Bartlett is about twenty miles east of Devils Lake and is about as close as you can get to ghost town without actually being totally abandoned… there is perhaps one occupied property, and we saw the remains of several crumbling homes. The former town site is quickly getting overrun by nature — the roads are shaded even on a bright day like this one. As we drove into town, untrimmed branches reached into the road to greet us, nearly touching the sides of the car.
The Andreas Historical Atlas of Dakota (pre-statehood), published in 1884, describes Bartlett like this:
This place, located near the east line of the county, on Section 25, Town 153, Range 61 was commenced in the fall of 1882, upon the completion of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway to that point, and for a number of months had a wonderful growth and business, the population, at its maximum, reaching 1,000. there were 250 buildings in the place, and the people had high hopes that its boom would be a permanent one. But the laying out of Lakota, in Nelson County, four miles east of Bartlett, and the establishment of the county seat at the new town, resulted in the removal of the bulk of its business to Lakota and the city of Devils Lake. One hotel building was taken down and removed to West End, in Benson County, where it was metamorphosed into a number of cottages. There remains at Bartlett two hotels, several stores, and altogether some twenty five or thirty buildings.
A population of over one thousand in 1884 had become just 120 residents by 1910.
US Census Data for Bartlett
Total Population by Place
1910 – 120
1920 – 98
1930 – 67
1940 – 78
1950 – 51
1960 – 39
1970 – 19
1980 – Delisted
The railroad tracks just outside of Bartlett were the site of a terrible railroad accident in April, 1907. The Great Northern Oriental Limited derailed just after 1am, rolled down an embankment, and caught fire when a gas tank exploded, an explosion so loud it was heard in Lakota, four miles away. Three died, including mail clerk Harry Jones who was killed instantly when the car he was riding in was telescoped by another, and an unknown Greek laborer who burned to death, trapped in the wreckage.
There were reports that the tracks had been tampered-with, a suspicion perhaps bolstered by a derailment that had happened less than a year prior, on the same stretch of track, just 100 yards away.
When you’re the only resident left in town, there’s nobody around to object when you rename N. 24th Street to Bartlett Rd. with a paint brush.
This part of the state in the Ramsey/Nelson/Grand Forks County area has a couple cool little places to visit, like Whitman, Mapes, and Niagara.
Photos by Troy Larson and Terry Hinnenkamp
Ghosts of North Dakota 
My favorite picture is the last – look at the detail! And, the curtains are still in tact. This is so neat. Thanks, guys.
-MM
LikeLike
So much history of ND is being lost with the abandoning of all these towns. Maybe one day they will be revived! Thanks for the pictures.
LikeLike
revived by who?
LikeLike
Exactly, by who?
LikeLike
If I could get a deed to the property I would construct a new home and residence, and I am sure their would be others to follow, the ones that like the peace that the county living provides,
LikeLike
Good for you!
LikeLike
Wouldn’t that be ‘whom’?
LikeLike
Within the next 5 years I will be starting a Abandoned ND Preservation Project to preserve abandoned farms, and towns buildings.
LikeLike
Hey, my motorcycle mechanic lives there. I wouldn’t call it dead yet, there’s still 2 people there.
LikeLike
My mom went to grade school in Bartlett and the family farm was right across Highway 2 from the Bartlett sign. When I was in grade school my mom drove school bus for Lakota and we would pick up a couple of kids that lived in Bartlett. Wayne Hooey and his wife are now the only residents. The town was built because of the railroad and when one of the railroad officials came through he said the town was actually supposed be further down and shortly after that the entire town burned to the ground so then they moved the town to the correct spot and rebuilt.
LikeLike
I rode that bus back in the day and lived NW of Bartlett
LikeLike
Hey Lisa! Don’t forget about the pig farm 😀 Driving by that on the bus on a hot day was always a blast lol I rode the bus from school in Lakota home to Doyon. We dropped off one kid in Bartlett in the early 80’s. Mikey was his first name, he was my mortal enemy lol We’d fight over who got to sit next to your mom and run the lights 🙂
LikeLike
Michele, when you were between one and two we lived about one mile from Bartlett on an old farm for a summer. I’m sure you don’t remember it but it was quite a step up when we moved to Devils Lake! Ask your dad why we had to leave the farm!! 😉
LikeLike
I remember seeing pictures of that place, isn’t that where I fell down the stairs and got up rubbing my butt and asking for a cookie? lol
LikeLike
Yes, that was the place.
LikeLike
Great shot of the door.
Are any of these houses liveable or are they all literally falling to pieces?
LikeLike
Cool old trailer!
LikeLike
That “cool old trailer” was my home for many years. My Mon & Dad bought that in 1959 & at the age of 12 I had running water for the first time. I have a picture of it taken from the same spot as this one when our home new and most of those tree were very small.
