Olaf did a lot of translating of articles that were posted in the Flom Footnotes over the years.
Olaf Kringhaug
KRINGHAUG Olaf March 4, 1928 - December 7, 2008
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved father, grandfather and friend, Olaf Kringhaug. He leaves to mourn his passing, two daughters, Kristin (Jim), Karen (Danny), his two sons, Tron and Olaf (Cheryl), his only sister, Tordis (Harry), his niece Joanne and ten grandchildren, Clint, Laurie, William, Julie, Josh, Coleby, Dayna, Kyle, Trevor and Taryn. Olaf is predeceased by his loving wife, Grethi and his grandson, Tyler. Olaf was born in Hommelvik, Malvik Sor Trondelag, Norway and moved to Canada at the age of four. Olaf graduated from UBC in 1954 as an MD. After graduation, Olaf interned at Vancouver General Hospital before starting his practise. He spent his life taking care of people as a general physician in Vancouver, New Denver and Nakusp. Upon retirement, he continued helping people by pursuing his passion for history and genealogy. He became a translator for what was known as the "Trondelag list". One of his last big achievements was the translation of Normaendene i Amerika, volume 1 by Martin Ulvestad 1907. The family wishes to thank all our friends and family for all their support during this time. Olaf was a lover of dogs, especially German Shepherds. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the SPCA. A special thanks to Wayne Johnson and Margit Bakke for being such good friends to Dad over the years. There will be no service by request. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialkelowna.com .
http://www.legacy.com/can-vancouver/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=121541048
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Flom, Minnesota Red Cross WWI
Back Row: Martinus Flaten, Henry Nysetvold
Second Row: Gus Olson, Ben Haraldson, O.M. Westlin, Mrs. O.M. Westlin, Olga Flom, Clara Jacobson, Andrew Rogen, Mrs. Gus Olson, Burton Flom
Third Row: Karen Morck, Ingborg Nysetvold, Mrs. M. Dullum. Olina Flom, Mrs. M. Flaten, Mrs. A. Rogen, Mrs. L. Kirkeby, Mrs. B. Underdahl, Mrs. B. Haraldson
Fourth Row: Blenda Rogen, Mrs. B. Ommodt, Mildred Thorson, Thea Dorseth
Second Row: Gus Olson, Ben Haraldson, O.M. Westlin, Mrs. O.M. Westlin, Olga Flom, Clara Jacobson, Andrew Rogen, Mrs. Gus Olson, Burton Flom
Third Row: Karen Morck, Ingborg Nysetvold, Mrs. M. Dullum. Olina Flom, Mrs. M. Flaten, Mrs. A. Rogen, Mrs. L. Kirkeby, Mrs. B. Underdahl, Mrs. B. Haraldson
Fourth Row: Blenda Rogen, Mrs. B. Ommodt, Mildred Thorson, Thea Dorseth
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Genealogy Favorites
by Olaf Kringhaug"
by Martin Ulvestad 1907 States and Canada"
Early Settlers in Twin Valley
| 1. Mayor Chas. Hanson was born in Ullensaker, Norway, in 1859. He came to America with his parents in '69 and lived with them in Rushford, Fillmore Co., Minn. The year after they came here to Wild Rice. He was the first to open a store in Twin City, where he now operates a music business etc as well as being the City's Mayor. |
| 2. John R. Veium was born in Saude parish, Telemark, Norway in 1867. He came to America in '81 and stopped first for a time at Mankato, Minn. The same year he went to Red Wing where he lived for 3 years. He then took a trip back to Norway to visit family and friends. After a year's passage he came again to America and then came here to Norman Co., where his brother was a priest. He lived here for 4 years, after which he went again to Norway. There he stayed for only 4 months, and then came back to America and lived a year in St. Paul. Later he moved to Twin Valley, where in '90 he began a general store together with L. Walhus. In 1893 he bought out Walhus and has since operated the business alone. |
| 3. C. P. Waller was born in Solør, Norway in 1866 and came here to America with his parents in '71. He has now for several years operated a general store in Twin Valley with his brother Olaf along with John Homelvig. In the fall of '95 they opened a branch in Syre, a few miles from Twin Valley. He is married and has a child. |
| 4. O. H. Aaker was born in Decorah, Iowa, in 1856 and lived there until '77, when he went to Flandreau N.D., where he took a homestead. There he lived until '85 when he came here to Norman Co. and began a general store in Twin Valley together with his brother Hans Aaker. He is married and has 5 children, while one is dead. |
| 5. Hans Burgess was born in Ringebu parish in Norway in 1854. he came here to America in '78 and settled in Black River Falls, Wis. He lived there until '86 when he moved here to Norman Co., Minn. He worked first for some years for Andrews and Hampton in Ada, later he moved to Twin City, where he is now the City's Postmaster. He also has a farm some miles east of the city. He has a wife and several children. |
| 6. Halvor Hanson was born in Id parish at Fredrikstad in 1845. He came here to America in 1871 and settled at St. Paul and lived there until '81, when he came here to Norman Co., Minn., where he took 80 acres of land right by Twin Valley City, on which land a part of the City now lies. He is unmarried. |
| 7. Laurits Sethney was born in Toten, Norway, in 1868 and came here to America in '86, after which he settled here in Norman Co., Minn. He was married a couple of years ago and now operates a furniture store together with his brother Hans. |
| 8. Louis Peterson, wheat buyer, was born in Osola, Polk Co., Wis., in 1863. He came here to Twin Valley in '91, where he has bought wheat for an elevator company. He was married in '92 to a daughter of Peter Skjægrud. They have no children. |
| 9. L.H. Aas, plasterer, was born in Hitterdal parish, Norway, in 1851. He came here to America in '73 and settled in Decorah, Iowa. He lived there until '81, when he moved to Ada, Minn., where he lived until '87, when he moved here to Twin Valley, where he works at the plastering trade. He married some years ago, but has no children. |
| 10. Louis K. Wold, carpenter, was born in Hitteren parish, Norway, in 1866. He came here to America in '89. Since '94 he has lived in Twin Valley, where he works as a carpenter. |
| 11. Jens Sethney was born in Vestre Toten, Norway, 1870. He came here to America in '87 and settled in Twin Valley where he first for a few years was a clerk with Aaker Brothers. Later he bought a furniture store from Jakob Sannan with his brother Laurits, which business they now operate under the name of Sethney Brothers. Jens Sethney works now as a clerk with Christ. Waller and Co. He was in '92 married to Petra Kallerud, daughter of Ole Kallerud of Home Lake, and they have one child. |
| 12. Theodor Wold was born in Sibley Co., Minn., in 1872. He came here together with his parents to Norman Co. '80. He now operates a hotel, that he bought from his father a couple of years ago. He is the owner and manager of Columbia Hotel. |
