ashley Tribune, 1923) | History | Heritage Review #34-1, 2004, p.39 |
| School Districts in McIntosh Co., by William Jahraus | History | Heritage Review #12-3, 1982, p. 33 |
Books: (These books are available at GRHS headquarters)
Along the Trails of Yesterday by Nina Farley Wishek
Ashley Golden Jubilee (1888-1938)
Ashley Diamond Jubilee
A Century of Pulling Together Ashley, ND
Centennial Anniversary - Salem Reformed Church Ashley, ND
Danzig, North Dakota by Geneva Roth Olstad
First Baptist Church (1886-1961)
Fredonia will shine once more in 2004 [Index coming soon!]
History of Grace Lutheran Church, Lehr, North Dakota by Grace Lutheran Church
Lehr Centennial (1898-1988) [Index coming soon!]
Lehr Diamond Jubilee, 1898-1973 [Index coming soon!]
Lehr Golden Jubilee 1898-1948 [Index coming soon!]
McIntosh County Progress in Education by Herbert Roth
McIntosh County Cemeteries by Kermit B. Karns
McIntosh County 1920 Census by Kermit B. Karns
Venturia Centennial Book
“Spirit of Wishek” (1898-1948)
Wishek Centennial Book (1898-1998)
Zeeland Centennial Book (1902-2002)
|
Cemeteries – Locations on a Map |
Community/Township |
Comments |
|
Search photos of McIntosh County cemeteries – go to www.northdakotagravestones.org |
||
|
Some
Cemetery Transcriptions
and |
||
|
Ashley City Cemetery |
Ashley/Kisslingberry |
|
|
Ashley Lutheran Cemetery |
Ashley/? |
|
|
Beaver Creek Baptist Cemetery |
---/Rosenfield |
|
|
Berlin Baptist Cemetery |
---/Berlin |
Cemetery list in 2004 Fredonia book |
|
Beth Itzchock Cemetery |
---/Hoskins |
|
|
Danzig Baptist Cemetery |
Danzig/Moscow |
|
|
Danzig City Cemetery |
Danzig/? |
|
|
Danzig Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Danzig |
|
|
Ebenezer |
Lehr SW/Arvanda (Logan Co.) |
|
|
Ebenezer Evangelical Cemetery |
---/Rosenfield |
|
|
Emmaus Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Kisslingberry |
|
|
Evangelical Bethesda |
Ashley/? |
|
|
Evangelical Church Cemetery |
Ashley/? |
|
|
Evangelical Lutheran Zion Cemetery |
Wishek/? |
|
|
Evangelical Trinity Lutheran Cemetery |
Lehr/Hillsburg (Logan Co.) |
|
|
Family Rest Cemetery (Sukut) |
Lehr NW/Hollandsworth (Logan Co.) |
|
|
First Zion I Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Beresina |
|
|
Friedens Congregational Cemetery |
---/Iowa |
|
|
Friedens Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Frieda |
|
|
George Baptist |
---/Lowenthal |
|
|
Gnadenfeld Congregational Cemetery |
---/Roloff |
Cemetery list in 2004 Fredonia book |
|
Hoffnungs Lutheran (Schmidt) Cemetery |
---/Iowa |
|
|
Hoffnungstal German Evangelical Lutheran |
Ashley/? |
|
|
Hoffnungsthal (Reformed) Cemetery |
---/Johnstown |
|
|
Hope EUB Church Cemetery |
Lehr NW/Hillsburg (Logan Co.) |
|
|
Hoskins Community Cemetery |
---/Hoskins |
|
|
Jehovah Congregation St. Lucas Cemetery |
Lehr NW/Hollandsworth (Logan Co.) |
|
|
Jewell Station Baptist Cemetery |
---/Jewell |
|
|
Jewish Cemetery |
Ashley/? |
|
|
Johanne Reformed Cemetery |
Zeeland/? |
|
|
Kassel Baptist Cemetery |
---/Berlin |
|
|
Kassel Reformed Cemetery |
---/Blumenthal |
|
|
King Cemetery |
Lehr/? (Logan Co.) |
|
|
Lehr City Cemetery |
Lehr/Lowenthal |
|
|
Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Myrtle |
|
|
Lutheran Cemetery |
Ashley/? |
|
|
Lutheran Cemetery |
Venturia?/ |
|
|
Lutheran Salem Reformed |
Lehr/? |
|
|
Marienburg Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Lowell |
|
|
Neudorf Reformed Cemetery |
---/Rosenfield |
|
|
New Kassel Ev. & Reformed Cemetery |
---/Frieda |
|
|
Old Kassel Reformed Cemetery |
---/Rosenfield |
|
|
Pudwill Cemetery |