LikeLike
We were looking at this page at work and Richard Hessling, a co-worker, said he used to live in that trailer many years ago. He lives in Grand Forks now.
LikeLike
So what was Hooey Ave. called originally? I do have a picture of the Hooey Ave. sign somewhere but the presence of a couple dogs dissuaded me from investigating more closely.
LikeLike
I knew the Hooeys. I was in school with their son, Cole, when I went to school in Lakota from ’97 to ’03. As far as I knew, they were the only ones living there the whole time.
I just love your site. 🙂
LikeLike
Here is an interesting link to a great northern railway site, with a number of ND depots including Bartlett. http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/GNRHSBohi/Forms/AllItems.aspx
LikeLike
Thanks for the link! My grandmother was a telegrapher and business agent for Great Northern back around the turn of the century – I mean 19th Century! Not many women telegraphers back then…
LikeLike
My grandmother, Victoria Schroeder, lived in Bartlett. I have many childhood memories of visiting Bartlett and I knew the stories about “When Bartlett was the end of the Great Northern Railroad.” My grandmother had a beautiful garden with stepping stone pathway and a wishing well. Her house and the Foley house next door were burned down by vandals at some point. I am afraid, because of wells, cellars and heavy brush to explore the east end of the town where she lived. I have a clipping about a birthday party given for my grandfather, Charlie, for his 65th birthday. It claimed that 147 people attended that party, more than the population of the town.
LikeLike
Hello, Sister Donna (Janet) Schroeder :
Your grandfather, Charles {Charley} William Schroeder and my grandfather Otto Ferdinand Schroeder were brothers.
We are able to trace back two more generations in North America but have no names or details of the previous generation Schroeder family in Karzig, Prussia.
Has your life’s journey found anything about our great, great, great grandfather?
LikeLike
I do not have anything before great, great grandfather. I was grateful for the family history done by Otto’s descendents. I have three volumes of the family history. My sister lived in Germany for a time but did not get to investigate the earlier generations of Schroeders. I have a copy of the newspaper that was done for the Centennial of Bartlett – KW Schroeder looked like a tough customer.
LikeLike
By chance have you ever lived in Downey, CA? Thank you
LikeLike
I have the “Bartlett Was Once A Boom Town” eight page supplement to the Friday, June 12, 1971 Devil’s Lake Journal. Is that the article you reference?
On page seven of that article is “tough customer” Carl Wilhelm {William} Ferdinand Schroeder. However the picture quality is poor. Do you know who might have the original photograph so that a high quality image might be captured for all of us to hand down to future generations?
Yes, I also have the extensive volumes done by Donald Schroeder and Kathleen Schroeder.
LikeLike
Are you related to Florance Schroeder Unglesbee?
LikeLike
Florence Schroeder Unglesbee was my father’s older sister.
LikeLike
Looking for info on Clyde and Florance unglesbee
CLUnglesbee1984@hotmail.com any information is appreciated
LikeLike
Jeannette Barron Olson where are you? Please contact me on facebook! Who knew that Bartlett would get us in contact again?! Memories! Also, Lynn M-yes we were the Dykhoff’s that moved to Abercrombie for a short while. Rob is in Eagan, MN, Rick in Blaine, MN, and I am in Minot, ND as well as Bill, & Tracy, & Joni is in Auburn, NE.(amazing that you remembered my red hair!) I also remember Mrs. Schroeders wonderful garden! It was magical-paper mache animals along the walkways……
LikeLike
Great to hear from you, Leslie! I don’t remember Bill, Tracy or Joni. Are they your siblings? If so, they must be quite a bit younger than you. Don’t recall for sure, but I’m guessing that you were in about 5th or 6th or 7th grade when you were in Abercrombie. My wife Donna and I live 4 miles south of Colfax (not far from Abercrombie). We have been active this past year in the anti-drunk driving campaign in ND since losing our daughter (Allison Deutscher) and her family from West Fargo to a drunk driver on I-94 back in July of 2012.
I love this, fairly new to us, website. Take care.
Lynn.
LikeLike
Growing up on the family farm two miles west of Bartlett, it was our post office. I recall a grocery store, grain elevator, run by the Sundeens, and the post office in the home of the Cruises. I am planning to visit what’s left of Bartlett and the two cemeteries where a number of relatives are buried. I remember the empty school house and was told that the church was cut in half and moved 4 miles west to Doyon. Grandma Balsley, Foleys, Hansons, Cruises, Unglesbees, Barrons were some of the families living in the village. I have my 40th class reunion at Lakota and hope to visit the surrounding area in June.
