Mr. and Mrs. John P. Geidt came to McIntosh County on June 1 st , 1886, in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Just where they purchased the oxen and wagon is not known but when they came to America, their plans were all made to come directly to McIntosh County which was to be their future home. They also brought with them a cow, scythe and a plow.

Soon after coming to McIntosh County, Mr. Geidt filed on a homestead about ten miles north of Ashley, this land is near the present site of the village of Danzig. In later years, Mr. Geidt was Postmaster at Danzig.

The Geidts, as all other pioneers, suffered many hardships but they had come to make their home in this new land of opportunity and they could not be discouraged. Winter would soon be upon them and there was much to be done. The first thing was to erect a house. This was made of sod and stones and a small shelter was made for the cattle. Buffalo bones were picked and hauled to Ellendale and exchanged for flour and a few necessities, Two or three trips were made the first fall, each time provisions being purchased for the winter. These were hard trips, taking from five to seven days to make them. Mr. and Mrs. Geidt were the parents of six children, five of whom are living.

John J., the oldest, was one of the early settlers of McIntosh County and took an active part in the development of the county. He was Register of Deeds from 1894 to 1902. In 1906 to 1908, he served as Representative to the Legislature. He was extensively interested in the banking business in McIntosh County until he retired from business. He and his wife reside in Yakima, Washington.

Henry, the second son, is retired and is living at Medical Lake, Wash.

Theodore, died October 17 th , 1935, at Long Lake, S. D., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. W. Rabey. He settled in McPherson County, S. D., in 1889, and played a very prominent part in the building of that section of the country. He served McPherson County as Clerk of Court, County Auditor and States Attorney and the State of South Dakota as Representative and Senator.

William, another son, is a prominent citizen of Leola, S. D., and very successful in the General Merchandise Business. Anna, the only daughter, is a housewife, living in Washington.

Isadore, another son, was interested in the banking business in McIntosh County for several years. At present, he is Cashier of a Bank at Richardton, N. D., where he and his family reside.

In 1884, Andrew, John and Christoph Geiszler came to America. Their father died when they were small boys. They had to work hard and the future did not look very bright or promising for them. They had an Aunt that had visited her son in America and she told them how he had filed on land and of the wonderful opportunities there. It was then that these three brothers decided to come to America and seek their fortune.

Andrew was eighteen years old when he came to this country. He went to Armour, in southern Dakota Territory, because of the German-Russian colony that was there. He started to look for work at once, partly because his resources were getting low and because he did not know what it was to be idle, he had to work from early morning till late at night in the old country. He worked near Scotland a little more than a year and received $140.00 for his labor and of this amount, he saved $125.00.

On December 22 nd , 1885, he came to McIntosh County and filed an a homestead in Jewell Township. The next year he married Barbara Becker, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Gisendeferr. They have the distinction of being the first couple wed in Jewell. Mr. and Mrs. Geiszler were friends in the old country, Miss Becker coming to America with her parents in the spring of 1885.

Their first house was made of sod. It was a building 14' x 28', one end being used as the house and the other as a barn. Mr. Geiszler made a stove, or oven as they were called in those days, of clay and stones. Hay was used as fuel, first being twisted so that it would not burn so fast. They did not have much in the line of farm equipment, it being two oxen, a plow and two cows.

In 1886, a prairie fire swept the country, destroying nearly everything that lay in its path. Homes were saved because of the fire breaks that had been made by plowing four or five furrows around the buildings. All feed and seed was destroyed and it was indeed a very discouraging prospect that they faced. Winter would soon be upon them and there were no funds with which to buy the necessities. Buffalo bones and horns were picked and hauled to Ellendale and from these, six to eight dollars per ton was realized. Sometimes the cash was given to the customer and other times, the bones would be exchanged far groceries. Mr. Geiszler says that they always had enough to eat, as they had chickens and two cows and plenty of flour. By hard work and thrift, they acquired considerable land. Today, Mr. Geiszler is recognized as one of the wealthiest farmers in McIntosh County.

