Places - Ward NDGenWeb

1895 Rand McNally Atlas map

1911

Townships

Highways

Townships

Afton Township [T154N R83W; School #3 in Sec.35] was organized on January 11, 1907. There is evidence in the records that an earlier name for the area was Norman. The petitioners for Afton township were: Oluf Lokensgaard, Wm. F. Gull, John Sindlinger, Wm. Wendt, Ole L. Olson, J. D. Gordon, D. Wilmes, H. Rygmyr, Irvin Garnsey, Haur W.Z. ?, O. H. Dokken, C. Gunderson, E. O. Nordrum, A. L. Weber, W. G. Gilmer, Wm. E. Balest, ?. M. McGrath, Roy Smith, Ross Smith, Rolla Morrison, George Webster, D. J. Webster, Jocob Frost, E.A. Brown, R. O. Rogers, Z. M. ?, M. Rustad, John A. Berg, F. W. Roach, H.Bruns, C. V. Swanson, J. V. Mich, Fred W. Lorenzen ?, J. Dopvig ?, R. L. Otto, H. F. Otto. The question mark indicates that the handwritten name in the records is not clear. It seems to be impossible to find out where the name Afton came from. Early settlers came in about 1887.

Bye - A country store was opened in SE1/4 Section 31-152-86, Anna Township, by Ole J. Bye, who then established a post office August 12, 1903, which served only seven people with mail brought twice weekly from Minot. The post office closed October 15, 1906, when Mr. Bye became the new Post Master at Ryder, recently relocated to the new Soo Line Rail Road town site two miles to the SE.

Galva - This was a Soo Line Rail Road loading station in SW1/4 Section 13-159-88, Baden Township, three miles north of Coulee, between Kenmare and Donnybrook. It was named for Galva, IL, which was named for Gelfe, Switzerland with an Anglicized spelling. The post office was established July 13, 1899, with Josie Clipper post mistress. She was succeeded by Minnie Price in 1901. The post office closed January 15, 1904, when it was relocated one-half mile west to the new townsite of Baden in S1/2 Section 14-159-88.

Baden - This Soo Line RR loading station in S1/2 Section 14-159-88, Baden Township, replaced the Galva station just top the east in 1904. The Galva post office moved here January 15, 1904, taking the name Baden to honor settlers from that province of Germany. Olof Rudolph was the Post Master and the township clerk. A population of 25 was reported in 1920, but the post office closed November 15, 1920 with mail to Kenmare, and Paden disappeared from maps in the late 1930s.

Berthold Township [T156N R86W; Berthold Baptist Church, St. Ann's Catholic Church, Zion Lutheran Church]

Berthold - This Great Northern Rail Road mainline station was founded in April 1900 in SE1/4 Section 21-156-86, Berthold Township, about 25 miles west of Minot. The name came from Fort Berthold, which was named for Bartholomew Berthold, who ran the trading post there in 1845. The post office was established October 1, 1900 with Frederick C. Walther post master. The elevation is 2087, the Zip Code is 58718, and the village, which incorporated in 1902, reached a peak population of 523 in 1920.

Brillian Township [T152N R81W; School Bowers Sec.23, #1 Sec.10, #4 Sec.20, Lignite #3 Sec.05 ]

Robinson - This was a farm post office established July 29, 1895, with George L. Robinson postmaster. It was located in SE1/4 Section 20-152-81, Brillian Township, nine miles south of Sawyer. James L. Robinson became Postmaster two months later, serving until January 1897 when D.S. Bennett took over. The post office closed April 8, 1897 with mail to Velva.

Burlington - First known as COLTON, the first post office in Ward County was established here February 26, 1884 as BURLINGTON with James Johnson (1850-1932), the son-in-law of town site founder Joseph L. Colton, as Post Master. It is located in E1/2 Section 2-155-84, Burlington Township, and was named for Burlington, Iowa, hometown of Frank Hatton, the Assistant Postmaster General at the time. The Iowa city was named for Burlington, Vermont, which was named for either Richard Boyle (1695-1753) or John Boyle (1707-1763), the 3rd and 4th Earls of Burlington, by their relative, Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire. As the only town in Ward County, BURLINGTON was named county seat in 1885, but lost that honor to Minot in 1888.The elevation is 1590, the Zip Code is 58722, and the village, which did not incorporate until 1957, maintained a population of about 200 for decades, but recent outgrowth from Minot has swelled the count to a peak of 761 in 1980.

Davis - This was a Soo Line Railroad Loading station in SW1/4 Section 12-155-84, Burlington Township, one mile south of Burlington, serving the Davis Coal Company, which later became the Northern Briquetting Company. L.M. Davis established the first coal mine in the area in 1893. The station appeared on maps circa 1910-1920.