LikeLike
OMG! Robert and Pearl Barron were my grandparents, and Blanche Balsley was my great grandmother. I remember when my grandparents ran a general store just across from the railroad tracks, then later moved into a trailer house in Barlett. My grandfather worked for the railroad and he would wave to me with his lantern every night before I went to bed. My aunt and uncle, Bev and Lawrence Dykhoff, also lived in Bartlett, along with my aunt Karol and Andy Frelich. I also remember the post office being in someone’s house that I would walk to to get the mail when I was a young girl. Does anyone know if my grandmother Balsley’s house is still there. I have not been back to Bartlett since my grandfather Barron passed away when I was younger. I was in Lakota for my grandmother Barron’s (Pearl) funeral 33 years ago. I actually remember some of the houses that are shown in the pictures, talk about bringing back memories. I would love to revisit Barlett before it totally disappears. I also remember the Foleys and Hansons.
LikeLike
Interesting! Was reading your post and saw the name “Dykhoff”. I am wondering if that is the same family that moved to the Abercrombie, ND area probably in the early 60’s? Reason I ask is that they had at least 3 kids that came to our school, but seems they only stayed for a couple of years. If memory serves me right, I believe that 1 boy was named Rich and his sister was Leslie. Seems that I remember that Leslie had beautiful long red hair. I don’t know for sure, but I want to guess the other boy was Rob. I remember them talking about going to school at Lakota before they came here. Any idea where they might be today? I also want to say that they operated the café in Abercrombie for a while. Can’t be sure of that one though.
Lynn
LikeLike
Jeanne,
Don’t know if you remember me or not, but my parents were Kenneth & Cecile Thompson. I have many memories of your family visiting Grandma B’s in the summers. The house is still standing to my knowledge (I haven’t been through town for quite a while now) but is in very tough shape. We live on a farm just south of Bartlett a few miles. Philip used to visit my parents when they were on the farm, but that has been many, many years ago now. Where are all your siblings at now? I remember Philip, Bobbie, Mike and you, but I think I’m missing some others?? I am not on facebook, but if you want to email me that would be fine.
LikeLike
Yes I remember you Deb. Phillip died in October of 2016, lived in Louisiana. Bobby lives in Texas. Mike lives here in Wisconsin. Jack and Rick both live in Minnesota. I remember my family living across the road from your family’s farm…at least I think it was across the road. Are all of my grandma’s (Pearl) brothers and sisters gone now. Lost touch with all of them after my dad was killed in 1976. Would love to visit Bartlett before it is totally gone. Phil and I came to Lakota for grandma’s funeral and stayed at aunt Dee’s house. Phil said he had been to Bartlett but that there was nothing left of it that we would recognize. I have reconnected with Leslie after 36 years which is so awesome. I remember visiting your farm and all those chickens running around.
LikeLike
Jeanette,
Nice to hear from you! Sorry to hear of Phillip’s passing. I do not remember Jack or Rick I guess….they must be younger than me??
Yes, I remember you guys living across the road for Mom & Dad’s farm…and yes, Mom always had chickens!!! We had chicken for Sunday dinner most of the time!
All of Aunt Pearl’s siblings are gone now. My Dad died in 1994 and Mom in 1996. I think Mom was the last to go. Aunt Leona(Gerald’s wife) passed away just a few years ago. I just found that out this past winter. They lived in Washington. I don’t know if you remember them or not. They had a daughter, Jill, that was about the same age as you, I think. She came up and spent time at our farm a couple summers when she was in high school.
Joyce Ralston(Aunt Dee’s daughter) just lost her husband (Don) last winter and she is the one that told me Aunt Leona had died.
Last summer, we ran into most of the Dykhoff family at a Turkey BBQ in Lakota! It was nice to see them all again, too! I hadn’t seen them since their Dad’s funeral, and hadn’t talked to them for years!!!
There isn’t much left of Bartlett anymore. Grandma’s house is still there, but falling down I’m afraid. The Hanson’s trailer is still there too! You probably remember that!
Many good memories of lots of family gathered at Grandma’s!!
It was nice hearing from you! If you ever make a trip to ND, please let me know!
LikeLike
At the time you lived north of the Thompsons, we (the Leiths) were the owners of the farm you lived on. We lived in Minot, North Dakota from 1957 to 1961. Rick and Deb Marquart now own the farm. Lots of fond memories come alive reading your family stories.
Jim Leith
LikeLike
Hi Jim!
This is kind of a neat site to read about the past! Many, many nice memories.
LikeLike
The Post office you remember was in my Grandmother’s house. Her name was Dorothy Cruse. When we visited in the summers I remember everyone coming to get mail in the mornings while we ate breakfast. She was the last postmaster in Bartlett. It was closed when she retired.
