John Ressler Family

The John Ressler Family came from Michaelsdorf, Bohemia, Austria.  After living several years in Minnesota, in May 1881, he came along with his son Franz, Joseph Pfeifer, Joe Bartow, and Edward Zimprich to find land in Griggs County.  The only two settlers in Tyrol Township at the time were Frank and Charlie Hunter, down by the Sheyenne River.

John Ressler built a sod house on his place and broke about 25 acres.  The shanty was 10x12 feet and made of sod and tarpaper.

He was married to Theresa Smith at Michelsdorf when he was 25 years old.  Their family included Franz (Frank that is) 1860, Edward, 1863, Amalia (Mollie) 1865, Johann Q. W. or Jack) 1869

 Marie (Mary), Lottie, 1875

 Tini, 1875, Tini November 18, 1878

 and Yatti (Hattie) August 7, 1887.

John's youngest child, Lottie Ressler, was the first to be buried in the St. Lawrence Cemetery, which is located near the southeast corner of the Ressler land.

John Ressler sold his farm to Albert Rickford in the early 1900's and left this community to live with his daughter, Mollie (Mrs. Fred Mautz) in Waseau, Wisconsin and then Mary (Mrs. P. B. Galligar) in Great Falls, Montana.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 462