| 13. A.J. Lee was born in Næs parish, Hedmark, Norway, in 1854. He came here to America in '70, and settled in Decorah, Iowa, where he lived until '80. He then moved here to Norman Co., Minn., where he began to farm on the north side of Wild Rice River. But when the railroad came here and the City of Twin Valley was founded, he sold the farm and moved here. The first year he operated a restaurant, now for several years he has operated a hotel, since he is the owner of the Grand Hotel. He has a wife and several children. |
| 14. O.H. Klemetsrud was born in Valders, Norway, in 1865. He came as a one year old child with his parents here to America in '66, that settled in Dane Co., Wis., where they lived until '81, when they moved here to Norman Co., Minn. He has now for several years operated a photography business in Twin Valley, at the same time he also has galleries in Ulen and Fertile. He is married to Anne Bakke, daughter of Anders Bakke of Home Lake. They have no children. |
| 15. S.O. Hanson was born in Waupacca Co., Wis., in 1866, where he lived with his parents until '86, when he came here to Norman Co., Minn. He now operates a hardware store together with his brother A.O. Hanson. He is married and has 3 children,of which one is dead. |
| 16. A.O. Hanson was born in Ringebo, Norway, in 1864 and came here with his parents the same year to Waupacca Co., Wis. Here he lived until '85, when he came here to Norman Co. He now operates a hardware store together with his brother S.D. Hanson, at the same time they sell farm machinery. He is married and has 2 children. |
| 17. Sam Olson, painter, was born in Vestre Toten, Norway, in 1857. He came to America in '65 and settled in Dane Co., Wis. He lived there until '85, when he moved to Spring Grove, Minn., where he lived until '87. He moved after that to Fargo, N.D. and lived there for 2 years, after which he moved to Norman Co., Minn. He first took land in the Town of Flom, but after a few years, he sold the land and moved to Twin Valley, where he now works as a painter. He has a wife and several children. |
| 18. John Fjældstad was born at Vestre Toten, Norway, in 1863. He emigrated from Norway in '85 and came to Duluth, Minn., where he lived for 3 years. He then went to Fargo, N.D., and lived there until '93, then he moved here to Norman Co. He was married in '93 to Clara Waller, daughter of Peder Waller of Home Lake. They have 2 children. He now lives in Twin Valley, where he works at various jobs. |
| 19. John A. Jørgenson was born in Aalesund, Norway, in 1864. He came here to America in 1864 and settled in Norman Co., Minn. In '89 he began a saddlery, which he now operates. He has a wife and several children. |
| 20. A.H. Froshaug was born in Trygstad parish, Norway, in 1870. He came here to Lake Park, Becker Co., Minn. together with his mother, since his father had come here before, in '80. They lived there until '83, when the family moved here to Twin Valley. Here he now works with hardware and farm machinery together with Myran and Peterson of Ada, Minn., under the firm name Froshaug, Peterson and Myran. |
| 21. Ole Erikson was born in Førde parish, Søndfjord, Norway, in 1844. He came to America in '71 and lived in Nicollet Co., Minn., until '74. He moved from there to Olmsted Co., Minn., and lived there until '84 after which he moved to Missoula Co., Montana, where he lived until '90. From there he went to Tocohama, Wash., where he lived until '93, after which he moved here to Twin Valley. He now runs a boarding house. He has a wife but no children. |
| 22. M.E. Dahle was born in Fillmore Co., Minn., in 1871, where he lived with his parents until '75, when they moved to Le Roy, Minn., and lived there until '82, when they came here to Norman Co. |
| 23. Alfred Anderson was born at Toten, Norway, in 1859. He came to America '81 and settled in Rushford, Minn., where he lived until '84. He then came here to Twin Valley, where for several years has operated a drug store together with the City's postmaster. He is married and has several children. |
| 24. J.H. Aamoth was born in Faaberg parish, Norway, in 1867. He came to America with his parents in '71 to Rock Prairie, Wis. Here to Norman Co., they came the next year '72. He lived at first for a few years on his father's first farm in Fossum, but after his first wife's death he moved to Twin Valley, where he now runs a Livery and Feed Stable. He was married again about 1* years ago and has a child from his first wife and one with the last. |
| 25. Peter L. Aune, shoemaker, was born in Tydalen at Trondheim, Norway, 1860. He came here to America to Eau Claire, Wis., in 1883. He lived there until '85, when he moved to Goodhue Co., Minn., where he lived until '86. He then moved here to Norman Co. and now operates a shoemaker business in Twin Valley. He is not married. |
| 26. Ole Aasgaard was born in Hedemarken, Norway, 1860. He came to America in '69 with his parents, and they settled in Trempealeau Co., Wis. Here he lived at home with his parents until the year '78, when he went out into the world on his own. He went first to Madison , Wis., where he attended Monona Academy for a year. After that he went to Decorah, Iowa, the fall of '79, and began at Luther College, where he was for 2 years until '82. He then went home to Wisconsin but in the spring of '83, he set out west and came to Norman Co., Minn., and began to teach school west of Red River. He taught school now and then in the Town of Home Lake until '87. The 20th Nov. '87 he was married to Miss Britha Grinde of Past. Johnson. Since then he almost the whole time lived in Twin Valley. The first years he worked in the sale of machinery etc until '92, when he began to manage a lumber yard for Wilcox in Detroit, Minn. They have 3 children, one is dead. |
| 27. G.C. Stebbins was born in Certland Co., New York, in 1857. He lived there until '76 when he went to Pope Co., Minn. where he lived until '90. He then moved to Windsor, N.D. where he lived for a year and then moved to Twin Valley, where he now lives. He buys wheat for an elevator company. He has a wife and several children. |
| 28. Christ. Olson was born in Bergen, Norway, 1865. He came here to America in '89 and settled in Nicollet Co., Minn. He lived there until '93 when he came here to Twin Valley and settled as a watchmaker, in which trade he was educated in Norway. He has a wife and 2 children. |
| 29. P.P. Berg was born in Sogn, Norway, in 1856 and came here to America in '82. He settled first in Moorhead, Minn., where he lived until '84, when he moved to Krageness, Minn., and lived there for a year. He then went to Albert Lea and lived there for 3 years in which time he ran a shoe store. He came here to Twin Valley in '88 and began a general store, which he still operates. He is unmarried. |
| 30. Past. O. Strass was born in Strand parish at Stavanger, Norway, in 1862. He came to America in '81 and settled in Champaign Co. Ill., where he lived until '85. He then began to study at Augsburg Seminary, Minneapolis, Minn. from where he graduated in '83. He was thereupon employed as a professor with the United Churches Seminary in Minneapolis, which post he retained until the fall of '95, when he came here to Twin Valley as the priest for "Our Saviours Parish" and annexed parishes. He is unmarried. |