Burt Township [T154N R84W; School #1 Sec.16]
Settlement first started in what became Burt township in 1885, which makes it the oldest settled area on South Prairie. Burt township became an organized township on June 15, 1904. Ward County conducted a meeting in Norman school, located in the southeast corner of section 16. The group elected H.J. Herzog to chair the meeting. The following officers were elected: Reuben Prouse - Chairman, John Wilson - Supervisor, Ed Kivley - Supervisor, Knute Holum - Supervisor, H.J. Herzog - Clerk. It is interesting to note that two telephone companies were granted franchise to furnish telephone service to the township, Minot in 1901 and Berthold in 1912, before the Farmers Telephone Company made use of their franchise and built the lines in 1914.

Drady - This was a rural post office established January 16, 1906 with John Drady (1852-1932) Post Master. He came here in 1901 from Moorhead, MN to open a general store in Section 13-154-84, Burt township, twelve miles SW of Minot, and ran the business until retiring in 1929. Iver Monshaugen then operated the post office in NE1/4 Section 23-154-83, Afton Township, until it closed May 31, 1934 with mail to Minot. Brady is an erroneous spelling.

Caithness - This was a farm post office established September 16, 1902 with Henry P. Rygmyr Post master. It was located in NE1/4 Section 26-154-84, Burt Township, twelve miles SW of Minot. Caithness is a northern county in Scotland but the name of the post office is said to honor Beth Caithness Stephenson, a stenographer in Minot. The post office closed June 15, 1903 with mail to Minot.

Burt School district was organized in Burt Township in 1907. The first term was from April1 to June 24 and Margie F. Herzog was the teacher. There were 18 pupils. E.G. Warren was the county superintendent. The second one-room school started in 1909. Josephine Underdahl was the teacher for a seven-month term. Drady School became a consolidated school in 1912. Rural school number two was moved to the school number one location and the two were joined with a cloak room and entry. A teacherage was built on the west side of the upper grade room. Horse drawn buses hauled the children from all parts of the township.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church - At a service at Somer's Schoolhouse near Drady, March 14, 1909, a number of people, interested in a Lutheran church for the community met with Rev. E. I. Synnes for worship. After the service ten families signed a request for such a church. At a later meeting, April 4, 1909, Gethesmane Scandinavisk Ev. Lutheran Congregation was organized with twelve families as charter members. The constitution of the United Lutheran Synod was adopted and the following were elected as the first officers. Trustee - L. K. Larson, Knute Holum, and John Flom, with Tom Drady as secretary. Rev. E. I. Synnes was to be the pastor. In January 1912 a committee was elected to seek a place for the church and cemetery. The committee decided to accept the gift of a two-acre plot from the Wilson farm as a permanent location for the church and cemetery. At a meeting February 4, 1914, it was decided to build a church. [There are many more details in the book People of the Prairie.]

Douglas - This Town site was founded along the newly-built Soo Line Rail Road branch line from Max to Plaza in Section 36-151-85, Cameron Township. On November 2, 1906 the post office in Otis J. Marks' country store known as DOUGLAS moved to the town site from its original location one mile to the south in McLean County, although Arthur C. Bates assumed the duties of Postmaster at this time. The site was platted in December 1906, and incorporated as a village in 1908 with A.G. Burgeson mayor. The Zip Code is 58735, and it reached a peak population of 313 in 1940, declining to just 112 in 1980.

Carbondale Township [T158N R87W; Aurelia Moravian Church, St. Anthony's Catholic Church, United Methodist Church]

Donnybrook - "This post office was established March 20, 1895 with Martha J. Power pm [post master]. It was located in Sec. 14-158-87, Carbondale Twp., and named for the famous Donnybrook Fair in Ireland. On December 29, 1897 new pm Edward C. Henry changed the name to GOETZ. Meanwhile a townsite was forming just to the west at the Soo Line RR tracks in Sec. 15-158-87, and on March 9, 1898 a new Donnybrook post office was established with Delos R. Hunnewell pm. The population was just 30 in 1898, but when the village incorporated in 1904, it reported a population of 504. The elevation is 1760, the Zip Code is 58734, and the population has declined to just 139 in 1980."

Aurelia - This settlement was founded in 1900 by Moravians from Hector, MN along the GNRR tracks in Sec. 34-158-87, Carbondale Twp., three miles south of Donnybrook. Railroad officials named it using the Latin word for golden, signifying the opportunities in the area. Others say it noted the golden color of the butterflies at the site. A station was built in 1904 with two elevators, and a post office was established March 29, 1907 with William D. Cooper pm. A population of 125 was reported in 1920, but by 1960 the count was just 25. The post office discontinued May 31, 1954 with mail to Donnybrook, and the Aurelia Moravian Church conducted its last service in 1970.

Goetz - The first DONNYBROOK post office was established in 1895 in Sec. 14-158-87, Carbondale Twp., and on December 29, 1887 [Annette saw conflicting dates here] new pm Edward C. Henry changed the name to GOETZ, for unknown reasons. On March 9, 1898 a new Donnybrook post office was established one-half mile to the west at the new Soo Line RR townsite. Both post offices operated until GOETZ closed April 13, 1899 with mail to Donnybrook.

Carpio Township [T157N R86W; School #1 Sec.11; Carpio Lutheran Church, Des Lacs Valley Norwegian Lutheran Church] Founded in 1896 when the Soo Line was being constructed diagonally through the county.

