Reprint of an article appearing in the "Devil's Lake Journal," concerning early Jewish settlers in Ramsey County, Dakota Territory. 1880's. Flat file. Cabinet 5, Drawer 6. Plaut, W Gunther. "Jewish colonies at Painted woods and Devils Lake". In North Dakota History, vol 32 #1, January 1965, p59-70. [August 2005]
Sons of Jacob Cemetery: North on ND 20 to ND 17 (North of Garske). Turn right (East) on 17. Go 6 miles east of village. Look for "Jewish Cemetery" sign on the right at gravel road. Turn right. Go about 2-3 miles. The 100ft x 100ft cemetery is on the right, up a very poor trail and can be seen from the road. It is just past a farmhouse on the left with a sign on the fence "Sons of Jacob" cemetery. The stones are in very poor condition. Some are destroyed and have been replaced by rocks and covered with sheets of tin. I have photos of this cemetery. The cemetery dates from the 1860s. Source: Frank Freedman; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
See: Jewish Cemetery Assoc., deed owned by Myer R. Shark (see Fargo for his contact information) of Devil's Lake, ND (in 1954) in Postal & Koppman Jewish Tourist's Guide to U.S. Phila., PA: Jewish Publ. Soc., 1954, p.487-489.
SEE AJA. American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488. 513-221-1875 (tel); 513-221-7812 (fax). E-mail: AJA contact form:Petition to the State Governor objecting to the sale of the Jewish cemetery and the removal of the graves, Devil's Lake, ND, Dec. 23, 1902; patent for the land, confirming its ownership by the Jewish Cemetery Association, Ramsey County, ND, Dec. 29, 1911; documents, deeds, charters, and miscellaneous items relating to the Jewish cemetery in Devil's Lake, ND, 1902-1933. Manuscript, printed & typescript. 15 items. Received from Mr. Howard O. Berg, Devil's Lake, ND, Sep. 10, 1965 and Mr. David Glickson, Devil's Lake, ND, Apr. 29, 1966.Information on the abandoned cemeteries in Ramsey County, ND. Nov. 10, 1966 in Histories file
(AP article) "A monument north of Devils Lake now marks the resting place of an estimated 50 Jewish homesteaders who came to the area between 1882 and 1935. The monument was dedicated yesterday, at a gathering that drew residents from the area as well as descendants of the pioneers from other states. The Sons of Jacob Cemetery got its name from a St. Paul synagogue whose members sent money to help the Devils Lake settlers. They were known as the Garske Colony. Leighton Siegel of St. Paul, who attended yesterday's dedication, says no one really knows for sure how many graves are there. Only 15 grave markers are left. An architect from Lawrence, Kansas, Hal Ettinger, led the campaign to raise money for the monument. His great-grandfather, Simon, was buried in the cemetery." another article. [October 2010]