LikeLike
Need info on Florance and Clyde Unglesbee CLUnglesbes1984@hotmail.com
LikeLike
There is no I in Cruses. Dorothy Cruse was my Grandmother. She was the last postmaster Bartlett had. They let her work to retirement then closed the Post office. I can remember everyone coming to check their PO Boxes when we would be eating breakfast visiting from Mpls in the summers.
LikeLike
I found a letter written by my great-grandfather Mathias Voerding from Bartlett to his home in Foley, Minnesota, in 1915. The envelope has the old traditional printed round dated postmark showing Bartlett, ND, with the date Oct 7 1915. He apparently was working in the area during harvest because in the letter he comments about “getting 20 to 25 bushels of wheat to the acre” and “70 of oats.” I have no idea how long he stayed there, as he had a second wife and young child, as well as several older children, back in Minnesota. I was interested in finding the location of the town and did not realize until I found this website that the town is nearly gone. The photos are wonderful, but poignantly sad.
LikeLike
Dear Doug Voerding,
My great-grandfather was also Mathias Voerding of Foley Minnesota. I am the granddaughter of one of the older children you mentioned, Andrew Voerding. He had one brother, Albert, and four sisters, Eleanor, Agnes, Louise, and Della.
I came across this website by accident after doing a search using the name Mathias Voerding. Is your grandfather Albert Voerding from St. Cloud Minnesota? Any information you can share with me is greatly appreciated. I love looking into my family history and my grandfather shared so many wonderful stories about his family and their life. I have great memories of those stories.
LikeLike
Ruth Ann,
My grandfather was Alfred, not Albert. Albert was born in June 1887 and died in September 1888, two months before Alfred was born.
Your mother and my father were cousins.
I have done extensive research on the Voerding family. We have relatives in Germany. and the Voerding name is traced back to the 1700s in Germany.
I would love to share more with you. Please contact me. You can find my address if you google my name.
LikeLike
Doug,
I realized my error as I told my sister about your post. She reminded me of uncle Alfred…not Albert. My error, however, helped me to learn that my grandfather had an older brother BEFORE Alfred who died. I didn’t know that. I visited your grandfather’s home many times with my grandparents, Andrew and Viva. My sister, Kathy and I traveled with them to Minnesota during the summers of our youth and we visited each of my grandfather’s siblings. In the late 80s she and I also attended a family reunion in Minnesota where we met relatives from Germany. My grandmother, Viva, was with us as was my mother, Leila. Were you at the reunion? I seem to remember a male cousin of my mom’s named Leo. Is Leo your father? I will definitely be in touch after the holidays. I love to explore family history and am anxious to hear what you have discovered about our ancestors. Froeliche Weinachten! Ruth Ann
LikeLike
I have great-grandparents buried in the cemetery on the south edge of Bartlett. They homesteaded well to the south along the channel between Stump Lake and Devils Lake (the land is now 2/3rds under water). Bartlett was the “go to” town at that time – early 1900s. The last time I attempted to visit the graves I was thwarted by the chest-high overgrown grass, filled with mosquitos and wood ticks, on the short road to the cemetery.
LikeLike
Last I heard Wayne and Shirley Hooey were alive and well. They are also pretty lively.
LikeLike
Leslie, I have finally found a way to contact you, can you believe it? All it took was to view this website about Bartlett. It is simply amazing. The pictures of Bartlett brought back all the good times we had while growing up with Grandma and Grandpa Barron, and Grandma Balsley. I miss them all so very much. I am so excited to be able to contact you and your family. I have tried for so long, almost gave up. Glad I found this website. Will contact you on facebook! I can’t believe I found my closest cousin through this website.
Jeanie
LikeLike
Bartlett ND once had a population over 10,000 people from 1878 until about the early 1880s It had everything from hotels, lumber yards, businesses. It burned around 1881 about the time when Lakota was in the making. Bartlett once had a Semi pro baseball team also. It was once called the town the end of the track. But, ND and James j Hill had other plans and the railroad pushed on further going west. Bartlett once had a block long saloon, schools, churches, and a rumor of a big load of gold stolen and buried somewhere in the community. Also, someone in the area once sabotaged railroads that moved through town heading either east or west. This could be a metal detectors dream if you can go about 2 feet down. There is probably much gold and silver with coins alone around the business district. All the farm land going out to the cemetery northeast of town was once houses. If you were to go west that way, the town spread out for at least a mile or more where the hotels and lumber yards once were. If you go east, the town easily went out to the hog farm that was once in use and the farm house south of there was part of the town along with other farm houses nearby. If you go south of the town, that was all houses and such.