Danzig/? |
|
|
Reformed Cemetery |
Wishek/? |
|
|
Rosenthal Baptist Cemetery |
---/Rosenthal |
Cemetery list in 2004 Fredonia book |
|
Salem Congregational Cemetery |
---/Beresina |
|
|
Salem Evangelical Cemetery |
---/Danzig |
|
|
Salem German Congregational Cemetery |
Ashley/? |
|
|
St. Andrew Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Strassburg |
|
|
St. Andrew’s Catholic Cemetery |
---/Zeeland |
|
|
St. Andrew’s Catholic Cemetery |
Zeeland/? |
|
|
St. Andrew’s Evangelical German Lutheran |
Venturia/? |
|
|
St. Jacob’s Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery |
Ashley/? |
|
|
St. James Lutheran (Nitschke) Cemetery |
---/Jewell |
|
|
St. James Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Salem |
|
|
St. Johannes Congregational Church |
---/Antelope |
|
|
St. John (Johannesthal) Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Jewell |
|
|
St. John Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Rosenfield |
|
|
St. John Reformed Cemetery |
---/Zeeland |
|
|
St. John’s Catholic Cemetery |
Zeeland/Strassburg |
|
|
St. Lucas Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Coldwater |
|
|
St. Luke’s Lutheran Cemetery |
Wishek/Youngstown |
|
|
St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery |
Wishek/Youngstown |
|
|
St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Albrights Valley |
|
|
Trinity Lutheran |
Ashley/? |
|
|
Unknown |
---/Beresina |
|
|
Unknown |
---/Lowenthal |
|
|
Venturia Baptist |
Venturia/Johnstown |
|
|
Wetzel Burial Site |
---/Zeeland |
|
|
Wiedmann Pioneer Cemetery |
---/Johnstown |
|
|
Wishek City Cemetery |
Wishek/Youngstown |
|
|
Worms Cemetery |
---/Salem |
|
|
Zion Evangelical Cemetery |
---/Frieda |
|
|
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery |
Zeeland/Zeeland |
|
|
Zion I Lutheran (Bertsch) Cemetery |
---/Beresina |
|
|
Zion II Lutheran (Becker) Cemetery |
---/Beresina |
Cemetery list in 2004 Fredonia book |
|
Zion Lutheran Cemetery |
---/Johnstown |
|
|
Churches: |
||
|
Ashley
Baptist Church |
Assembly
of God Church |
United
Methodist Church |
|
Salem
Reformed Church |
Zion
Lutheran Church |
American
Lutheran Church |
|
St.
David's Catholic Church |
St.
Andrew's Catholic Church |
St.
Andrew's Lutheran Church |
|
Zion
Lutheran Church |
Venturia
Baptist Church |
Grace
Lutheran Church |
|
Seventh
Day Adventist Church |
United
Methodist Church |
Lehr
Tabernacle |
|
First
Baptist Church |
St.
Andrew's Lutheran Church |
St.
Patrick's Catholic Church |
|
United
Church of Christ |
United
Methodist Church |
|
Census Records:
1900 Images
1910 Images
1920 Images
1930 Images
1900 – Lehr censuses also listed in Heritage Review 10-2, 1980
Maps:
1906 North Dakota
1921 North Dakota
Plat Maps:
1916 Index
Search
the Letter Archives for towns in McIntosh County
Schools:
Lists of school teachers and
students in the country schools for Springfield School District (Roloff
Twp.), Rosenthal Twp., Hoffnungsthal Twp., and Antelope Twp. are included in the 2004 Fredonia book. Includes
1909-1962; all townships do not include all years.
List of school teachers and students for the
Lehr school district from 1903-1907 is included in the 1973 Lehr history
book.
Surnames (A Few):
Doyle, Giedt, Herr, Lily, Lynn, Meidinger, Moore, Pratt, Pudwill, Roehm,
Roth, Wishek, Weber
Websites relating to Logan County:
McIntosh County US GenWeb
McIntosh County (Wikipedia)
McIntosh County Demographics (ePodunk) and more
McIntosh County Demographics (city-data.com)
McIntosh County Historical Society
City of Ashley
Lehr Community Profile
City of Wishek