| 31. G.R. Ramsey was born in Winnesheik Co., Iowa, in 1863. He moved with his parents to Freeborn Co., Minn., in '68. Here he lived until he began school. First he was 1 year at Luther College, later he studied at Albert Lea Academy until he graduated from there in '92. He then moved here to Twin Valley where he now lives. He teaches at English and Norwegian School. He is married and has 2 children of which the one is dead. |
| 32. Henry Waller was born in Goodhue Co., Minn., in 1871 and came with his parents that year to Norman Co. He now operates a smithy business in Twin Valley. |
| 33. Christ, Lysaker was born in Hakedalen, Norway, in 1852. He came to America in '79 and settled in Mason City, Iowa, and lived there 1 year, after which he came here to Norman Co. and settled in Twin Valley where he works as a smith. He has a wife and several children. |
| 34. J.P.B. Evans was born in Brecons, Wales, England, in 1862. He came here to America in 1871 and settled at Muskoda, Minn.. He lived there until '90, when he moved to Twin Valley, where he has operated a butcher shop. |
| 35. S.H. Calkins was born in Rudolph, Wis., in 1872 and lived there until 1886. In the following 5 years he has lived in various places in northern Wisconsin and worked as a telegraphist. He came to Ada, Minn., where he stayed until the fall of '95, when he moved here to Twin Valley, where he manages the First National Bank. |
| 36. August Durling was born in Skaane, Sweden, in 1863. He came here to America in '87 and settled in Ada, Minn. He lived here until '87, after which he lived in various places in Montana and Utah until '90. He then came back to Ada and lived there until '94, when he came here to Twin Valley. He buys wheat for a wheat company. He has a wife and one child. |
| 37. L. Bjørnson was born in Sande, Telemarken, Norway, in 1869. He came here to America in '89 and settled in Twin Valley. He has worked the whole time as a clerk for John K. Weium except the last year when he had begun publishing the newspaper Twin Valley Times together with M.G. Todd. He is unmarried. |
| 38. M.G. Todd was born in Columbia Co., Wis., in 1862 and lived there until '79, when he moved to Washington Co., where he lived for 3 years. From there he moved to Warren, Minn., where he lived until '89, when he went to Wyoming. He came back to Warren in the fall of '91 and lived there until the fall of '95, when he moved to Twin Valley, where he was that year employed as a teacher. He now publishes the newspaper Twin Valley Times together with L. Bjørnson. He is married and has a child. |
| 39. Ole Hattleberg was born in Lærdal parish, Sogn, Norway, the 20th Dec. 1843, He left Norway with his parents the following spring and came to Illinois, where he was for 2 years. He then moved to Dane Co. In the fall of '61 he volunteered for the war and enlisted in the 15th Wisconsin Regiment. He was in the war until about the fall of '65, when he was discharged. Afterwards he came back to Wisconsin and was married in '68 to Anna Iverson. They left Wisconsin in '71 and went to Freeborn Co., Minn., where they lived for 7-8 years. His wife died there in '77. In '88 he married again and came in '90 to Twin Valley, where he now lives. They have no children. |
| 40. Dr. A.H. Larson was born in Kristiansand, Norway, in 1848. He came to America in '92 and settled in Northfield, Minn. He lived here for only a half year, after which he moved to Twin Valley, where for the first year he served as a priest and since has practiced as a doctor. He has a wife and 4 children. |
| 41. Andrew N. Anderson was born near Trondhjem in 1864. He came with his parents to America in 1869. They lived in Fillmore Co., Minn. for two years after which they moved to Norman Co. In '93 he married Anne Th. Urdahl; they have 2 children. |
| 42. Edvard S. Erikson was born in Ullensaker, Norway, in 1851, and came to America in '70. He lived in Renville Co., Minn., a year and then moved to Red River and lived there for 2 years, after which he moved to Fergus Falls and lived there for 8 years. He then moved to Grafton, N.D. and lived there until '82 and then moved to Norman Co., Minn. He lived first for a few years on a farm a little out from Twin Valley, but now lives in the City. He has a wife and several children. |
Translated by Olaf Kringhaug.
From the book "Nogle Optegnelser om Settling m.m. indenfor de fire Towns Fossum, Wild Rice, Home Lake og Flom i Norman County, Minn".
Collected by R. Grutle, Lars Aamoth, John Narum, O.S. Bently and John Hommelvig.
Early Settlers in Wild Rice Township
1-Søren Bergerson was born in Strøs parish, Odalen, Norway, on November 22nd 1823. He was married to Kirsti Berntsdatter the 25th April 1847. He emigrated from Norway with wife and two children in the spring of 1858 to find a new home in America. They arrived in Decorah, Iowa, in the month June the same year. Here he settled and started to work as blacksmith, which work he continued until the fall of 1862. By that time the war between the South and the North broke out, he finished his work as blacksmith, because he thought " Uncle Sam " had more need for him. He therefore enlisted in the army and participated in the war for 3 years; he served in the Company D, 6th Iowa Cavalry Volunteers under general Cullen; and was discharged in the fall 1865. Afterwards he went back to Decorah and continued his blacksmith business which he operated until the spring 1871, when he went to the west to find land. His decision was to go to Lake Park, Becker Co., Minnesota. But on his arrival there, almost all the land, which wood and prairie, was occupied, why he went further north. The 3rd of June 1871 he came to Wild Rice River, and then he decided to build and live there. He thought the same as expressed by Ivar Aasen, when he sings : " Here is the land, which I like best, and for this I have been longing a long time ". Because the land at that time was not measured , he settled on a piece of land but did not know in which section he was. In the fall the land was measured and it appeared that his farm was in section 35, Town 144, Range 44, which Town later was called Wild Rice. He left his family behind in Decorah, because he wanted to find land and erect house before he brought them to the new place. He went back to Decorah in the fall and stayed there during the winter. The next spring he bought a couple of oxes, wagon and other necessecities for a settler, got wife and children on the wagon and off they went for Wild Rice. But the pioneers life had its naughty sides. Thus they had the grasshoppers in 4 years, and they partly took all and partly most all of their crop.. Still he did not lose the spirit, but faithfully kept on.
His wife died 17th January 1884, and his only son 24th April 1889. In their marriage they had 4 children, of which 3 were born in Norway and 1 in Decorah, Iowa. One child died in Norway. When he went to Wild Rice for the first time he was together with Martin Johnson, Guldbrand Haagenson, Andrew Johnson and Gunder Gunderson.