LikeLike
“Ghosts of North Dakota” is a great site – Not only do I enjoy the photos but look at the all the family history information these few pictures have generated. Very Interesting. Many of the Bartlett “kids” went to school in Doyon and were good friends of mine. My Dad, Harvey Rice, had both the Bartlett and Doyon Mail Routes. In the summer I sometimes rode with him in the red jeep and we would stop and pick up mail at Cruises’ Many times we were served lemonade and cookies. Good Memories of Bartlett.
LikeLike
The 1956 Doyon School Annual has a good “History of Bartlett” page. I don’t know if this page will accept jpeg or not?
LikeLike
Hello Richard {Rick} Allen Schroeder.
I had not looked at the “Bartlett Was Once ‘Boom Town'” for a long time and my memory was off. It was not for the Centennial but for a supplement of the Devils Lake Daily Journal dated June 12, 1971. You have almost all that I have except a few pictures from my grandmother Victoria that I have scanned into my pictures. I will try to find out if the Devils Lake Journal knows the source of the pictures in the supplement. I do not have any that were in the supplement. I have one of my grandfather and a mule that was taken when he was in Canada and another taken at a somewhat later date plus a good old photo of a thrashing rig but I do not know whose rig it was. I do know that at one point my grandfather Charles Schroeder had a thrashing rig.
LikeLike
Hello Sister Donna (Janet) Schroeder
Yes, one of our relatives must have been the source of photos in Devil’s Lake Supplement.
I would be pleased to fund necessary scanning work if the photo owner can be found.
Seems a shame not to have a better quality picture to pass down to future generations.
Specifically the picture on Page 7 of the supplement showing our common Great Great Grandfather Carl Wilhelm {William} Ferdinand Schroeder (1816 to 1897).
LikeLike
Please any info on Florance and Clyde Unglesbee ware they lived anything I am his gg grand son I want to visit his old home and go to Lakota ware he’s barried I need to know his linieage CLUnglesbee1984@hotmail.com thank u
LikeLike
I did get a response from the Devils Lake Daily Journal. They do not have the originals. The paper is saved in the state historical archives but that would not be better than what we have. my best guess would 1620321be that it might be with the family that had the home farm. I will see.if I can find out who is left if anyone.
LikeLike
Richard Allen Schroeder
There are some possibilities of old Schroeder pictures. My e-mail address is dschroe2@css.edu if you are interested.
LikeLike
Jeanie, I have tried to find you on facebook, but lots of Jeanette Olson’s! And I haven’t received any requests from you. What town do you live in? Please keep trying. And Hi to Verlin Hanson! I keep in touch with Cathy on Facebook. Great website-I love remembering growing up in Bartlett.
LikeLike
My grandparents were Wendell and Elaine Hanson. I saw they were mentioned in some of the earlier posts. My grandfather worked for Burlington railroad and my mother Cathy has shared many stories about living in the depot. My uncle Verlin posted a couple years ago. The trailer was their home. As their granddaughter, I am grateful to have quite a few memories from there. I have always wanted to save the horse tie pole shown in the trailer photo! I remember eating peas from my grandmothers garden and riding in the back of the truck to the spot where the garbage was burned. I recognize quite a few names in the earlier posts and I know a lot of you head back to Lakota for the turkey bbq every year. Thanks everyone for sharing stories!
LikeLike
I grew up here. My parents are the 2 remaining residents.
LikeLike
Hi Verlin, I was so surprised to see the trailer still standing! I will have to drive through some time to take a couple of pictures of it. I have memories of your “cool old trailer”. I remember grandma and grandpa being there for picnics with the family. I remember the depot. I remember all the neat bottles you used to find when you would dig in the garden…I do remember. Verlin’s, Dad, my uncle Wendel, was the mayor of Barlett for a while and Verlin and I are first cousins.
LikeLike
Wayne and Shirley Hooey are very much alive, well and active, and still happily living in Bartlett! 🙂
LikeLike
We lived in Bartlett in and moved to Texas in 1967, my parents were Darrel and Germaine Polak. I will be there next week 6/17/14 and plan on taking pictures.
LikeLike
Hi Rodney. I think we might be related. Germaine was a daughter of Belle (Mootz) Dahlin if that sounds right. My great-grandpa was Belle’s younger brother Harvey Mootz. I have been working on putting together a little history of the Mootz family.
LikeLike
My Great Grand uncle Herman Wolfgram and his wife Viola farmed the area for many years until his passing in 1962. Then his wife Viola and business partner Edward Blank farmed it until I don’t know when. Still trying to locate Viola and her maiden name and when they quit farming or sold the property.. I have a copy of a lawsuit over the property by Mr. Blanks children. Would appreciate any information anyone would have on them. Or pictures!