The Geiszlers were members of the Lutheran Church and they tell of church services being held at the farm home of Jacob Mayers in Jewell Township. The house was small but some times there were as many as sixteen or eighteen families at church. Their means of conveyance was with oxen team and wagon or stone boat.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Geiszler. All of them are living on farms in either McIntosh or Dickey County. They are: Fredrich, August, Christine, Mary, Louisa and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Geiszler had the pleasure of celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in the presence of their children and friends on December 31 st , 1936. About five years ago Mr. Geiszler built a home in the eastern part of Ashley and retired. He and his wife reside there.

One of the early settlers in Jewell Township, McIntosh County, was John Geiszler. He, in company with his brothers, Andrew and Christoph, left his native land and came to America, arriving here in the fall of 1884. Mr. Geiszler was born on February 11 th , 1862, in South Russia.

Mr. Geiszler and his brothers spent the winter of 1884-85 in the vicinity of Menno, with friends, many of them being from their homeland. They were willing and eager to work and found employment soon after they got there. They managed to save their earnings, which added to their "cash an hand" was sufficient to purchase some of the necessary equipment for homesteading. John invested in a team of oxen, wagon, hand plow, mower and a cow.

In the spring of 1885, John Geiszler was married to Wilhelmina Bauer, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Peters of the Lutheran Church at Bruenne, Dakota Territory. This couple decided to join the tide of immigration to the north where there still was land open for homestead entry. Their farm equipment and other belongings, consisting mostly of bedding and clothing were loaded in a freight car and shipped to Ipswich, the Geiszlers riding in the passenger coach. Arriving there, they loaded their wagon and started the slow trek to a new home. Reaching Hoskins on May 1 st , 1885 Mr. Geiszler filed on a homestead and tree claim in Jewell Township, McIntosh County. The house and barn were built of sod, the barn being built in the side of a hill. About 10 acres of sod were broken that spring and flax was sown. It produced a fairly good yield and was sold for about seventy cents per bushel. Year after year more land was cultivated and crop production increased, better equipment was purchased and more land acquired.

Ellendale was the nearest town and all supplies were purchased there. These were long hard trips and usually took three or four days but not for Mr. Geiszler. He made the trip in two nights and one day. Leaving home in the afternoon about four o'clock driving and walking all night, he would reach Ellendale about ten o'clock the next morning. Letting the horses rest for a few hours and doing his selling or buying in that time, he was ready to start home about five o'clock in the afternoon, reaching there early in the morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Geiszler were the parents of eight children, namely: Katie, Mrs. Chas. Vanorney, Ashley, N. D.; Mary, Mrs. Gott, Sperling, Calif.; Ida, Mrs. Kraemer, Ashley, N. D.; Christ F., Kramer, N. D.; Ben E., Ashley; Hulda, Missouri; Dora, Mrs. Martin Stienblach, California and Anna, deceased.

In 1898, a tragedy occurred in the Geiszler family, taking the lives of the mother and her daughter Anna. There were smoke and flames to the northwest all day, fanned by a southeast wind. Mr. Geiszler was plowing this day and while at work, kept an eye on the fire and wind. Around four o'clock the wind died down and there was an appalling stillness. As though it was a premonition, he unhitched his horses and hurried home, concerned about the safety of his family. In the meantime Anna and Mary had gone after the cattle. Mrs. Geiszler noticing that the wind and fire had changed its course and that the fire was not far behind the girls, rushed to their assistance. Both girls had hold of a cow's tail, the cows were on a regular stampede. Mary was pulled across the fire break by her cow but Anna's foot got caught in a gopher hole and she fell. When Mrs. Geiszler reached her, her clothes were aflame. Tearing the burning clothes off her child, she tied her own apron around Anna's neck and started her towards the house. The mother was unable to make much headway, being exhausted from the smoke and fire and also being badly burned around her ankles and limbs. Anna lived a couple of days and Mrs. Geiszler about two weeks. Everything possible was done to relieve them of their suffering and save their lives. Elsewhere in this book, Mrs. Geiszler is spoken of as "The Heroine of the Prairie."