2-Martin Johnson was born in Røkens parish, Norway, in the fall 1832. He left Norway in the spring 1854 and arrived to Dane Co., Wisconsin, the same spring. He stayed there for two years. From here he went to Freeborn Co., Minnesota. Here he was married to the maid Caroline Bergerson. In the spring 1871 he left Freeborn Co. along with Søren Bergerson, Guldbrand Haagenson and others to find a new home in the west. They came to Becker Co., Minnesota, first, but because he did not like the land hare, they went further north to Wild Rice River. Unfamiliar with the district they went to far east and entered The White Earth Reservation. Here Martin liked the land and prepared for settling on a ground. But because they met an indian camp, they learned that they had to go far to the west to find free land. When they came that far west, that they were sure they were out of the Reservation, Martin exclaimed : " Well, boys, here I will take land either its indians or Uncle Sams, what he really did, and after the measuring of the land, it turned out that it was on section 36, now Town of Wild Rice. By now Martin was busy, first he had to erect a house and then cleared the ground. The house was ready in a hurry, but unfortunately he had no plow. But he knew what to do; he went all the way to Alexandria to get a plow. And then it
was on plowing; it was the first land ever plowed in this settlement; may be the first in Norman Co. He also brought the first farm tools as hand rake, Reaper, a mower and a hayrake to the settlement. He took his land on June 3rd but his family did not arrive before the fall.
In the years 1872 to 1875 he seeded Martin wheat, but the grasshoppers reaped. In the spring of 1873 he bought 10 bushels of potatoes and in the fall he got back about a pail, the rest of it the grasshoppers took. They have had 11 children, of which 5 were born in Freeeborn Co., and 6 in Norman Co. His oldest daughter died in October 1885, the next oldest is married and lives in Town of Flom, and the others are staying at home.
3-Guldbrand Haagenson was born in Hitterdalen, Norway in 1833. He left Norway in 1858 and arrived in Winnesheik Co, Iowa, the same year. He lived there to the fall 1862 when he enlisted in company D 6th Iowa Cavalry Volunteers. Here he served for 3 years under general Cullen. Then he was discharged and went back to Winnesheik Co. Iowa, where he in the fall 1866 married the maid Ragnhild Christianson. The same fall he went to Freeborn Co., Minn., where he lived until the spring 1891, when he with Søren Bergerson, Martin Johnson and some others went to the west to find land. They arrived in Wild Rice the 3rd of June, and he then took land on section 35. His family came to him the same fall, and all the time they have had their home on this land. He too was amongst them, who had to suffer the grasshoppers ravages and the hard times that followed. They have had 10 children together; 1 was born in Winnesheik Co., 2 in Freeborn Co., and 7 in Wild Rice, of which 5 are passed away. The first child that died here was buried on the farm, because at that time there was no cemetery. Guldbrand Haagenson died from cancer on 18th April 1893 and is buried on the Wild Rice Cemetery.
4-Ole HansonAarstad is born in Ullensaker, Norway, the 16th of May 1823 and was married to the maid Agnethe Hermansdaughter Bjerkein the year 1855. They emigrated from Norway in the spring 1867 and arrived in Fillmore Co., Minn., the same spring. Here they stayed for 4 years, whereafter he moved west with his family to find Land under the Homestead Act. He arrived here in Wild Rice the 1st of July 1871 and took land on section 35. He too took land before it was measured, therefore he did not know on which section the farm was before it was surveyed in the fall. - Together they have had 8 children, of which 6 were born in Norway and 2 of them died there; and 2 are born after he came to Wild Rice, at the same time 3 of the children died here. By them was born the first child amongst the pioneers here, that is the girl Dorothea, born 28th September 1871. Also the first death in this settlement occured in this family, namely the son Anders who died during the night between 3rd and 4th January 1873. He left the home in the evening to visit one of the neighbors. In the morning he was brought back home as corpse, because he froze to death during the night. He too is buried on the farm, because there was no cemetery. Mr. Aarstad has suffered much sorrow and adversity after he came here. First he lost his oldest son, as mentioned, and some years later his wife turned mentally ill and to go to St. Peter. Again after some time one of his sons had to go to the same place, and after the inspectors statement, both are incurable. About 3 years ago, he had to bid farewell to another son who
died from consumption. And finally on January 11th, 1896, his oldest daughter was brought home as corpse from Fargo, N.D., where she served. This show that he has suffered much mourning. At present he lives alone on his farm, but is soon moving to Twin Valley to live with his son Charles Hanson, so it is to hope for, that he hereafter will see a better life in his old age.
5-Hans G. Urdahl was born in Aurlands Prestegjeld, Sogn, Norway on the 14th of February, 1848. He left Norway in the Spring of 1866 and came to Winnesheik County in Iowa that same year. He lived here a year and then moved to Houston County, Minnesota where he lived until the Spring of 1872, when he left to find new land. He came to Wild Rice and took land in Section 20, where he now lives. On the 20th of February, 1879, he was married to the maid Rangnilde Tvedstulen. They have 8 children, whereof 1 has died.
6-Eden Nilson was born in Langsrud, Sweden, July 5th, 1850. He left Sweden in the spring of '73 an came to Wild Rice the same spring, where he already had two brothers. He took land on section 18. In '84 he made a trip back to Sweden just to see the old homestead. Anyway he liked Wild Rice best, and in '85 he came back here. In 1892 he was married to Anna Erikson and still he lives on his farm in section 18.
7-Jakob O. Hereid is born in Ulvigs parish, Hardanger, Norway in the year 1848. He left Norway in the spring of '66 and arrived in St Croix Co., Wis., the same year. Here he lived until 1870 when he moved to Nicollet Co., Minn. He was married there to the maid Olina Knudson. From here he moved again in 1876, when he came here to Wild Rice and took land on section 10. They have had 12 children together, 3 born in Nicollet and 9 in Wild Rice, 2 are dead after they arrived here. His travelling comrades to here were Knut Torgerson, Børe Olson and Svend Quam.