LikeLike
Does anyone have any connection to Frank and Mabel Simons? My father-in-law, Gerald F. Simons, passed away last Dec. and my husband and I are taking his ashes back to ND. We know he was born in Bartlett, but we would like to know if the Simons’ had a house in town or a farm outside of Bartlett.
Like many things, he did not talk about his life as a child.
LikeLike
if you want to find where your father inlaw lived in Bartlett, check the census. they usually list an address
LikeLike
My mom was born in Bartlett at my Great Grandparents home (Orchard) on December 31, 1935. I have grown up listening to stories about Bartlett, and was lucky enough to visit the little town in 1992 with my mom. Sadly, my mom just passed away last week, and I was visiting this site looking for “memories”. Thank you
LikeLike
My great-grandmother Mary Sundeen was born in Doyon and raised in Southam. Her grandparents, Emory and Lydia Cole, lived in Bartlett and he operated the elevator there from about 1892-1902. Her parents, Frank and Ann Cole, farmed south of Bartlett for several years.
LikeLike
Would anyone know if there is anyone by the name of Justus and Elizabeth Appeman or last name Affeman in any of the cemeteries around Bartlett? I believe they were Lutheran. They moved there in the 1893 from Zuriuch Ontario. Looking for ancestors. Thank you!
LikeLike
My aunt(my mother’s sister) was married to Harvey Appeman. I don’t know what his parents names were. There are 2 cemeteries near Bartlett, but I have not been in them in years, so I don’t know if there are any Appemans buried there. Harvey and Delilah are buried in the Lakota, ND cemetery. They have a daughter that lives in the area and a daughter that lives in Minnesota also.
LikeLike
With Respect to Justus Appeman, maps are very interesting. In 1909 Justus owned land on the western edge of Lakota Townshiup, closer to the town of Bartlett than to Lakota. In 1928 much of that land was owned by William Appeman. Later much of the same land was owned by Harvey Appeman. I did not know him but during my childhood, my parents who were married in 1937 during the drought and depression still talked with gratitude about a wonderful wedding gift they received from Harvey Appeman during those hard times. Harvey’s wife was a Schroeder.
LikeLike
The Harvey Appeman I’m referring to was married to Delilah Balsley.
LikeLike
I made a mistake, I think it was Harvey’s dad, Willkiam who married one of my grandfather’s sisters. I should have looked it up. Sorry.
LikeLike
Not a problem! I didn’t know if there was more than one Harvey Appeman in the area at that time!
LikeLike
Harvey Appeman was my great grandfather. His daughter/my grandma Joyce Ralston still lives north of Petersburg. Harvey had one other child Janice Hess who lives near Duluth, MN. I am working on piecing together some family history on the Appeman side. Little weak info so appreciate all I can find. I have some old family photos of Harvey & Dee as well as Harvey’s parents William and Ida. If you have more info or want to share mine please contact me at scott@skralston.com or search me on facebook. I appreciate any family tree info I can get branching up from Harvey Appeman and Dee Bosley. Birth and death dates, locations etc.
LikeLike
Scott,
I was saddened to hear of the death of your grandfather, Don Ralston.
He was a fine man with a fine family.
LikeLike
Thank you everyone! I recently traveled to Bartlett with my mother. We went to the cemeteries and found William, George, and Ida. George was a great grandfather to my mother, William would have been a brother to my mothers grandmother, Catrina (Catherine) Schrader. She was married in Hay township in Osnabrock. I live a mile from where she and her husband farmed. They are buried at the Zion Cemetery on the corner of hwy 5 and Osnabrock County Road 39. My mother is 75 this year. We took pictures at the cemetery with her and her ancestors. She was very excited. Who is the Sancho family that came down from Ontario with them? Anyone know?
Thank you for all your help.
LikeLike
I found information on William and I couldn’t read if he was a teacher or a preacher? The handwriting back then was so hard to read.
LikeLike
The cemetery that we found William and the other ancestors is quite small. Next summer my family will go to the cemetery and try to clean up around the Appeman Family. The bushes have over grown over a few of the graves, so we will trim them back. It needs loving care. I’m not sure of the name of the cemetery but would like to know if they could use donations.
LikeLike
My Great grandparents were Prime and Blanche Balsley from Bartlett. My grandma, Irene Kilstadius (Hejlik) was one of their daughters. My mom is Kay Kilstadius Heit (passed away in 1994). We went to visit Little Grandma B’s often. My mom was an only child, so her aunts, uncles and cousins meant everything to her and she was blessed to have many of them. In Grandma Balsley’s later years, she moved to Lakota and lived with my Grandma Irene in Lakota. As kids, I remember my family and siblings spending a lot of time in Lakota (almost every Sunday), Bartlett and at my Great Uncle and Aunt’s Ken and Cec Thompson’s farm. My grandparents, Elmer & Irene Kilstadius and Great Aunt Pearl Barron would come to our house in Devils lake for holidays. So many good memories.