Carpio - This Soo Line Rail Road station was founded in 1896 in NE1/4 Section 12-157-86, Carpio Township, and has grown into parts of three adjacent sections. The post office was established July 7, 1898 with Austen E. Kjontvedt post master. The elevation is 1696, the Zip Code is 58725, and the village, which incorporated in 1906, reached a peak population of 344 in 1930. Many theories exist concerning the origin of the name, the most well known being the folklore version about the first post office being housed in a box car, quite literally a "Car P.O." Some say Mrs. Pennington, the wife of a Soo Line official, named it for a Spanish novel of this name, which means tents. Others say it was named for Carpio de Vega, a Spanish poet, while still others say it was named for Bernardo del Carpio, a Spanish explorer.

Hartland - This was a Great Northern Rail Road townsite in NE1/4 Section 30-157-86, Carpio Township, seven miles NW of Berthold. The post office was established March 23, 1908 with Mons J. Hoff Post Master. Local resident Martin D. Johnson chose the name for his birthplace, Hartland Township, Worth County, IA, which was named for Hartland, Vermont, which was founded in 1761 as Hertford, but was changed to Hartland in 1782 to avoid confusion with nearby Hartford. The new name was suggested by settlers from Hartland, Connecticut, which was in Hartford County. The Connecticut town was named for Hartland, Devonshire, England, and the name means stag island town. Ward County folklore says that the name was meant to show the town as the heart of the area. The elevation is 2091, and the peak population of 150 was claimed in 1920, but by 1940 the population was less than 100. The post office closed May 6, 1966 with mail to Carpio.

Denmark Township [T161N R88W; School #1 Sec.27; Trinity First Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church]

Des Lacs Township [T155N R85W; Des Lacs United Methodist Church] A Post Office was established here in 1888 and discontinued in 1898 and mail sent to Minot. In 1900 the railroad reached this town and the Post Office was reinstated. Named for both the Des Lacs River and Lake nearby which the French explorers called Lac Aux Mort (The Lake of the Dead).

Des Lacs / Deslacs - This was a rural community along the Great Northern Rail Road tracks in SE1/4 Section 11-155-85, Des Lacs Township. A post office was established March 15, 1888 with Tobias Welo postmaster, who named it for the nearby lakes and river. The name is literally translated from the French as the lakes. The post office closed July 6, 1898 with mail to Minot. A township was platted in 1900, and the post office reopened July 27, 1900 as DESLACS to comply with government spelling regulations, changing back to the two-word spelling on February 15, 1948. Fred B Becker (1865-1934) is considered to be the first resident of the new townsite, which incorporated as a village in 1911, and reached a peak population of 211 in 1980. The elevation is 1931, and the Zip Code is 58733.

Elmdale Township [T160N R89W; Ellendale School Sec.3, Elmdale School Sec.29, Spencer School Sec.23, Big Spring School Sec.3; Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, Swedish Baptist Church]

Niobe - This Great Northern Railroad townsite was founded in 1907 in Section 18-160-89, Elmdale Township, seven miles WNW of Kenmare and named by the Dakota and Great Northern Townsite Company for the wife of Amphion, King of Thebes, in Greek mythology. The post office was established March 24, 1908 with Andrew Nelson Postmaster, a position held by Lillian S. Larson (1942-1972). The elevation is 2028, and a peak population of 250 was claimed in 1920, with a rapid decline to just 95 in 1930. The post office, Zip Code 58764, closed May 1, 1974 with mail to Kenmare.

Eureka Township [T156N R83W; School #2 Sec.7, School #4 Sec.26; Evangelical Church Sec.6]

Ruthville - This townsite was founded in 1931 by William Mackenroth (1880-1935), who named it for his daughter Ruth, later Mrs. Herbert Rhoades of Sun City, Arizona. Ruth is a Hebrew name meaning beauty. It is located at the junction of Sections 1 & 2-156-83, Eureka Township and Sections 31 & 32-157-82, Tatman Township, Ten miles north of Minot. It is two miles south of the main entrance to Minot Air Force Base, and has enjoyed many economic benefits since the opening of the military facility in the 1950s.

Foxholm - This was a Soo Line Rail Road station built in 1886 in NW1/4 Section 2-156-85, Foxholm Township, between Burlington and Donnybrook. The post office was established May 7, 1894 with Jens Glein Post Master. Peter Fugelso, later Post master at Minot, owned the town site, which was named by railroad officials for Foxholm, England. The elevation is 1657, the Zip Code is 58738, and a population of about 200 was maintained for many years, although there has been a sharp decline since 1960. On April 21, 1967 the post office became a rural branch of Burlington.

Lone Tree / Lonetree - This was a Great Northern Railroad townsite in SW1/4 Section 32-156-85, Foxholm Township, four miles west of Des Lacs, and named by GNRR officials for the lone tree fifty rods west of town. The post office was established March 20, 1888 with Theodore Schufelt Postmaster, but the order was rescinded. It was reestablished February 14, 1890 with Nicholaus Zirbes Postmaster, but closed November 11, 1891 with mail to Minot. Later this area was served by the Des Lacs post office until the local post office reopened August 1, 1902 using the one-word spelling, LONETREE.