In the fall of 1898, Mr. Geiszler married Helen Weisz and to this marriage thirteen children were born. They are: Anna, now Mrs. Andrew Rothfusz, Ashley; John M., Kramer, N. D.; Helen, Calif.; Gustave, Fargo, N. D.; Theodore, Ashley; Eva, now Mrs. Steve Tuchscher, Ashley; Andrew, Ashley; Irene, Calif.; Lydia, Oregon, Albert and Adolph at the A. C. College, Fargo, N. D.; Esther and Leonard in High School at Ashley, N. D.

Mr. Geiszler served as county commissioner from 1896 to 1904. At that time he bought an interest in the Cash Bazaar, being in partnership with G. O. Gulack, Andrew Weber and Fred Brocz. Later he traded his interest in the store for Mr. Gulack's interest in the Implement Business. This he operated until 1916, when he disposed of the business and moved to his farm about two miles west of Ashley. He erected a large house and barn and had one of the best equipped farms around Ashley. In 1937, he turned the farm over to his son Andrew and retired.

Mr. Geiszler has been married five times. In 1937, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Philip Bender. They reside in Ashley in a comfortable home in the southern part of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Geiszler are members of the Zion Lutheran Church at Ashley.

Our information regarding Mr. George is very meager. He was born on December 19, 1840. Becoming dissatisfied with his life in the old country he and his family emigrated to America. Their first stop after arriving in the United States was Menno, S. D., from there, with others, they traveled by ox team and covered wagon to McIntosh County, where in 1886 they settled on land about five miles south of Lehr, N. D.

A few household goods, a team of oxen, a wagon and a breaking plow were all the equipment owned by Mr. and Mrs. George upon their arrival at the site of their new home. A sod house was soon erected and by hard work and careful saving a living was made.

Mr. George was married to Katharina Maier prior to his migration from South Russia, she passed away in December, 1888. Later he was married to Rosina Nies.

Mr. George was the father of four children, namely: John H. George, living at Streeter, N. D.; Rosina Erbele, Lehr, N. D.; Jacob H. George, now living in California; Christina Doerr, born October 22, 1880, now living with her husband, Jacob Doerr, Ashley, N. D.

Mr. George, a member of the Baptist Church, passed away in December, 1925.

Jacob H. George came to America as a boy of 6, with his parents. He was born on May 20 th , 1878, in Hoffnungstal, South Russia.

On their arrival in this country in 1884, they settled in the vicinity of Scotland, Dakota Territory. Mr. George was fortunate in finding employment, which was a means of support for his family.

Leaving Scotland in the spring of 1886, they journeyed northward in a covered wagon, drawn by oxen and arrived in McIntosh County on May 15 th . Some of their friends had come to this county before them and located about 20 miles north of Ashley and it was in this settlement that they hoped to find land to file on. The place they chose for their home was about 5 miles south of the present town of Lehr.

Though only a lad, Jacob George has a very vivid picture of the hardships and privations experienced by his parents and the other pioneers. Their house was made of sod, benches and tables of lumber, and hay and straw filled the ticks that they slept on. Plowing was done with a hand plow with two oxen hitched to it. At times, these animals were stubborn and would have to be led. This job always fell to Jacob. Too, he had to help gather buffalo bones which was their only means of subsistence the first year or so. These were hauled to Ellendale, which was their nearest town and sold. One time his father received $16.00 for a load. Flour and other necessities of life were purchased from the sale of the bones.

Lack of equipment and funds hindered them from cultivating and seeding as much land as they would have liked to. Sowing the seed was done by hand, as was the cutting of the grain. When it came time for threshing, the grain was piled about two feet high and the oxen driven over it several times. The chaff and straw was separated from the grain by tossing it in the air with a fork or letting the wind blow it away. That is quite a contrast from the present day threshing. In a few years, conditions were on the upward trend and more and better equipment was purchased.

As a young man, Jacob George worked out by the day and saved his earnings that he too might have a home of his own. He was married to Mathilda Blaskovska, Rev. Reikert performing the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. George made their home about four miles south of Lehr. Ten children blessed this union, nine of whom are living and are: John A. George, Danzig, N. D.; Martha, Mrs. John Ames, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; Samuel George, Portland, Oregon; Walter George, Carlton, Oregon; Alma, Mrs. Edward Werre, Gackle, N. D.; Pauline, Lodi, Cal.; Kathrine, Mrs. Leo Haigh, Beach, N. D.; Harold George, Carlton, Oregon; and Violet, Lodi, Calif.