LikeLike
During the blizzard of 1966 (end of February/early March) my mother, Mary, my sister Mary Beth and I stayed at your home in Devils Lake with the Thompson s (Cec, Ken, Cliff and Debbie) throughout the blizzard. Other neighbors came to your home because you had a fireplace to keep the house warm. We had been to the class B district basketball tournament taking place at Central high school with the Lakota team. The Heits were very gracious and generous. I don’t know where the food came from. We must have been there two or three nights. We lived half a mile from the Thompsons. Thanks for remembering Grandma Balsley. And thanks for what you did and provided in 1966.
Jim Leith
LikeLike
I remember the blizzard of ’66 and that we had many people staying at our house. I was 5 yrs old at the time and thought it was great to have such a huge sleepover! I remember my parents talking about how all the neighbors brought whatever food they had at their houses to ours as they all were coming to stay. My dad Larry Heit took video’s of all the kids (and there were many) as we were all lined up in our sleeping bags along the basement walls. We had 2 fireplaces, 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs so the house stayed warm. Dad had just built our house and we had just moved in July of ’65. Thank you Jim for the kind words about my parents. They both enjoyed the Leith family.
LikeLike
My great grand parents are Prime and Blanche Balsley from Bartlett. My grandmother Irene (Kilstadius and later Hejlik) was one of their daughters. My mom Kay (Kilstadius) Heit (passed away in 1994) was an only child, her many aunts, uncles and cousins meant everything to her and she was blessed to have many. She stayed close to them all throughout her life. As a child, our family spent a lot of time in Bartlett or Lakota and at my Great Uncle and Aunt’s Ken and Cec Thompson’s farm. In her later years, “little grandma B” moved to Lakota and lived with my Grandma Irene. I have many great memories of time spent with my Grandma and Grandpa, Elmer & Irene Kilstadius in Lakota and in my Grandpa’s barber shop! Or, grandma, Aunt Pearl, Aunt Cec and Aunt Dee all together giving perms. They were truly funny ladies when they were all together! Many holidays, were spent with my grand parents and Aunt Pearl Barron coming to our house in Devils Lake and many games of “pinochle” were a given! So many good memories!
LikeLike
My grandparents were Prime and Blanche and my parents were Verle and Connie. I have so many fond memories of Bartlett it’s hard to pick just a few to write about. Grandpa died when I was 3, so I have no memory of him, but my mom always told me he was the kindest, sweetest man. Little Grandma was always working in the kitchen–remember the chicken and noodles that came out of the sunken pot on the stove? I remember the story of her arm getting stuck in the wringer washer. She was my hero! My brother Duane and sisters Valerie and Lu and I were packed into the car nearly every weekend to visit Little Grandma.
We played in the fields and visited the outhouse. We walked the road out to Aunt Dee and Uncle Harvey’s place–I swore that was the most immaculate farm and farmhouse I had ever seen! We went to Lakota and sat in the barber chairs and visited with Aunt Irene and Uncle Harvey. Aunt Pearl was always nearby and I remember how tiny she always looked. We had big reunions in Bartlett when Aunt Verla’s family came to visit and Aunt Veda, Uncle Teddy and Uncle Husky.
Cousin Debby always came to town and I was whisked away to the farm when Aunt Cec and Uncle Ken had to do chores. How I loved that farm! Jimmy, I remember attending school with you and Debby for a short period of time–it must have been first or second grade–when we stayed with Little Grandma or we lived on the chicken farm outside of Doyon. You, Deb, me: The three musketeers!
My dad was a railroad man so we moved around constantly. He was a good friend of Wendy Hanson’s. My mom taught for one year at the Bartlett school in the early ’50s. She laughed that our cousin Doug did her in! Mom had narcolepsy (undiagnosed until the 1970s) and I think she had trouble staying awake all day.
One interesting note: Little Grandma was so quiet we didn’t learn much about her or Prime’s heritage. A few years ago, I was contacted by a distant cousin who said my great grandmother’s last name on Prime’s side was Olmstead. Anyone remember Uncle Teddy always claiming he was not a Swedish descendent? How funny!
Jackie, I remember how much my mom loved your mom. She always talked about Kay. We visited your house several times but missed the big blizzard party! Our grandparents on Mom’s side lived north of Webster so we often travelled between Bartlett and Webster, stopping in Devils Lake.