Freedom Township [T153N R83W; School #1 Sec.3, #2 Sec.22, #3 Sec.7, #4 Sec.5] Freedom Township was organized on February 17, 1904. When the first election was held, the name of the township was chosen. The choice was between Foster and Liberty. In a burst of patriotism the voters named their township Liberty. In a few years the name was changed to Freedom when it was discovered that other places had the name Liberty.

Liberty - This was a farm post office established August 12, 1905 with Martin O. Hulberg (1869-1945) as Postmaster, who was born in Norway and came here in 1902 from Minnesota. It was named for its township, which was given this patriotic name, chosen by the local residents over the other suggested name of Foster. Later it was discovered that the township name was duplicated, and to comply with a state law prohibiting such duplication, the name was changed to Freedom. The post office was located in SW1/4 Section 2-153-83, Freedom Township, nine miles south of Minot, and closed March 15, 1906 with mail to Minot.

South Prairie - This is a rural community located primarily in Sections 23, 24, 25 & 26-153-83, Freedom Township, twelve miles south of Minot at the junction of US Highway 83 and ND Highway 23. It was generally known as STRINGTOWN until adopting this name, descriptive of its location on the prairie south of Minot, after World War II. A U.S. Air Force radar base operated 1951-1979 at a site two miles south of here and remains a landmark for area residents.

Gasman Township [T152N R83W; School #1 Sec.11, #2 Sec.07] The first petition to organize a new township was filed January 31, 1914, and was signed by the following: John Schaufuss, Thomas Doherty, Ray Horine, Bert Updike, Emil Schaufuss, Roy Pettys, Ernest Townsend, Ole Soum, J. N. Horine, B. R. Seney, Ray Irwin, Robert Just, C. A. Nelson, Knut Holum, E. A. Moore, C. O. Gasmann, B. L. Johnson, Thorwald Larson, H. P. Erickson, George Gregerson, H. J. Mollenhauer, William Peasley, William Smith, Carl Helgeson, Andrew Gregerson, Ole Haugeberg, A. A. Martin, Frederick Winter and H. O. Hanson.

The name chosen for the new township was LeSuer. But that name apparently did not suit the people, so by March of 1914 a new set of petitions were filed, accompanied by determined statements to the effect that they wanted the township named for one of their own pioneers. So on March 4, 1914, it was reorganized and given the name Gasman. Other names appearing in the record by that time were Ernest Townsend, Arthur Francis, M. T. Haugeberg and F. B. Lawrence as petitioners.

Olive - This was a farm post office established September 23, 1904, with Olive May (Mrs. William) Smith PM. The smiths lived in SW1/4 Section 31-152-83, Gassman Township, eighteen miles SSE of Minot, but the post office was located in the home of Mrs. Smith's mother, Anna Haigh, in SE1/4 Section 31-152-83, just to the east. Olive is the feminine form of Oliver, a Latin name meaning olive, with an implied meaning of peace. The post office closed April 30, 1910, with mail to Sawyer.

Greenbush Township [T159N R87W; School #1 Sec.15, #2 Sec.26, #3 Sec.18, #4 Sec.07]

Harrison Township [T155N R83W; School #1 Sec.31, Bel Air School Sec.15, Bishop Ryan High School Sec.14, Edison School Sec.26, Hill Junior High School Sec.23, Lincoln School Sec.23, Little Flower School Sec.14, Longfellow School Sec.15, McKinley School Sec.13, Minot State College Sec.14, North Hill School Sec.11, Perkett School Sec.22, Ramstad Junior High School Sec.14, Ramstad Junior High School Sec.14, Roosevelt School Sec.13, Sunnyside School Sec.24, Washington School Sec.24; Churches]

Harrison - This was a pioneer settlement which soon became an annexed part of the city of Minot. The name is credited to T. E. Olsgard, the Register of the U. S. Land Office, who chose to honor the then current President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901). The name is perpetuated by the township (155-83) in which most of Minot is located.

Minot - This Great Northern Railroad townsite was founded in 1886 and became known as "The Magic City" because of its rapid growth, quickly covering most of Harrison Township (155-83). It was named for Henry Davis Minot (1859-1890), a director of the GNRR, who was killed in a train wreck. The post office was established February 12, 1887, with Patrick H. McNamara Postmaster. It incorporated as a city in 1887, replaced Burlington as the county seat of Ward County in 1888, and has grown steadily to a peak population of 32,886 in 1980. The elevation is 1566, the Zip Code is 58701, and it is the site of Minot State University. It pronunciation of this city's name is My-Knot.

Gassman - This was a Great Northern Rail Road station built in 1883 in Section 19-155-83, Harrison Township, five miles west of Minot, and named for Henry C. Gassman (1856-1938), a native of Wisconsin who was the first settler in Gassman Coulee. A small coal mine settlement developed here about 1915, but it disappeared by 1940.

