Lostwood, ND
Mountrail County
Inhabited as of 5/10
Only two structures remain of what was once Lostwood, ND — a well-kept church and a boarded up school. Although nobody lives in Lostwood, we are listing it as inhabited since there is a farm directly adjacent to the town site.
There are population figures for Lostwood township in the US Census, but none for Lostwood as a town. Lostwood is quite remote, and is situated on gently rolling grassland.
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All photos by Troy and Rat, copyright SonicTremorMedia.com
The church pictured is a Lutheran Church. I believe it is still used. There was also a Mennonite Church near Lostwood but further out in the country. That church was purchased by the Assembly of God Church and was moved to Stanley, ND.
One of my uncles was raised in Lostwood in the 1920′s-1930′s. There were so many ducks that you could feed a family most of the year by shooting a couple a day in your back pond. It was an idealic life till the drought of the 1930′s wiped out many farms.
Thanks for pictorially taking me to a place I’ve wanted to visit for many year.
Can anyone tell me if these buildings are for sale?
can anyone tell me if these buildings are for sale? please contact me at braid2004@hotmail.com
thanks
Can you tell me where the school sits in relation to the church? I’m writing a book in which I’m rebuilding Lostwood and could use any information you may have. It doesn’t have to be exact but a general idea of the town would be nice. Thank you. Lorraine
The school site almost straight north of the church on a small hill.
Sorry! Forgot to leave contact info. Please email any information to lornel2.5@hotmail.com
Thanks again, Lorraine
I tried emailing you directly but have gotten no response. My mother’s family was from Lostwood, and my aunt would be very happy to talk with you… But you would have to contact her via one of the old-fashioned ways, e.g. snail mail or phone. For that info, you can contact me.
Thanks,
LindaF
My father died in 1947 as the result of a drowning in Sawyer Dam…. He was young -early 20s. His name was Lawrence Haroldean Nelson- adopted Son of Mary Jackson & Nelson. Lawrence worked in the coal mines near Sawyer/lostwood and mom worked for a farm couple. He is buried in Lostwood cemetary.
Alta Nelson Winkelman-born in Stanley ND.
Myra Nelson Herick
Sharon Nelson Roque, all daughters
Wife/ mom was HelenJean Lucille Erickson Nelson ( deceased 9/1996) from Parshall ND.
Helen was daughter of Erick Erickson and Gertrude Geise Erickson.
I visited the cemetary in the 60s but could not find his gravesite.
Just some interesting tidbits abt former Lostwood people.
Alta Winkelman
I am a niece of your grandmother, Mary Nelson. I remember your dad, whom we called “Bud”. He is buried in the catholic side of the Lostwood cemetary next to Mary and John. I would like to hear more from you.
i am Sharon Nelson Roque, daughter of Bud and Helen.
i think I remember visiting your family and remember Grandpa jackson.and
henry and Erma. i just happened upon this site and would love to hear from you. My e-mail is Mumaleone@hvc.rr.com.
As you probably know, he was their adopted child. I have the genealogy on his biological parents.
Any genealogy on my cousin Bud (Lawrence) Nelson you would like to share?
mr. Mogren,
i am the oldest daughter of Bud Nelson.
i would like to have some information on his geneology.
My grandparents were married in Lostwood in 1930. Her family moved from southwestern Minnesota to farm there, and he came as part of a threshing crew. They met and the rest was history!
Her name was Aganetha S Harder and she Married Henry Milton Harder of Butterfield, MN. They moved back to Butterfield where they farmed and raised 5 children.
I don’t know where my great-granparents farm was in Lostwood, but I would love to visit the area sometime just to see where she lived.
I was raised at Lostwood. My parents bought the Hepner farm before they moved back to MN. I am not sure which farm was the Harder farm but will research information to see if I can locate it.
Coleen,
Thank you! My Great grandparents were Peter P Harder and his wife was Margaretha. I am not sure how many children were still home (maybe all of them) They had seven sons and one daughter. I don’t know if this will help you in your search or not.
Coleen, are you someone that went to school with a Linda Heppner. She went through the second grade in Lostwood, and she remember a Coleen Jackson in her grade. I am Bernice Heppner now Janzen and I was born on a farm close to Lostwood, but when I was 7 months old my family moved to eastern ND. Linda is my cousin and she doesn’t have internet, so she asked me to write. We are all from the Mennonite group that came in the 1920′s and left when the drought came. three year ago, there was a Heppner reunion in Lostwood, in that Church. there is a graveyard out in the country and our grandfather Dietrich Heppner is buried there along with two others. my e=mail address is olbjanzen@juno.com. would love to hear from anyone.
