We’ve launched a new web portal! Visit findhistory.nd.gov to search our collections.
Due to a road closure, the Killdeer Mountain Battlefield State Historic Site is temporarily closed.
McIntosh County
Region 1
1 Mr. Max Wishek, Ashley
2 Mr. and Mrs. Sam Eszlinger, Ashley
3 Mr. Reinhold Roeszler, Ashley
4 Mr. Fred Breitmeyer, Ashley
5 Mrs. Christina Sayler, Wishek
6 Mr. Jacob Kessler (no photo), Wishek
7 Mrs. Elizabeth Kaseman, Wishek
8 Mrs. Pauline Wiesz, Wishek
9 Mr. John Salzer, Wishek
10 Mr. H.E. Timm, Wishek
11 Christina Ulmer, Elizabeth and Emma Diegel, Wishek
12 Mrs. Theresa Meuller, Wishek
13 Mr. Edwin Boschee, Zeeland
14 Mr. John Sprenger, Wishek
15 Mr. Christ Retzer, Ashley
16 Mrs. Pauling Greenberg; St. Paul, MN and Ashley
17 Otto Bertsch, Bismarck
Portions of the following interviews pertain to McIntosh County:
Fred Kurle, #1, Grant County
Louise Dokter, #8, Sheridan
Tape #1 Mr. Max Wishek
000 – Introduction
020 – Politics
177 – Anti-German attitudes in WWI
273 – WWII
392 – Hysteria in WWI
432 – Politics
484 – Effect of 1929 Stock Market Crash
505 – Effect of Crash on bank closings
536 – Depression; Attitudes of people
621 – Ashley Library
660 – Ashley community
686 – Local politics
713 – Politics; Depression
801 – Community leaders
882 – Railroad
910 – Community leaders continued
940 – Family history; Mother’s historical activities
978 – Father’s history and activities
002 – Family history
029 – Bad years; Migration to the west coast
089 – Family life then and now
140 – Recreation
168 – Political awareness then and now; Power of the media
226 – Raising and selling cattle
257 – Changes in North Dakota
271 – Grain prices
314 – Railroad freight rates; Labor unions
403 – Growth of Ashley
444 – End of tape
Tape #2 Mr. and Mrs. Sam Eszlinger
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
143 – Danzig
205 – Butchering; Preservation of meat
295 – Gathering ice for food preservation
306 – Preservation and preparation of meat
381 – Farm machinery; Methods; Working crews
590 – Horses
610 – Cooks for work crews
665 – Hired help; Farm hands
675 – Husking corn
728 – Canning; Food preservation
764 – Making clothing
783 – Area towns now disappearing; Elevators
810 – Politics
836 – Depression
973 – Family life then and now; Recreation
030 – Education
054 – Community recreation
079 – Religion
097 – Education
111 – Automobile transportation
148 – His trucking business
180 – Wilton-Washburn Lignite Mines; Hauling Coal
260 – Hauling cattle; Livestock
372 – End of tape
Tape #3 Mr. Reinhold Roeszler
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
132 – Education
140 – Farming methods; Machinery
272 – Horses
292 – Family farm; Family history
349 – Farming methods; Machinery continued
479 – Feed for livestock; Horses
549 – Raising chickens; Geese; Cows
579 – Preservation and selling of dairy products
649 – Special family occasions
717 – Food preservation; Root cellars
797 – Depression; Food supply
813 – Method for building cistern
857 – Well drilling
368 – Raising cattle; Livestock
935 – Depression
974 – Butchering; Meat preservation
013 – Early years of farming; Cattle raising; Wheat prices
062 – Depression
083 – Raising turkeys
128 – Depression
187 – Politics
328 – Community leaders
400 – Community togetherness
427 – Recreation
479 – End of tape
Tape #4 Mr. Fred Brietmeyer
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
080 – Father’s dray line business
105 – Early Ashley; Purchasing supplies from surrounding towns
117 – His early employment; Horse business
175 – Family homestead
188 – Homesteading in Canada
197 – Restaurant business
230 – Ethnic groups; Syrians
289 – Restaurant continued
299 – Threshing business; Farm machinery
401 – Military service; WWI
560 – Return to Ashley; Farming
671 – Depression
704 – Bootlegging during Depression
776 – Early Marmarth
791 – Bootlegging continued
815 – Pool hall business; During Depression
895 – WPA projects
907 – Electricity
974 – Ashley community
998 – Growth of Ashley
022 – Life then and now
039 – Recreation; Baseball
133 – Area nationalities; Syrians; Jews
276 – Politics
455 – End of tape
Tape #5 Mrs. Christina Sayler
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history; Recollections of South Dakota
059 – Home remedies; Medicine; Midwives
095 – Marriage
116 – General conversation concerning her health and age
145 – End of tape
Tape #6 Mr. Jacob Kessler
147 – Introduction
165 – Family history
282 – Marriage; Family; Farm
399 – Farm; Varied occupations; Retirement
493 – Area settlers
563 – Farming methods
572 – Family
704 – Religion
733 – Family history
797 – Depression
987 – Politics
041 – Recreation
076 – Community leaders and businessmen
198 – Family life then and now
211 – Depression
269 – Soil conservation; Crops
345 – Farm machinery
388 – Education; Family history
452 – End of tape