Hiddenwood Township [T151N R87W; Hiddenwood Presbyterian Church, 1905 to about 1940, now used as a chapel on the Hiddenwood Picnic Grounds]

Hilton Township [T152N R84W; School #3 Sec.11] Hilton township was organized June 8, 1910. The names on the petition are as follows: F. M. Galusha, Thos. Sylvester, A. Galusha, P. B. Ostrom, Chas. Kirchen, D. G. Hill, Einar Gundrson, F. A. Manning, Whitney Grinnell, Erik Bjelland, J. T. Whitfield, Lewis L. Law, Bert ?? and W.E. Simm??. The last name impossible to read. These names are in the order in which they were signed, abbreviations and all.

Hilton township was named in honor of one of the homesteaders, Cornelius G. Hill, who came from Norway by way of South Dakota.

Iota Flat Township [T151N R82W; School #1 Sec.07, #2 Sec.27, #3 Sec.19, #4 Sec.02]

Kenmare Township [T160N R88W; Spencer School Sec.23; Church of the Nazarene, First Baptist Church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Nazareth Lutheran Church, St. Agnes Catholic Church]

Lignite - A Soo Line Rail Road station was built in 1894 in Section 20-160-88, Kenmare Township, to serve the many lignite coal mines in the area. The post office was established December 27, 1894 with Augustine Rouse, one of the mine operators, as Postmaster, but Mr. Rouse was killed in a quarrel in 1896 and the post office closed November 20, 1896 with mail to Donnybrook. A new townsite was founded the following spring, but the name was changed to KENMARE.

Kenmare - A settlement named LIGNITE existed here 1894-1896, mainly to support local lignite mines. In 1897 a new settlement was founded in Sections 17, 18, 19 & 20-160-88, Kenmare Township and named Kenmare by the wife of a Soo Line Rail Road official for Kenmare, Ireland. The post office was established April 30, 1897 with John H. Clapper Post Master. The village was platted in May 1899, and incorporated in December 1901. It has maintained a population of about 1,500 for many years, with a peak of 1,712 in 1950. Its elevation is 1799, the Zip Code is 58746, and it claims to be the only city in ND with its business district built around a central park. It is the principal city of Ward County's so-called "Gooseneck", which resulted when neighboring Burke and Renville Counties excluded the region to prevent Kenmare from becoming the county seat of either of the new counties.

Lloyd's Spur - This was a Soo Line Rail Road loading station in NE1/4 Section 32-156-84 Kirkelie Township, one mile SE of the Vanderwalker station. It served the Lloyd Coal Company mine in Sections 31 & 32-156-84, owned by Harold Lloyd, who shared his name with a famous actor of the era. The station was built about 1900 and was removed in 1920.

Tasker - This post office was established December 29, 1904, with Benjamin B. Tasker Postmaster. It was located in NE1/4 Section 30-156-84, Kirkelie Township, at the site of the Vanderwalker station which served a coal mine five miles NW of Burlington. The post office closed November 15, 1917, with mail to Burlington.

LaFollette - This was a farm post office established July 18, 1904, with George W. Smith postmaster, who named it for Senator Robert Marion LaFollette (1855-1925), the Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator who achieved a large national following as an Independent candidate for President. The post office was located in SW1/4 Section 18-153-87, Lund township, nine miles NW of Makoti, and just inside the Ward County line, although virtually all of its patrons were in Montrail County. It closed January 2, 1907, with mail to Plaza.

McKinley Township [T156N R82W; School #1 Sec.11, #2 Sec.08, #3 Sec.29, #4 Sec.35; Emmanuel Church Sec.13, North Prairie Church Sec. 18]

Margaret Township [T157N R81W; School #1 Sec.04, #2 Sec.30; Nidaros Church Sec.02]

Peebler - This was a farm post office established July 1, 1902, with John W. Peebler Postmaster. It was located in NE1/4 Section 26-157-81, Margaret Township, fifteen miles NE of Minot. On February 3, 1903, it moved one mile SE to the home of new Postmaster William H. Allen in SE1/4 Section 25-157-81. On November 9, 1903, Mr. Allen moved the post office one mile NE to the new Great Northern Railroad townsite of Deering in NW1/4 Section 30-157-80, Deering Township, McHenry County, adopting the new name.

Wolseth - This Great Northern Railroad station was founded in 1915, in SW1/4 Section 3-157-81, Margaret Township, seven miles SE of Glenburn. The post office was established May 23, 1916, with William R White Postmaster, and named for Gunder T. Wolseth (1872-1950), who came to Minnesota in 1893 from Norway, and moved here in 1902. He donated the land for the townsite. A small village began, but the 1920 population of 25 was never exceeded. The post office, Zip Code 58796, closed November 30, 1972 with mail to Glenburn.