Dad and Mom are gone now. Dad died in the 1990s and Mom in 2005. In 2006, we placed Mom’s ashes in the Morse family plot in the Devil’s Lake cemetery. While we were in the area we visited cousin Deb and her husband Rick on their farm near Bartlett and we visited the remains of Little Grandma’s house. Deb had told us there had been some people who inhabited her house after she moved to Lakota, but we were able to scavenge a 1974 calendar that had a couple of dates in it that I believe were written by Little Grandma.
Such wonderful memories!
LikeLike
Connie
It is really great to here your story, because I was there, I’m Dean Verle Gritzmacher and would love to see you all again. How is Chip doing, bet you don’t call him that anymore. I hope you see this so we can talk more.
LikeLike
Dean,
How good to hear from you! This is Deb(Thompson) Marquart, Ken & Cec’s daughter. We are still in the area farming. We have 2 sons that farm with us and 1 son that lives about 90 miles away.
Any updates on your family would be great! We’ve kind of lost touch with the Wisconsin relatives since Grandma B’s passing and all of Mom’s generation.
Hope all is well with you.
LikeLike
Hello Deb
I’m having tough time trying to send you my story it keeps kicking out and I lose Everything. If some how I send this I live in Rhinelander Wisc. I’m the only Dean Gritzmacher in this town so call me write me or visit
LikeLike
Hi Connie. This is your cousin Jill from Washington. Would love to connect with you and your family. Have not been successful on facebook. Of course, not knowing last names it isn’t easy. We are thinking about taking a trip back there maybe next year. Would love to hear from you.
LikeLike
Great to hear from you, Jill. We are in Montrose, Colo. Please keep in touch.
LikeLike
I would love to hear about your family. Where they are now. If any are o n facebook, I would like to contact. Is Valerie still in North Dakota. And, what is her last name? I just connected with Leslie on facebook and we are going to meet up in March in Arizona so if any other cousins go there in March, (except you and Cliff Deb), let me know. I already know you are there in March Deb, was so sorry to have missed you last year! Hopefully you will be there when we are this year.
LikeLike
Great pictures. My place is just 25 miles south in Kloten. I will have to check Bartlett out next time next time I’m heading that direction.
LikeLike
Does anyone know who owns any of the houses in bartlett? I would be interested in buying one of the houses that may be too far gone to fix up. I would love to use the materials to build furniture and other things out of to keep memories alive before nature reclaims it.
Feel free to email me at: ndtroutslayer@gmail.com
LikeLike
I grew up just one mile north of Bartlett. Went to all 8 years in Bartlett school. Have fond memories of the people who lived there. Remember well Eastburn’s store. Mrs Eastburn taught me how to knit. Victoria’s garden was my magic place and I felt so special being allowed to walk in it. I think she instilled in me my love for gardening. I remember the Cruses and the Ungelsbees, all the schroeders, and the Aamodts. Grandpa and Grandpa Balsley, the foleys, The Hanson”s. Elaine Hanson was my teacher for several years. Loved that wonderful lady. Erma Sitar and Janice Appeman were my best friends and my worst enemies, depending on what day of the week it was. Girl threesomes are never very good. I remember Skip Keitzman and the day he died by being hrown from his horse. I remember school yard games and sliding down the fire escape pole and hoping we wouldn’t get caught. I live in Devils Lake now , will have to make a trip to Bartlett this summer.
LikeLike
Doris,
As you may remember Carl and Phyllis Dykhoff were my godparents.
I know they lived for a short time north of Bartlett, north of the Sitars,
but I only knew them as living in Sebeka.
Do you know anything of their sons, Carl Jr, Darrell, Barry and Allen?
the last time I saw them was when I presided at their parents funerals in Bluffton.
Jim Leith
LikeLike
Info on unglesbee please any would be ok ware they lived ware Clyde came from
CLUnglesbee1984@hotmail.Com
LikeLike
I just happened upon this page and see so many familiar names! I grew up there and I believe the house that the Hooeys live in was our house. My Dad, Raymond (Ton) Schroeder farmed and my Mom, Betty, was a teacher. We moved to Montana in about 1964. I remember the Dykhoffs, Hansons, Unglesbees, Cruises, Elgins, Aamodts, Balsleys and others. We farmed next to the Leiths and I believe they bought our land. I would love to connect with anyone who might remember me.
LikeLike
CLUnglesbee1984@hotmail.com any info on Clyde Unglesbee and my sweet great grandma Florance would be great I remember her I was only 8 but I remember her so sweet her mom I don’t remember her name had a great garden so she would say
LikeLike
My grandfather was Sheldon unglesbe
LikeLike
Was there in 1971 Merl Cruse was my wife’s step father
Remember Mrs Cruse being postmaster there. Also remember post office being in the Cruse home and helping Mr Cruse fill systern underneath their house.Some really great people, remember trailer being there also..
Dave M.
LikeLike