Tape #7 Mrs. Elizabeth Kaseman
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history; Homestead
093 – Midwives
104 – Producing food; Dairy products
112 – Bad years
117 – Early streetcar
127 – Area settlers
139 – Medicine; Doctors; Home remedies
157 – Handiwork; Baking
165 – Raising livestock; Fowl
171 – Depression
200 – Education
215 – Food preservation
225 – Family life then and now
239 – Farm machinery; Methods
250 – Depression
259 – Recreation and religion
272 – Prairie fires; Bad winters; Depression
327 – Children’s education
338 – Opinion of North Dakota
344 – Crops
350 – Flu epidemics
365 – Food preservation
394 – Politics
405 – Purchasing supplies
414 – Early Venturia; Danzig
432 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
468 – General conversation; Scattered questions
483 – Family history
512 – Recollection of good and bad years
525 – General conversation concerning children and family
625 – Handiwork
651 – Husband’s history
680 – Endo of tape
Tape #8 Mrs. Pauline Wiesz
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
133 – Midwives
148 – Medicine; Doctors
165 – Family history
178 – Education
196 – Family farm
202 – Food preservation
212 – Home remedies
222 – Family history
246 – Education
265 – Family history
287 – Depression coupled with family history
343 – Community and family life then and now
370 – Discussion concerning domestic duties
394 – Discussion concerning her children
473 – Religion
483 – Family farm
498 – Husband’s history
536 – Politics; WPA
579 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
590 – Milking cows; Family chores
620 – Raising livestock
635 – General family discussion
657 – Meal preparation in hard years
702 – Area mills; Purchasing flour
717 – End of tape
Tape #9 Mr. John Salzer
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
096 – Family farms; Crops raised
109 – Area nationalities
122 – General discussion
150 – North Dakota family farm coupled with Depression years
202 – Family history
237 – Raising food
248 – Various occupations
262 – Farm machinery
295 – Area settlers
303 – Education
314 – Employment in Russia before immigration
328 – Discussion spoken in German
427 – Politics
441 – Government work projects
457 – Fuel sources for heating purposes
473 – Depression
487 – Purchasing flour in area
498 – Crops raised; New farming methods
518 – Epidemics
530 – Immigration regulations
566 – County leaders; Area settlers
603 – Community and family life then and now
627 – Farming; Work crews
643 – German discussion
729 – Religion
762 – Automobile transportation
780 – Preserving meat
792 – Area settlers
807 – Raising livestock; Horses
838 – Discussion concerning family
849 – End of tape
Tape #10 Mr. H. E. Timm
Tape A
000 – Introduction
020 – General conversation; Area settlers
038 – Family history coupled with education
056 – Early Wishek; Town organization
137 – Area settlers; Businessmen; John Wishek chain of banks
283 – Depression; Raising cattle and horses
391 – Attitudes of people during Depression
442 – Area settlers; Nina F. Wishek and family
492 – Surrounding area banks
529 – General discussion
542 – Discussion concerning banks and bankers
731 – Bad years and depression
995 – WWI attitudes coupled with early McIntosh County history
113 – Tri-County Fair
159 – Politics
310 – Construction of New Capitol Building
345 – Politics; Government work projects in Wishek
500 – City and county government; Area road improvement projects
858 – End of tape
Tape B
000 – Wishek German Club; Blind pigs
121 – Well known town characters
147 – Blind pigs
211 – Wishek newspapers
282 – Recreation
301 – Religion
424 – Area nationalities; Recreation
531 – Blacksmith shops
641 – Early Wishek
677 – Discussion concerning early days; Style of living
756 – Area dance bands and dances
878 – Courtships; Recreation spots
907 – Telephone communication
944 – Technological changes affecting lifestyles
017 – Quality of life then and now
094 – Personal recollection
461 – End of tape
Tape C
000 – Personal recollection continued
058 – Ethnic groups; Jewish settlers in area
167 – Railroads; Dray lines
194 – County leaders
274 – Tri-County fair
287 – Agricultural advancement
331 – Hunting
431 – Farmer’s Union; Co-ops coupled with family history
515 – North Dakota farms; Crops; Farming methods; Raising livestock
630 – End of tape
Tape #11 Mrs. Christina Ulmer
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
045 – Education
067 – Summer kitchens
080 – Area settlers
087 – Language adjustments
095 – Area nationalities
101 – Hard years; Crops
115 – Marriage; Courtship
142 – Husband’s and father’s farm
155 – Medicine; Midwives
164 – Flu epidemic
176 – Raising livestock; Fowl
181 – Food preservation
206 – Home remedies; Medicine and doctors
213 – Religion
251 – Education; Her children
261 – Family farm; Raising fowl