Nedrose Township [T155N R82W; School #2 Sec.27, #4 Sec.4,
Northwest Bible College Sec.19]

Newman Township [T152N R82W; School #1 Sec.02, #2 Sec.23, #3 Sec.29, #4 Sec.07]

New Prairie Township [T154N R81W; Grassland School #1 Sec. 15, Graham School Sec.09]

Makoti - This Soo Line Railroad townsite was founded in 1911, in NW1/4 Section 27-152-87, Orlein Township. The name was coined by townsite promoter Edward Kamrud from Makoti, a Mandan Indian word meaning largest of the earthen lodges. He learned of this word from James Holding Eagle, an Indian who was building a replica Mandan-type earthen lodge on the capitol grounds in Bismark at the time. The post office was established December 18, 1911, with William J. Nutting Postmaster, a position which was held by Erhart Petersen (1934-1970). The Zip Code is 58756, and the village incorporated in 1916, reaching a peak population of 276 in 1930. Clarence Schenfisch organized the first Makoti Threshing Show in 1961, and that event has become a popular annual attraction for people throughout ND.

Jerome - This was a farm post office established May 19, 1906, with Herbert Jerome Young as the first and only post master. Jerome is a Greek name meaning of sacred name. It was located in NE 1/4 Section 13-152-85, Rice Lake Township, ten miles north of Douglas, and closed January 31, 1914, with mail to Grelland.

Ricelake - This was a farm post office established December 15, 1898, with John R. Rice (1864-1944) as the first and only postmaster. Mr. Rice came to America in 1882 from his native Norway, and arrived in this area as a laborer with a Great Northern Railroad Construction crew. The post office was located in SE 1/4 Section 3-152-85, Rice Lake Township, nine miles SW of Minot, and named for Rice Lake, which was also named for Mr. Rice. It closed June 30, 1899, with mail to Minot when Mr. Rice decided to try his luck at ranching in Montana. During the 1920's this site was a popular resort.

Ryder Township [T151N R86W; Centerville School Sec.28, Ryder Public School; Calvary Presbyterian Church (since 1903), Immanuel Lutheran Church (1919-1966), Ryder Church of God (about 1928), St. Charles Catholic Church (1903), St. Johns Lutheran Church (since 1904)]

Centerville / DeKalb - This was an inland town in SE 1/4 Sec. 24-151-86, Ryder Township, founded in 1902. It had a bank, general store, hotel and a newspaper, "The Centerville News", edited by Guy F. Humphries. The name is thought to be indicative of the settlers' hopes for the importance of their community. This name was rejected by postal authorities because of duplication in SD and the name was changed to DeKalb, which likewise was rejected. Finally the name RYDER was accepted and it became a thriving city on the newly-built Soo Line RR.

Ryder - This farm post office was established June 26, 1903 with Austin Gray post master. It was located in SE1/4 Sec. 24-151-86, Ryder Twp., and named for Arthur F. Ryder of Minot, who had loaned his sheeplined coat to a postal inspector who was traveling to this site during cold weather.

In 1906 the post office was moved to the new Soo Line RR townsite in Sec. 10-151-86, two miles NW of the original site. Pm OleJ. Bye of the nearby Bye post office took over the Ryder post office after it moved to the townsite. The village incorporated in 1907, and it became a city in 1968 with Donald L. Morris mayor.

The Zip Code is 58779, and a peak population of 483 was reached in 1920.

Queen City Telephone Company The late Irvin E. Officer homesteaded in 1902 and after looking the vicinity over, decided that with the starting of such an up and coming town in 1905, he felt the need of a telephone system and set about to organize the Queen City Telephone Co. This set up included Ryder and Plaza in 1905 and 1906. On October 21, 1907, the company was incorporated and received its charter. The first officers were: President - L.S. (Spence) Officer, Vice President - Mary Officer, Sec'y-Treas. and Manager, I. E. Officer. A vote Berger Switchboard, bought from a firm in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, was installed. The first two operators were Miss C. C. Sagen and Miss C. Peterson. As the years went on more lines and telephones were added. In 1908 the first country lines out Ryder were built - 4 miles south and 2 miles west of town. It was at this time that G. B. Officer started with the company. In 1909 twenty-one miles of country lines were added to the Plaza community and the town systems of Ross and Makoti were set up. In 1911 Mr. J. Moser became president of the board, also a new Kellogg Switchboard was installed. Over a period of years many pioneers were active with the company. Some were H. E. Johnson, F. J. Schilling, B. A. Dickinson, George Wertzler, C. J. Amundson, Henry Snippen, H. J. Lunden and many others. The Late John A. Miller, father of Rankin Miller served as president of the board from 1924 - 1928. Schjold Eide served as lineman one year. In 1928 G. B. Officer became manager and continued in that capacity until June 30, 1954, when the company sold out to the Reservation Mutual Aid Telephone Corporation at Parshall. That company is now called Reservation Telephone Company. Some of the telephone operators who served were Rose Rosenberg, Mamie Trent, Stella Forde Aaby, Rose Irick, Maude Brassfield, Lenora Ronning, Lenora Gortmaker, Hannah Cronic, Elenor Officer, Joyce and Janice Knutson, Delores and Priscilla Anderson, Vida and Hilda Alhgran, Lorraine Bradley, Sonja Eide and Mamie Olson. The last board of directors were as follows: Ervine Hopkins - President, Julius Mattson - Vice President, Eleanor Officer - Sec'y-Treasure. Mamie Olson did work for RTC until 1987. She resided in Ryder until her death. Eleanor officer and Sonja Eide live in Minot and Lorraine Bradley Nelson resides on their farm east of Ryder at this writing in 2004.