Mrs. George died on May 9 th , 1921. In the fall, Mr. George married Mrs. Clara Wagner Veil. To them one daughter was born, namely Tillie, who lives with her parents in Lodi, Calif. In August 1936, Mr. George disposed of his property in McIntosh County and moved to Lodi, Calif., where he and his wife reside.

When he was thirteen years of age, John F. George came with his parents to this country from Rosenthal, South Russia, where he was born on April 14 th , 1873.

The George family's first stop was in Scotland in the southern part of Dakota Territory where they remained for two years. Everywhere rumors were heard of the land that was to be had for the asking in the central and north part of the territory. Covered and uncovered wagons, drawn either by oxen or horses were seen headed northward. On May 15 th 1886, the Georges arrived in McIntosh County via ox team and wagon and filed on a homestead about twenty miles north of Ashley, in the vicinity of what is now known as Lehr. Their possessions were not many, bringing with them, bedding, clothing, a few cooking utensils and a cow.

In telling of his boyhood days, Mr. George says that their house was of sod as were all the houses in those days, particularly the first houses built, because of the long distance the lumber had to be hauled and the shortage of finances. The winters were long and cold, many times they did not have enough clothing to keep them warm or enough food to suffice them. The first two years were especially hard because of little crop and the low prices received for their products. Buffalo bones were picked and hauled to Ellendale and exchanged for food and flour.

Mr. George was engaged in the store business in 1898. In 1905 he was elected County Treasurer and served two terms. In 1909, he became County Auditor, holding this office for two terms. From 1913 to 1915, he was Assistant Cashier of the Ashley State Bank. In 1915 he bought an interest in the Farmers Implement Company, disposing of this in 1921.

Mr. George was united in marriage to Karolina Schuh by Rev. Reichert and to them three sons were born. They are: Edwin, living with his parents at Ashley; Enoch, in Cal.; and Otto in Aberdeen, S. D.

The Georges built a very comfortable home in the north part of the city of Ashley, here they reside.

Among the well known pioneers of Hoskins and Ashley is Augustus G. Godfrey. He is known to every one as "Gust Godfrey". He was born on May 19 th , 1864, in Lowell, Kent County, Mich., and came to McIntosh County in August, 1886.

In March 1887, he filed on the Northwest quarter of Section thirty, township one hundred twenty-nine, Range seventy, but it was not until the following year that he built his claim shanty of sod and the next year a barn. During these two years, Gust worked at odd jobs in and around Hoskins, trying to save enough money to buy a team and a plow. Making a down payment, these were purchased and he put in his first crop. "Dame Fortune" must have smiled on Mr. Godfrey. After his crop was harvested and sold, he found he was able to pay the balance on his team and plow and also buy a cow. What he had to pay far the cow, we do not know, but he told us that the team and plow cost $120.00. Charles Johnston was his nearest neighbor and they were good friends. One day, they presented him with a hen and a setting of eggs. There was great rejoicing when Mother Hen came forth with a brood of ten little chicks.

Mr. Godfrey taught school in the western part of the county. He remembers the Indian scares and recalls one day when a man came to the school house, very excited, saying the Indians were on the way. The children were frightened and began to cry, but after some time, they were quieted and assured that their parents would come for them. This proved to be a wild rumor as the Indians did not appear nor did the parents and school was dismissed at the regular time. There were nine children enrolled in this school.

Mr. Godfrey never married. He lived on his homestead until about fifteen years ago. Since that time he has made his home with Mrs. Richard Sauter, at Linton, N. D. Mrs. Sauter is his niece. He makes occasional visits to Ashley and is always greeted as an old pioneer of Hoskins and Ashley.

March, 1885, is the date that two brothers came to McIntosh County and located in Hoskins. One of them was Horace M. Godfrey, who was born on July 9 th , 1859, in Greenville, Mt. Calm County, Mich.; the other was Martin Godfrey, whose biography is also in this book.