8-Peter Olsen Skjæggerud is born in Grans parish, Hadeland, Norway, December 31th, 1885. He left his home to go to America in 1851. He arrived the same year in Town of Norway, Racine Co., Wis., where he again met his parents who had made the journey two years earlier. In 1854 the family came to Iowa and settled in Town of Frankville, Winnesheik Co., Iowa. Here he was married to the maid Thora Hendrikson and have 9 children. He lived here until the fall of '75 when he went to the Red River Valley, and arrived to Søren Bergersons House in Wild Rice November 12th. By that time no one had tried to use the power which Wild Rice River gives, and a Flour and Saw Mill was of great importance to the people around in this Settlement, it was on the purpose to supply for this need, Olson came here with a large family in the middle of the winter, with humble means and no houses for people and animals. But in the wilderness the brotherly love shows more up than may be other times and places. The people in the settlement came from far away and near by to help him by erecting houses, and as early as December 15th , he and his family could move in, in their own house. During the winter they logged, and in the spring the neighbors gathered again and helped with the erection of the mill house. A simple Flour and Saw Mill was started in 1876. That everything was very simple, shows the following exclamation from Johan Matson, a quite rational man, however. When he got the sight of the water wheel, he exclaimed : " When this wheel can run a saw, may we then see a glass cabinet even in the clouds". When they had to build the Mill on the northern beach of the river, they, who lived on the southern side, had to take their wheat and flour across the river on boat. Because not everybody was accustomed to handling a boat, there were many strange events. Once John Narum was headed for the mill, but losed the whole burden into the river. Ole Holum wanted to cross the river in a boat, but he did not know how to row, the stream in the river seized the boat, which made him scream and bemoan, as if he was near death. Before we got a bridge, Jakob Herreid crossed the river in the morning in the ice to get to his claim to do some work. The river ice had started to break up, but had fastened again, so one could walk on it in the morning, but during the day it broke up. Olson pulled together some poles and in the afternoon crossed the river to fetch Jakob, but he was long in coming, and Olson had to go back without Jakob because it darkened. It was Eastereve '76 and Jakob Herreid had to put up with staying overnight on the other side under the open sky the whole night. Then one started attempts to build a bridge. Olson arrange for materials and the neighbors came and helped by the erection. But the next spring when the the ice broke up, the bridge followed the ice down the river, as if it was made of straws. Later we erected a good wooden bridge. Now we have a gorgeous steel bridge, so we have no difficulties when crossing the river.After some years there came a young miller to this place, Jørgen Heiberg, son of merchant J. Heiberg in Bergen, Norge. Olson now sold the mill with all the accessories, and because Heiberg possessed more resources, he teared down the old mill, an erected a new one. which later over and over again has been improved, so it by now is one of the best mills of its kind in the West. Mr. Heiberg was at that time unmarried, but had a very cheerful maid to keep the house for him. One Sunday eve she should cross the river to fetch the post and so on for Mr. Heiberg. But because it was late and darkened, she stayed over night on the other side. Early Sunday morning Olson should carry her across the river. But unfortunately someone had been there and had taken the boat to the other side. Olson then wanted to go after it in a canoe he had, but the girl thought it too dreary to wait for him, and before Olson knew of it, she was in the canoe too, and the whole mess went into the river; Olson, the girl, the post, cream and eggs. The girl had fastened to the canoe, but all there was to see was the nose and the feathers on her hat, which came up of the water. Many such stories from those days could be told, but this must be enough to show how the conditions were at that time
9-Elling Tharaldson was born in Drangedals parish, Norway, June 15th, 1843. He left Norway in the spring of 1865 and came to Goodhue Co., Minn., the same year. Here he was married to the maid Anne Johnson, and then he went to Norman co., Minn., the same year, and settled in Town of Lake Ida. There he stayed for 10 years and then he moved to Town of Wild Rice, and lives now on section 17. Together they have 7 children, all born in Norman Co.
10-John Olson was born in Sweden in 1844. He left Sweden in '68 and arrived to the state of Maine the same year and lived there in 2 1/2 year. Then he went back to Sweden again, and here he was married to Kaisa Anderson in '72. Thereafter he went to America once more in '73 and then went all the way to Becker Co., Minn. There he stayed for 3 years and then moved here to Wild Rice and took land on section 18. They have had 6 children, one born in Sweden, one in Becker and 4 here in Wild Rice. John Olson died June 11th, '85. The widow and the children have operated the farm afterwards.
11-Ole Knudson Tofte was born in Hol Prestegjeld, Hallingdal, Norway, in March of 1822. He left Norway in the Spring of 1865 and came to Goodhue County, Minnesota in the same year. He was married in the Spring of 1876 to the maid Anne Johnson, they moved to Norman County, Minnesota that same year and settled in the Town of Lake Ida. They lived there for 10 years, whereafter they moved to
the Twon of Wild Rice and bought land in Section 17. In their family were 7 children, all born in Norman County.
12-Andreas Peterson was born in Vermland, Sweden in 1837 and was married to Johanna Johnson in the Spring of 1866. They left Sweden in the Spring of 1868 and came to Kandiyohi County, Minnesota the same year. They then moved to Becker County, Minnesota in 1871 and were there until the Spring of 1878, when they moved to Wild Rice and settled in Section 19. In there family were 7 children, 1 was born in Sweden, 3 in Kandiyohi County and 3 in Becker County. 2 of the children died in Becker County.
13-Edon Peterson was born in Vermland, Sweden in 1867. He left Sweden in the Spring of 1868 with his parents and came to Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. He came with his parents to Becker County in 1871 and then to Wild Rice in 1878 and took Land in Section 30 in 1888. He was married to the maid Lottie Johnson and had 3 children.
14-Cornelius Peterson was born in Kandiyohi County of Minnesota on the 19th of July, 1868 and came with his parents in 1871 to Becker County, Minnesota where he lived till the Spring of 1878 when he moved to Wild Rice. He was married in the Fall of 1894 to Minnie Rustad. They lived in Section 19, where they farm.
15-Sivert O. Brække was born in Voss Prestegjeld, Bergens Stift, Norway, on the 2nd of July, 1888. He was married in the Sprin of 1866 to the maid Anne Olson Rørgo. That same year they emigrated from Norway and came to Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, where they were till the Fall of the same year. Then they moved to Winnesheik County, Iowa, where they were for 2 years. Then they moved to Ottertail County, Minnesota, where they were till the Spring of 1878, when they moved to Twild Rice and settled in Section 19. They
have a family of 7 children, 4 were born in Ottertail County and 3 in Wild Rice. Mr. Brække died on the 15th of Februray, 1887. The widow still runs the farm.
16-Martin Gilbertson was born in Næs Prestegjeld, Romerike, Norway on the 11th of May, 1840. He was married to Anne Olson in 1866 and left Norway in the Sprin of 1869 and came to Fillmore County, Minnesota the same year. Here they lived for 6 years, whereafter they moved to Freeborn County, Minnesota, where they lived until the Spring of 1878. They then moved to Wild Rice, where
they took Land in Section 32. On the 14th of April, 1882, his wife died. In there family were 6 children, whereof 1 was born in Norway, 2 in Fillmore County, 1 in Freeborn County and 2 in Wild Rice. 1 child died in Fillmore County and 1 in Wild Rice. Mr. Gilbertson died in the Spring of 1893. His oldest son, Ole, runs the Farm.