My parents did not buy the Heppner farm; they bought Henry Friesen’s farm. The Hardy farm was about 1/4 mile west and a mile or so south from there. My sister in ND said no one lived in the house when we were growing up in the area.
I just happened upon this site today. I believe the Henry Friesen that your parents purchased the farm from was my grandfather. He was married to Hattie Unger. My mother told me stories of growing up next to the Hepner farm. My mother was Agnes Josephine Friesen Leas.
I was raised at Lostwood, still go to church there and now live in Minot, ND. I would like to hear from anybody who has any ties to the community or even heard of it. Wayne. 12-25-10
Were any of you related to any John Nelsons…See My comments.
Alta Nelson WInkelman
My aunt Mary was married to a John Nelson…whom I believe was your grandfather.
jan steen,murhpy, peterson,jackson,charles lungren…all people mentioned in my great grandmother’s journal from 1914,her name is Anna Belle Drake and she was in Lostwood for her land claim.Anyone hear of her or these other folks. With all the oil activity there our family has been thinking about her a lot. I am JodyJ.L.Drake
great grandaughter in Nashville.Thank you!
My grandfather was raised in the Lostwood area. Ray Lindberg. I have been inside the school a few times. I love this area it is so peaceful, it just calls out to me. I knew from the time I was a teenager this was where I wanted as my final resting place. Strange I know…..
My Grandma Ruby was raised in Lostwood. Her brother was named Ray Lindberg. She married Art Christensen and moved outside the town of Kenmare. I think your grandpa Ray was my great uncle. As you say it is so peaceful up there. What you say is not strange to me at all….I love it there.
Thank you all for the interesting tidbits of info about the area. I’m still working on the series and hope to see it in print someday.
Here are three cemetery’s located in the Lostwood area:
German Mennonite Cemetery, Lostwood, ND
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GScid=1970307&CRid=1970307&pt=German%20Mennonite%20Cemetery&
Lostwood Cemetery, Lostwood, ND
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1801910&CScntry=4&CSst=30&CScnty=1781&CSsr=21&
Lunds Valley Cemetery near Lostwood, ND
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=102133&CScntry=4&CSst=30&CScnty=1781&CSsr=21&
Three of my relatives lived in Lostwood. My uncle Arthur Afseth operated a general store, my uncle Albin Afseth farmed just north of Lostwood and my aunt Minnie Afseth Haugile, along with her children, Herbert and Jane, lived there in the 1940′s. I visited the school with my cousin Herbert in early 1940′s and have been in the church for funerals and other occasions. My parents, Maurice and Clarice (Afseth) Jensen lived in Lostwood when I was very young (about 1940) before moving west to my grandparents (Afseth) farm, then to Lunds Valley and eventually to Stanley. I have a lot of fond memories of the area. Lowell Jensen
I am the cousin of ;
Alta Nelson Winkelman-born in Stanley ND.
Myra Nelson Herick – aka; Mitty
Sharon Nelson Roque, aka; sherry- all daughters for Helen
Their mother was Helen Jean Lucille Erickson Nelson ( deceased 9/1996) from Parshall ND.
Helen was daughter of Erick A. Erickson and Gertrude Wilhelmina Albertina Geise Erickson.
My mother was Doris Mae Hilma Erickson Burchard (born 12/1927 -died 11/2001 ), She married Francis Gustiv Burchard (born 9/1925 -died 2/2006) of Havre Mt. They had 8 children Sandra Mae, Micheal Francis, Patrick Allen, Jane Ann, Susan Marie, Larry James, David Jon, Lynn Mari.
I would love to visit Lostwoods and walk in the foot steps of such dear people. My parents moved to Calf. 1965 from Glascow Mt. The Glascow air base was closing and my father was civil service.
They transfered him to Vandenberg AFB. I still recall the trip here as my mother traveled with her 7 kids and was about 7 or 8 months pregnant with Lynn, we flew into LAX. My father drive down later.
Sharon Roque: I don’t think Grandma and Grandpa Erickson lived there. They lived closer to Parshall. I will look it up for you.
I live on a farm three miles north of Lostwood, which my great grandfather Matt Biwer bought in the early 60′s, and drive by the old town site on a daily basis. Every time I do I am filled with a sense of nostalgia for the simple Northern European farming culture that once thrived here, before Agribusiness started driving all the family farms out.
I am a bit of a history buff and have been trying to find some pictures of the town back when it was inhabited, but haven’t had any luck. Does anyone have any they can share?
When I was a kid (born in 1954) our address was Lostwood but changed to a Stanley address later on though we kept the same mailman. My dad, grandfather and cousin played for the Lostwood baseball team. My older brother has a picture of the team.