Lowell Valley seemed to be the place that these young men chose for their homesteads for it was there that they filed on land. Horace farmed a short time and later owned a livery stable. The buildings on his farm were made with a wooden frame with sod on the outside. Farm implements consisted of a plow, drag, wagon and team of oxen. These were very easily disposed of when he went in the livery business. His father served in the Civil War, being with the 1 st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. At the close of the war, he was honorably discharged.

Horace Godfrey was married to Ina Beadle by W. A. Linn and to them, two children were born, Melvin and Jennie. Mr. Godfrey died March 6 th , 1893, the cause of his death being a mastoid.

Included among the early arrivals of pioneers in Hoskins and Ashley was Martin A. Godfrey. He was born on August 16 th , 1860, in Greenville, Mt. Calm County, Mich. When he was twenty-four years old, he came to McIntosh County, the trip being made with an oxen team.

Liking the looks of the lay-out of the country and the people that had filed on land here, he, too, filed on a homestead in Lowell Valley. Lowell Valley and Jewell were the two townships that were being settled first. After paying his filing fee, he had one dollar between him and starvation but this was a land of opportunity and advantages and he was not discouraged. He worked at whatever he could find to do and before long had enough to start a house on his claim. This made with boards in the inside and sod outside, thus keeping out the wind and snow. He purchased a cow, drill and plow and began to break the soil that he might plant his crop. Conditions were not the best and the crops did not mature so he quit farming and went into partnership with his brother Horace in the livery business. He traded his farm with Clair Johnson for his interest in the livery stable.

He was married to Lillie Briggs in 1888. Lillie Briggs was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Briggs and came with her parents from Michigan to McIntosh County in 1885. They have the distinction of being the first couple married in Ashley. Mr. Godfrey served as Assessor and Deputy Sheriff for many years.

The Godfreys became the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living, and are Mrs. Richard Sauter, Linton, N. D.; Mrs. Nellie McClockline, Long Beach, Cal.; Mrs. Minnie Phillips Medstead, Sask, Can.; Mrs. Alice Colberg, Bismarck, N. D.; James Godfrey, Bismarck, N. D.; Mrs. J. F. McGoon, Opa Lake, Fla.; Mrs. Theressa Pesieka, Huron, S. D.; Glen Godfrey, Southerland, Ia.; and Martin Godfrey, Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Mr. Godfrey passed away October 24 th , 1918, after a long suffering from paralysis. He is buried in the Ashley Cemetery.

In 1924, Mrs. Godfrey was united in marriage to Charles Moore. In 1932, they moved to Linton, N. D., where they now reside. Until the time of this move to Linton, Mrs. Moore had been a continuous resident of McIntosh County for forty-seven years.

Not much data has been available far the history of Adam Goehring. He was born in South Russia on July 2, 1842, and emigrated to the United States along with others in the early eighties. Menno, S. D., was his first stop, and in December 1884 he came into McIntosh County in a covered wagon. With him was his wife Magdalena (nee Rott) and their children. Many were the hard days spent by this family. A breaking plow and wagon with perhaps $35.00 were all the farm equipment which they had. Their buildings, a house and barn, were constructed of sod. Often the food supply was low and loads of buffalo bones were gathered and treked across the hills to Ellendale where $8.00 per ton was received. Sugar, flour and other groceries were then bought and token home. The trip usually took three days.

Mr. Goehring filed on land about nineteen miles northeast of Ashley.

Mr. Goehring was a Member of the Baptist church and with his family was a steady attendant.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Goehring are Jacob at Gackle, N. D., Henry, living at Fredonia, N. D.; Karl, living at Ashley, N. D.; Adam, living at Amity, Oregon; Christina Miller, living at Gackle, N. D.; Katharina Kroll, at Gackle, N. D., and Magdelina Grenz, living at Fredonia, N. D.

This worthy couple has passed on down the road which we all must go someday. Mrs. Goehring was the first to pass away, her death occurring October 16, 1913, and Mr. Goehring followed on May 6, 1923.