17-Henry Peterson was born in Gjøvig, Norway, on the 15th of September 1852. He left Norway in the Spring of 1869 and came the same year to Stephenson County, Illinois, where he was for 2 years. He then moved to Decorah, Iowa. Here his served as a store clerk until the spring of 1879. He was married in Decorah to the maid Bertha Haug in the Fall of 1877. In the Spring of 1879 they moved to Wild Rice and took Land in Section 20. The first 2 years he was the Postmaster and had the Post Office in his house. He has also held Town positions such as Town Clerk and Assesor. They have 3 children, whereof 1 was born in Decorah and 2 in Wild Rice.
18-C.J. Skaurud was born in Winnesheik County in Iowa on the 14th of June in 1857. He was married to Helmine Vig in the Spring of 1879. They moved that same year from Iowa to Minnesota, where he was looking for a home. They came the same Summer to Wild Rice, where they settled in Section 3. In 1893 they rented the farm and moved to Ada, where he built a flour mill which he now operates. They have 5 children, all born in Wild Rice.
19-John Ryding was born in Sweden in 1854. He went to Norway, where in the Spring of 1880 he emigrated to America. He came to Wild Rice in the same year. In 1881 he took land in Section 20 in the Town of Fossum
20-Nils Wold was born in Quams Prestegjeld, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1828. He was married on the 26 of December, 1854 to the maid Cicilia Heiraas. They left Norway in the Spring of 1861 and come to Canada that same year, where they were for 2 years. Thereafter, they moved to Chicago, Illinois, and lived there for 2 years. From Chicago they moved to Sibley County, Minnesota where they lived until the Sprin of 1880: they moved to Norman County, Minnesota and settled in Section 21 in the Town of Wild Rice. In 1889 he began in Twin Valley a Hotel, this he did until 1895 and then his son took over. They have 12 children in the family, whereof 3 have died. 1 died in Trondheim, Norway, 1 died on the boat to America, and was buried at sea, and one died in Chicago, Illinois. None of the children were born in Wild Rice.
21-Peder O. Herreid was born in Ulvigs Prestegjeld, Hardanger, Norway on the 4th of September 1831. He attended a course at Søndre Bergenhus Agricultural School from where he graduated in '56.He emigrated from Norway in the Spring of 1857 to go to America. He came however stopped first in Canada for a time from he went to the State of Maine. He was there until 1860, when he went to St. Croix County, Wisconsin, where he was married in 1861 to the maid Julia Levorson and they lived there until 1869, when they moved to Nicollet County, Minnesota. They lived there till the Spring of 1880 when they moved to Norman County, Minnesota and settled in Section 27 in the Town of Wild Rice. The have had 8 children born in their family, of them, 6 have died: 2 in Wisconsin, 3 died in Nicollet County and 1 died while moving to Wild Rice.
22-P.B. Olson was born in Ekers Prestegjeld, Norway, the 6th of January, 1830. He emigrated from Norway in 1858 in the Spring to America, where he landed first in Eid in Canada, where he came to on the 14th of March. He left from Canada and went to Chicago, Illinois, where he was for 2 years. He then went to Scott County, Minnesota and was ther for 2 years. Thereafter he moved to Sibley County, Minnesota. Here he married in 1868 to Tilda Jensine Heiraas. They stayed in Sibley County until the Spring of 1880 when
they moved up to Norman County and settled in Section 27 of the Town of Wild Rice. They have 9 children in the family, whereof 6 were born in Sibley County and 3 in Wild Rice. One child died in Sibley, County.
23-Hans Nilson Kragerø was born at Kragerø, Norway in April of 1849. He left Norway in the Spring of 1866 and went to Chicago, Illinois the same year. Here he lived one year, whereafter he moved to Ossian, Winnesheik County, Iowa. Here he was married to the maid Annie Larson in the Winter of 1873. In the Spring of 1880 they moved up to Norman County and brought Land in Section 36 in the Town of Wild Rice, where they live now. They have 5 children, whereof 3 were born in Winnesheik County, Iowa and 2 in Wild Rice. One child has died, namely the youngest son, Almer died on the 28th day of August, 1895.
24-Albert J. Skaurud was born in Winnesheik County, Iowa, in 1863. He left from Iowa in 1880 to find a home in Norman County, Minnesota. He came the same year to Wild Rice and settled in Section 9. He was married in the Fall of 1884 to the maid Maria Haug. They had 2 children. Skaurud died the 1st of December, 1891. The widow continues to operate the farm.
25-Leonard Glaus was born in Vermland, Sweden in 1859. He left Sweden in the Spring of 1880 and came to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota the same year and settled in Section 31. He was married to Thea L. Hove in the Fall of 1892. They have 2 children born, but one has died.
26-Ludvig Heiraas was born in Trondhjem, Norway on the 19th of April, 1849. He left Norway in the Spring of 1880 and came to Wild Rice where he took land in Section 24. He is not married.
27-John Heiraas was born in Trondhjem, Norway on the 19th of April, 1849. He left Norway with some Sailors in the Spring of 1878 and sailed around until 1881, when he left Sjøen and came to Norman County, Minnesota, and took land in Section 32 in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. He is not married.
28-Olai O. Lene was born in Herrø Prestegjeld, Norway in 1861. He left Norway in the Spring of 1881 and came directly to Norman County and bought land in Section 5 of Wild Rice Township. On the 6th of February, 1889 he married Regine Hanson. They have 6 children.
29-Hans Hanson Kulsrud was born in Gjerdrums Prestegjeld, Norway, on February 12, 1825. He was married in 1850 to Martha Wilhelmsdatter, who was born July 10, 1826, and in 1871 in the Spring left from Norway and came to Allamakee County, Iowa in the same year. He lived there 5 year, then he moved to Fillmore County, Minnesota, where he lived til the Spring of 1881 then he moved to Norman County and bought land in Section 9, Town of Wild Rice. They have 4 children, of which 2 live with their old grandparents on the Farm.
30-Enok Tobiasien Birkeland was born in Lyngdals Prestegjeld, near Mandal, Norway in 1848. He left Norway in the Spring of 1868 and in the same year came to Ossian, Winnesheik County, Iowa. He he was married on the 13th of November, 1871 to the maid Karen Larson. That same Fall they went to Lyon County, Iowa, where they went to get some Homestad Land, and lived there until the Spring of 1881, when they sold the farm and moved up to Norman County, Minnesota, where he bought Land in Section 36, Town of Wild Rice. The have 10 children, whereof 5 were born in Lyon County, Iowa and 5 in Wild Rice. Three children died in Lyon County, Iowa.
31-Aron B. Johnson was born in Vermland, Sweden on the 10th day of October, 1833. He married the maid Agnethe Johnson in 1858. He left Sweden in the Spring of 1882 and in the same year came to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 19. They have had 12 children born, all born in Sweden. Five of the children died in Sweden and 1 died after they came to Wild Rice.