276 – Hunting; Preparation and preservation of meat
325 – Family life then and now
352 – Bad winters
372 – Railroads
399 – Family history; Area settlers
413 – Politics
429 – Government work projects
457 – Family history
515 – Railroads; Transients; Gypsies
580 – Philosophy of life
605 – Various occupations
623 – Early Danzig
663 – Telephone communication
686 – Electricity
705 – End of tape
Tape #11 Elizabeth and Emma Diegel
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
076 – Area settlers
086 – Midwives
107 – Depression; Crops
125 – Raising food; Preserving food
150 – Farming methods
165 – Raising livestock; Fowl
173 – Religion
183 – Sale of grains
193 – Railroad
205 – Danzig; Burnstad
219 – Depression
234 – Farm machinery
250 – Family history
255 – General conversation
268 – Family history coupled with German-Russian history
398 – Education
426 – Family history
443 – Community life then and now
452 – Early homestead days
492 – Telephone Communication
504 – Fuel sources for heating and baking purposes
615 – Clearing and preparation of land
660 – Transportation
713 – End of tape
Tape #12 Mrs. Theresa Meuller
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
106 – Early Napoleon
117 – Marriage
138 – Family homestead
184 – General conversation
203 – Dakota family life; General conversation
222 – Process for making cottage cheeses
237 – Her family
248 – Midwives
330 – Livestock; Crops
443 – Homestead
470 – Meat preservation
503 – Depression; Early years in North Dakota
578 – Baking bread
612 – Ferry transportation
668 – Gardening
730 – Food preservation
779 – Canning process
808 – Education
846 – Raising children
854 – Religion
884 – Hard times
917 – Family life then and now
942 – Home remedies
993 – Homestead; Wells
006 – Electricity; Wind chargers
036 – Philosophy of life
069 – Religion
090 – Handiwork
124 – End of tape
Tape #13 Mr. Edwin Boschee
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
150 – Family farm
175 – Education
191 – Early Zeeland; Businesses
249 – Family history
258 – Bad years; Crops
270 – Wood collecting for homes; Machinery used
315 – Zeeland businesses
337 – Farming methods; Oxen
365 – Area nationalities
377 – Moving methods for buildings
400 – Farm machinery
442 – Family history
480 – Politics
490 – Farming; Bad years
563 – Various public jobs
617 – PCA and bank business
715 – Politics
768 – Farming
811 – Bootlegging; Prohibition
876 – Farming methods; Practices; Crop rotation
090 – Soil conservation programs; County agents
158 – End of tape
Tape #14 Mr. John Sprenger
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
156 – His marriage and homestead
100 – Farming methods; crops
111 – Prairie fires
118 – Farm machinery; Horses
134 – Politics
177 – WWI attitudes in area
185 – Midwives; Doctors
203 – Depression
218 – Selling grains; Wishek
230 – Farm machinery; Work crews
268 – Cooks for work crews
185 – Work crews continued
304 – Fuel sources for heating and baking purposes
333 – Raising foods
339 – Well-drilling
365 – Food preservation
376 – Feed sources for livestock during Depression
397 – Depression
425 – Government work project
482 – Education
490 – Religion
504 – Recreation
516 – End of tape
Tape #15 Mr. Christ Retzer
000 – Introduction
020 – Family history
155 – Farming methods
163 – Family homestead
120 – Farming methods; Work animals
172 – Crops raised
182 – Bad years
192 – Raising and preserving food
203 – Farming methods; Machinery
300 – Hauling grain; Grain prices
322 – Farming methods; Machinery
362 – Work crews
367 – Education
391 – Marriage
408 – Family history
427 – Religion
436 – Bad years; Raising livestock
461 – Politics
521 – Recreation
548 – Railroad
551 – Ashley murder trial
576 – Community and family life then and now
615 – Fuel sources for heating and baking purposes
628 – Depression
670 – Area nationalities
682 – Syrians
699 – Purchasing goods via mail order
707 – Government work projects
737 – Farm machinery
749 – Midwives; Doctor and children
760 – Bad years
768 – WWI era; Attitudes
798 – Soil conservation programs
834 – End of tape
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
State Museum and Store: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
We are closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. We are closed at noon Christmas Eve if it falls on Mon.-Thurs. and are closed all day if it falls on Fri.-Sun.
State Archives: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F, except state holidays; 2nd Sat. of each month, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 701.328.2091 or archives@nd.gov.
State Historical Society offices: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F, except state holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: 701.328.2666
email: history@nd.gov
Social Media:
See all social media accounts