Wilhelm Goll, a native of Hoffnungsthal, Bessarabia, South Russia, was born February 16, 1868. He was married to Miss Elisabetha Schaible, also a native of Russia, the marriage service being performed by Rev. Peters, pastor in the Lutheran church of which Mr. Goll is a member.

They were the parents of the following children: Elisabetha G., born in Russia, Katharina G., born in Campbell County, S. D.; Christian, born in McPherson County, S. D.; Christina, Rosina, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Leopold, Magdalena, Lydia and Augustena, all born in North Dakota.

Mr. and Mrs. Goll came to McIntosh County in 1893 with the ebb tide of the great immigration from Russia. They had first come to Eureka and from there decided to make their home in McIntosh County, they have also made their home at Martin, N. D.

The early home was the usual sod shanty made of earth and straw and served the purpose well enough until Mr. Goll was able to provide better quarters. Even though Mr. Goll was one of the later settlers he did not have the use of a grain drill, but as he says, "I used my right arm as the seeding machine," a hand plow, drag and a header comprised the balance of the farm equipment, approximate value being about $150.

Even though he received only 28 to 35 cents a bushel for wheat, 20 to 25 cents for barley and oats, 5 cents for butter and 3 cents a dozen for eggs, Mr. Goll was able by hard work and careful saving to make progress and is now enjoying the fruits of his early hardships.

Worthy of mention as pioneers of Hoskins, are Mr. and Mrs. G. O. Gulack. Mr. Gulack was born on May 10 th , 1859 near Beloit, Wisconsin, where he lived with his parents until he was twenty one years of age. Seeking the then new frontier settlement in the rapidly developing territory of Dakota, he first located at Canton, Lincoln County in 1880. Later on he spent some time in Mayville, Traill County, where he combined the buying and selling of horses with general farming.

In 1887, Mr. Gulack came to Hoskins and filed on a tree claim in McGogy Valley, now known as Lowell Valley. In September of the same year, he returned to Wisconsin and married Julia Fossum. Miss Fossum was born in the Town of Avon, Rock County, Wisconsin, on May 31 st , 1862. She received a common school education and graduated from the Beloit High School in 1884. She taught school for three years, the last year at Beloit.

Immediately after their marriage, they moved to Hoskins, McIntosh county, and later when Hoskins was moved to Ashley, he, too, moved his business there. He did not engage in farming in McIntosh County; his interests being in dealing with horses, Implements, and General Merchandise. Mr. Gulack built the Cash Bazaar Store in Ashley. This building has been in constant use since that time and is now known as "The Lippert Store."

In the fall of 1898, Mr. Gulack was elected as a member of the lower house of state legislature of the then new State of North Dakota and was re-elected in 1900. In the fall of 1902, he was elected to the legislature as a member of the senate, which office he held until failing health compelled him to seek a milder climate.

In 1905, he retired from active business life and, with his family, moved to San Diego, Cal. In 1911, they moved to Pasadena and have resided at their home, 1660 Mar Vista Avenue, for the past fifteen years. They have six children: Mrs. Alfred B. Anderson of St. Paul, Minn.; Mrs. Orwoll P. Leiberg, Alhambra, Cal.; and Miss Mildred Gulack, Orrin H. Gulack, Clarence A. Gulack, and Mrs. Mark Biedebach, all of Pasadena, Cal.

On September 2 nd , 1937, Mr. and Mrs. G. O. Gulack celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a family gathering.

A name associated with the early history of McIntosh County and Ashley is that of Theodore Gulack. Little information regarding his early life and pioneer days in N. D. is available. He was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, November 7, 1865, and at the age of 19 came to North Dakota, traveling part way by train and the remainder by stage.

He established a store at the new town of Hoskins. In 1888 when the town was moved eastward and renamed Ashley, Mr. Gulack moved with it. He operated a mercantile and farm implement business successfully for a number of years. In 1888 he was elected to the office of County Treasurer and served 1889-1890, was re-elected and served 1891 and a part of 1892 when he resigned.

Miss Sarah C. Riedell of Minneapolis, Minn., became his bride in 1900. They are the parents of five children all living in Pasadena, California.

© Tim Stowell 2001-2017