Saint Marys Township [T157N R84W; Stamen School #1 Sec.19, Stamen School #2 Sec.11]

Stammen - This was a farm post office established January 7, 1896, with Hubert Heinen Postmaster, who had entered the name Saint Mary on his application. This name was rejected, and the post office was then was rejected, and the post office was then was rejected, and the post office was then named for prominent local cattleman John Stammen, a native of Germany who came to America in 1868. Many members of his family lived in the area. The post office was located in NE1/4 Section 28-157-84, Saint Mary's Township, nine miles NW of Burlington on the west bank of the Souris River, and closed December 30, 1899, with mail to Burlington.

Saulk Prairie Township [T160N R87W; Culver School Sec.10, School #2 Sec. 7, Saulk Prairie School Sec.29, School #7 Sec 25]

Sawyer Township [T153N R81W; St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Mennonite Church Sec.33]

Terrell - Nathan Terrell and Fred M. Lang opened a country store about 1883 in NE1/4 Section 11-153-81, Sawyer Township, just east of present-day Sawyer. Early accounts indicate that a mail distribution service was conducted here, but reports of a post office are not supported by government records. Mr. Terrell did open a post office here in 1886, but it was named Black.

Black / Echo - This was a rural post office established July 14, 1886, in the country store of Post master Nathan D. Terrell, who named it for the Black brothers, local ranchers. It was located in NE 1/4 Section 11-153-81, Sawyer Township, just east of present-day Sawyer. Mr. Terrell's daughter, Amy, became pm August 6, 1886, and following her marriage to William H. Wilson, moved the facility one mile SE to the Wilson home in SW 1/4 Section 12-153-81 on August 18, 1887, with a name change to Echo.

Sawyer - This is a Soo Line Railroad townsite in NW1/4 Section 11-153-81, Sawyer Township. Some say it was named for an official of the railroad, while others say it was named for a Colonel Sawyer, an authority on horse racing. The name is of Celtic origin, and means a cutter of wood. The Echo post office moved here April 26, 1898, with Fred L. Hartleib (1873-1919) as postmaster. The elevation is 1525, the Zip Code is 58781, and the village, which incorporated in 1908, reached a peak population of 420 in 1980.

Hagen - This was a farm post office established May 22, 1907, with Ole E. Hagen as the first and only post master. Mr. Hagen (1876-1957) came to Portland, ND, in 1898 from Norway and settled in Ward County in 1904, first in the Carpio area, then in Section 31-154-87, Shealey Township, Thirteen miles SSW of Berthold and the site of this post office which closed May 31, 1909, with mail to Berthold. Mr. Hagen moved to Berthold in 1913, and was active in politics for many years.

Kenaston - This Great Northern Rail Road station was founded in 1906, in NE1/4 Section 12-159-89, Spencer Township, four miles SSW of Kenmare, and named for F. E. Kenaston, President of the Minneapolis Thresher Company and a stockholder of the GNRR. The post office was established October 23, 1907, with Thomas Dodd's post master. A village of about 50 people existed for many years, but a decline began after World War II and the post office closed July 2, 1965, with mail to Kenmare.

Saint Carl - This farm post offices as the second to be established in Ward County, and its purpose was primarily to increase the number of post offices in the Souris River valley to justify a regular mail route to Burlington. It opened February 18, 1885, with Olaf Carl Larson as the first and only Postmaster in NW1/4 Section 4-154-82, Sundre Township, about five miles SE of Minot. The name was chosen by James Johnson of Burlington to honor the postmaster. The "Saint" part of the name is explained by a bit of folklore. Mr. Larson is said to have protested the addition to his given name, and Mr. Johnson is said to have responded, "Well, you're a saint, ain't ya?" Carl is a variant of Charles, a Teutonic name meaning man. The post office was discontinued March 27, 1891, with mail to Minot.

Hecker / Logan - This was a rural post office established April 13, 1887, with Robert A. Davidson postmaster, who named it for General John Alexander Logan (1826-1886), a Civil War hero, who later was a U.S. Senator from Illinois and was the Republican Vice Presidential candidate in 1884. It was located between Minot and Sawyer, and closed May 31, 1898, with mail to Sawyer. It reopened April 14, 1903, with Owen Hecker postmaster, closing April 20, 1904. Later that year a townsite was founded on the Soo Line Rail Road in NE1/4 Section 24-154-82, Sundre Township, and Mr. Hecker reestablished the post office, naming it for himself. On November 15, 1909, new postmistress Anna A. Beebe restored the LOGAN name. The post office closed September 30, 1931, with mail to Minot, but the community still exists, reporting a population of 60 in 1960.