32-Ole H. Sensland was born in Hjertdals Prestegjeld, Norway, on the 20th of August, 1844. He was married in 1870 to the maid Kari Halvorsdatter. They left Norway to make a home in America. They came to Dunn County, Wisconsin where they lived for 3 years. Then they moved to Otter Tail County in Minnesota, where they lived until the spring of 1882, then they came to Norman County, Minnesota where they took land in Section 4 of the Town of Wild Rice. They had 6 children born, 5 were in Wisconsin and 1 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. One child has died.
33-Oscar Trandum was born in Ullensaker, Norway on the 5th of April, 1860. He emigrated from Norway in 1881 and came the same year to Goodhue County, Minnesota. He was there for a year and then in 1882 moved to Norman County, Minnesota and took land in Section 8 of the Town of Wild Rice. He was married in January of 1887 to the maid Amanda Olson, datter of Peter O. Skæggrud. Mr. Trandum died the 12th of July in 1887, leaving a widow with an unborn child. Since she has lived for most of the time on the farm. Mrs. Trandum was again married the 5th of March, 1896 to Mr. Nils E. Natvig.
34-P.O. Hanson was born in Ringebo Prestegjeld, Norway in 1858. He left Norway with his parents in the Spring of 1864 and the same year went to Waupacca County, Wisconsin. He he lived until 1879 and then moved to Clay County, Minnesota where he where he found work in Moorhead and in Glyndon. In 1882 he moved to Ada, Norman County, Minnesota where he worked for the firm Andrews and Hampton until the fall of 1887, when he moved to Twin Valley, Minn. where he built a store and began an ironmonger business on his own account. He was among the first to begin a business in Twin Valley.He sold the store and business in '90 to his brothers, S. O. and N.O. Hanson who now run the business. At the same time he bought land in Section 28 in the Town of Wild Rice, right by the city of Twin Valley, where he still lives. In '84 he married to Miss Amalia Grovende. They have had 6 children of whom 2 are dead, one in '88 and one in '91
35-Hermand V. Natvig was born in Hitternæs Prestegjeld, in Trondheim, Norway in 1852. He emigrated with his parents from Norway in 1869 and came to Dane County, Wisconsin the same year. Here they lived for 4 years and then went to Shelby County, Iowa. In the Spring of 1875, he married Sønneva Johnson. They left in the Spring of 1882 for Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 7 in the Town of Wild Rice. They have 7 children born, 4 were born in Shelby County, Iowa and 3 in Wild Rice. 2 children
have died here.
36-E. J. Natvig was born in Varsdals Prestegjeld, Sogn, Norway, in 1823. He was married in 1847 to Kirsti Nelson. They left Norway in the spring of 1878 and came to America, and the same year to Shelby County, Iowa. They stayed there until the spring of 1882 and then came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 7, Town of Wild Rice. His wife died on the 6th of February, 1891. They had 13 children born, 3 were born in Norway, 2 died in Norway, 2 were born in Shelby, Iowa and died there, 8 were born in Wild Rice whereof 6 have died. He married again in February of 1892 to the maid Anne Olson. With his last wife, he had one child.
37-Carl Haagenson was born in Hitterdals Prestegjeld, Norway in 1831. He was married to the maid Maria Olson in the fall of 1856. They have 4 children born, and 1 has died. His wife died in 1867. In the fall of 1869 he married Anne Karine Anderson. They left Norway in the spring of 1880 and went to Norway, Michigan the same year. Here they lived for 2 years and then in 1882 they came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 27 , Town of Wild Rice, where they now live.
38-Nicolai Græsdahl was born in Søndmøre, Bergens Stift, Norway, in 1858. He left Norway in the Spring of 1883 and came to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota in the same year. He was married in 1893 to Clara Tharaldson and has two children born.
39-Ole O. Normand was born at Vossestranden, Bergen, Norway in 1844. He left Norway with his parents in 1853 and came to Wisconsin the same year. He was here just one year when he moved to Nicollet Co., Minn. He lived there until 1884, with the exception of 3 years, when he served in the war. He served 1 year in Company B, 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers under General Sibley, then 2 years in Company B, 2nd Cavalry Volunteers under General Sulley.In 1866 he was married. He came in 1884 to Norman Co., Minnesota and took land in Section 12 in Lake Ada. He moved in 1894 to the Town of Wild Rice and now lives on Section 8. He has had 6 children, 3 were born in Nicollet Co., 3 in Norman Co.; One is dead.
40-Ole E. Bakke was born in Sogn, Norway, in 1861. He left Norway in the Spring of 1867 and came with his parents and siblings to Winnesheik County, Iowa, the same year, where he lived for 5 years. He left for Fillmore County, Minnesota, where he lived unti 1882. Then he went to Montana, where he lived until 1884. He moved to Norman County, Minnesota, where he took land in Section 34, Town
of Wild Rice. He was married in the fall of 1885 to the maid Cecilia Syverson and they have 5 children.
41-Kristian Lane was born in Herrø Prestegjeld, Norway in 1854. He was married in 1883 to Karoline Johannesdatter Bøe. They left Norway in the spring of 1884 and came that same year to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota, where they took land in Section 3. They have 10 children born, all in Wild Rice. 5 have died.
42-Bernt Quam was born in Indvigens Prestegjeld, Norway in 1855. He left Norway in the spring of 1883 and came to Swift County, Minnesota the same year. He was married in the spring of 1884 to Sigrid Pederson Eide. That same year they came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 5, Town of Wild Rice. They have 6 children born, all in Wild Rice.
43-Mickel Elmstad was born in Vos Prestegjeld, Norway. He was married to Anna Stensdatter. They left Norway in the spring of 1871 and come to Winnesheik County, Iowa. She died in June of 1880. They had 4 children born, 1 in Norway and 3 in Winnesheik County, Iowa. In the summer of 1880 they moved to Norman County, Minnesota and lived until the fall of 1884 in Lake Ida, then he bought land in Section 7, Town of Wild Rice. He married in the fall of 1887 again to the widow Mrs. Ingeborg Tharaldson who had 5 children
born from her first husband.
44-Knut Hedahl was born in Østre Slidre, Valders, Norway. He emigrated from Norway in the spring of 1882 and came to the Town of Flom the same year. In 1885 he bought land in Section 18, Town of Wild Rice. In the fall of 1890, he married Annie Olson. They have 4 children born, whereof 1 died in the fall of 1891.
45-John Benson was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1854. He was married to the maid Maria Johnson in 1881. They left Sweden in the spring of 1885 and came the same year to Wild Rice, where they bought land in Section 30. They have 7 children born, whereof 2 were born in Sweden and 5 in Wild Rice.