Surrey - This Great Northern Railroad townsite was promoted by Max Bass, the railroad's immigration agent, in 1894, in Section 19-155-81, Surrey Township and named for Surrey, England, by railroad officials. Settlement began in 1900, and the post office was established June 18, 1900, with George W. Burke Postmaster. The town became a household word in ND in 1911, when it was made the terminus of the GNRR's new Surrey cutoff line from Fargo. The elevation is 1473, and the Zip Code is 58785. The village did not incorporate until 1951, when the population was about 150. Since that time it has become a favorite location for people who work in Minot, but wish to live in a smaller town, and its 1980 population reached a peak of 998.

Tatman Township [T157N R82W; School #1 Sec.11, #2 Sec.8, #3 Sec.29, #4 Sec.22; Bethany Church Section 11, Lynch Church Section 7]

Lynch - This was a farm post office established March 1, 1902 with Robert Dumond Postmaster, who named it for John Lynch, a pioneer area homesteader who came here in 1886 and was clerk of the District Court for many years. It was located in SW1/4 Section 30-157-82, Tatman Township, twelve miles north of Minot, and just east of the present-day Minot Air Force Base. Joshua H. Humphreys became the Postmaster in 1903, and operated it in conjunction with a country store, insurance agency and justice of the peace service. The post office closed October 15, 1909 with mail to Glenburn.

Hesnault - This was a farm post office established June 30, 1903, with John A. Berg Post Master. It was located in Section 35-154-86, Tolgen Township, fourteen miles SSE of Berthold, and named for the Hesnault family who were pioneer settlers in the area. Mildred Hesnault was the private secretary to General Arthur MacArthur, father of General Douglas MacArthur. Bernt E. Edwardson (1880-1939) became post master in 1916, moving the facility across the section line to his home in SE1/4 Section 34-154-86. The post office closed September 29, 1917, with mail to DesLacs.

Torning Township [T153N R84W; School #1 Sec.11, #3 Sec.20, #4 Sec.23; Churches, see below] In order for a township to be organized it had to have a taxable evaluation of at least $40,000 and there must be at least 25 people of voting age, and a majority of the voters must sign a petition. [The history then lists all 25 people] The name Torning was brought by the Norwegian settlers from their old home in Torning township near Benson, Minnesota, and was given to their new township in the western hills of Ward County. They kept a bit of the old home in the name of their township, but the treeless hills and draws must have been very different from Minnesota. The township officers in 1905 were Andrew Eidahl - chairman, Iver Brandvold and L.T. Larson, supervisors, Jacob Dynig - Clerk, John Stakston - Treasurer, G.P. Russell - Assessor, Elbert Peterson - Justice of the peace, John Peterson - Constable.

Pitts - This was a farm post office established April 4, 1908, with William A. Pitts Postmaster. It was located in SE1/4 Section 7-153-84, Torning Township, fifteen miles SW of Minot and closed January 31, 1914 with mail to Grelland.

Fron Lutheran Church - The Fron Congregation was organized by Rev. N. Astrup Larson of Minot on May 23, 1904, at the home of Amund Stakston. The first church was built in 1914, but was destroyed by fire due to lightening on July 19, 1934. The church was rebuilt in 1935.

Zion Norwegian Evangelical Church - The Zion Lutheran Church stood beside Highway 18 in the western edge of Torning Township for many years. The congregation was organized in 1905. The church was built in 1911-1912. The congregation was a part of the Douglas parish.

Vang Township [T153N R85W] It is uncertain how Vang Township received its name, but it has been told that it was named after a party who never filed, just squatted, until homesteaders came in and moved them out.

Grelland - This was a farm post office established October 11, 1902, with Johann W. Rode Post Master. It was located in NE1/4 Section 23-153-85, Vang Township, sixteen miles SW of Minot and made several moves within the immediate area before closing August 15, 1918, with mail to Drady.

Waterford Township [T157N R83W; School #2 Sec.30, #3 Sec.8, #3 Sec.2, #4 Sec.27]

Wayne - This was a coal mining settlement in SE1/4 Section 4-157-83, Waterford Township, fifteen miles NNW of Minot near the Renville County line. A post office was established June 22, 1903, with William H. Rouse postmaster, and it closed June 30, 1908, with mail to Lynch. The origin of the name, which is a diminutive of Wainwright, an Old English name meaning wagon maker, is unknown.

Willis Township [T153N R82W; School #1 Sec.29, #2 Sec.2, #3 Sec.7, #4 Sec.16, #4 Sec.33; Highland Church Section 33] Willis township was named for C. C. Willis, a pioneer of he Sawyer area who came here around 1880 as a brick layer. He settled west of Sawyer on what is known as the Hayes place. He was one of the first officers of the Pleasant school district of Sawyer in the early 1900's. Mr. Willis was elected county commissioner of the fifth Ward district in 1906. In 1908 he notarized the papers that officially made Willis a township. The first township meeting was held in the living room at the home of F. B. Pitkin. The members that served on the first township board were Fred Tullar, Cad. Beighle and Guy Putney. The board also had a constable and Justice of the peace.

Much of the townships and places information presented was from People of the Prairie by people of the South Prairie area, North Dakota Place Names by Douglas A. Wick, and the Ryder Diamond Jubilee Book 1906-1981.