46-Nils P. Forseth was born in Gausdal, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, on the 22, September, 1862. He left Norway in 1878 and in the same year went to Rock County, Wisconsin. Here he married Helene Rostad in 1883. They left in the spring of 1885 from Wisconsin to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 36 and 25 in the Town of Wild Rice. Here they lived until the spring of '91, when he sold his land and became U.S. Mail Carrier between Faith and Fossum, Twin Valley, Folkedahl and Ada. Here he drove the mail for 3 years while he with his family lived in faith, as long as his wife lived. His wife died the 24th July '92. In their marriage they had 3 children, all born in Wild Rice. In the fall of '94 he moved to Ada, where he now lives and works as a butcher. His oldest child, a daughter, is with R. Grutle in Fossum, the middle one with C.D.Tvedstulen in home Lake, and the youngest with Hans Nelson in Wild Rice. The middle one is a boy and the youngest a girl.
47-Bernt P. Evenvold was born in Gausdal, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, July 26, 1863. He left Norway in 1883 and came the same year to Coon Prairie, Wisconsin where he lived one yearand then went to Waupacca County, Wisconsin, where he married in the spring of 1886 to Rhoda Forseth and in the same year came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought Land in Section 34 of Wild Rice. In '90 he sold this land, after which that same fall he left his family, wife and 3 children, which should have been his most precious possession on earth, and went out into the world. Where he is now, nobody knows. His wife has built a house and now lives on Section 35 in the Town of Wild Rice
48-Simon Haug was born in Rollags Prestegjeld, Norway, in 1826. He was married at Aurdal, Valders to Gunnild Michelson in 1856. They left Norway in 1871 and came to Black Earth, Dane County, Wisconsin the same year. He lived there until the Spring of 1886, when he moved his family to Norman County, Minnesota, and took land in Section 6 of the Twon of Wild Rice. They have 2 children,
both born in Norway.
49-Bernhard Jensen was born in Hitterdalen, Norway the 25th day of August, 1867. He left Norway in the spring of 1882 and came the same year to Wild Rice. He was married the 21st of July 1894 to Boliva Tomtengen and they live in Section 27 of Wild Rice.
50-Nils G. Hedalle was born in Østre Slidre Prestegjeld, Valders, Norway and was married to Marith Svensen in the spring of 1884. They left Norway right after to seek their fortune in America, and came to the town of Flom, Minnesota the same year. Here he lived for 2 years, after which he went to Clay County, Minnesota. Since he was not content there, he moved back in 1888 to Norman County and bought land in Section 18 in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. He has had 5 children, one born in Flom, one in Clay County and 3 in Wild Rice.
51-Andrew Dahlbom was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1868. He left Sweden in 1884 and came the same year to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota, where he in 1888 bought land in Section 18 in Wild Rice. He married in 1892 to Mary Nelson and has 2 children born.
52-Jens Brodsho was born in Drangedals Prestegjeld, Norway, on the 5th of November, 1860. He emigrated from Norway in the spring of 1882 and came to the Town of Fossum the same year. He was married in 1888 to Clara Jensveen and settled in 1889 in the Town of Wild Rice in Section 33, where he lives now. They had 7 children born, 1 in Fossum and 6 in Wild Rice.
53-Hans Carlson was born in Hitterdalen, Norway, on the 9th of January, 1860. He emigrated from Norway in 1879 and came to Michigan, where he worked at the Iron Mines until the Fall of 1881. Then he went to Colorado and worked in the Silvermines until the Fall of 1889.From there he moved to Norman County, Minnesota and boought land in Section 35 in Town of Wild Rice. He was married the 26th of November, 1890 to Annie Haagensen and has 4 children.
54-Sivert T. Hove was born in Dane County, Wisconsin in 1861. He left Wisconsin in 1865 with his parents and came to Freeborn County, Minnesota. Here he lived until 1879, when he and his parents came to Norman County, Minnesota, where he bought land in the Town of Rockville, Norman County, Minnesota. He was married in March of 1885 to Karoline Haagenson. In the Fall of 1882 he bought his Father in law, Gudbrand Hagenson's Farm in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. They have had no children.
55-Morten Johnson was born in Ringebo, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, on the 17th of June, 1852. He left Norway in 1869 and came that same year to Waupacca County, Wisconsin, where he lived for 7 or 8 years. Then he left Wisconsin and came to Norman County, Minnesota, and settled first in Lake Ada where he lived for a 5 year period. He then moved back to Wisconsin, but returned to Norman County, Minnesota in 1894, and bought land in Section 8 in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. He is unmarried but his elderly
parents live with him.
56-Emil Johnson was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1870. He left Sweden in 1891 and came to Hickson, North Dakota that same year, where he lived until 1894, when he came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 30. He was married the 15th of July, 1895 to Manda Olson.
57-John Hedin was born in Vermeland, Sweden, in 1862.He left Sweden in the Spring of 1885 and cam to Becker County, Minnesota where he lived for 2 years, then he went to Hickson, North Dakota, where he married Manda Gunderson. Here he stayed until 1894, when he moved back to Minnesota, and took land in Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota, in Section 29. He had 4 children born, 3 in
North Dakota and 1 in Wild Rice.
58-J. F. Heiberg *) is born in Bergen, Norway, 4th of July 1861. He emigrated from Norway in the spring of 1881 and came to Minneapolis, Minn. Shortle afterwards he went to Dane Co., Wis., and stayed there for a year. After that he went to Minnesota, and came here to Norman Co., where he bought the mill from Peter O. Skjægrud in Town of Wild Rice. The 18th January 1884 he was married to the maid Augusta Slettebakken. He has 5 children. With regard to the new mill by Heiberg it can be added : It was erected in 1882 and was 30 x 40, 3 floors height. In 1890 it was completely changed to roller mill. In 1892 it was improved, enlarged and added 10 feet, so it now is 30x50. The addition is used for rinsing and storing wheat. The mill also has its own Feed Department with excellent rinsing apparatus. Before we got the bridge across the river, there was a ferry on which one transported the wheat across the river. The mosquitos were so many those days, that when one wiped the face with the hand, it was filled of mosquitos. More to conclusion about Heibergs Park. Note from Håkon: *) J. F. Heiberg = Jørgen Faye Heiberg, born 4th July, bapt. 4th Aug 1861 in Nykirken, Bergen, parents : merchant Andreas Heiberg and wife Else Catharine Reutsch born Faye, married in the Cathedral of Bergen on 18th Nov 1849, father was at that time 29 and mother 22 1/4 years old. Digitalarkivet Emigrants from Bergen 1874-1930 says that Jørgen Faye Heiberg,19 years old, emigrated from Bergen 7th May 1880 with State Line
59-Dr. John O. Froshoug was born in the vicinity of Kristiania, Norway, 8th August 1837. At age 18 he went to Copenhagen, Denmark, to be educated as a veterinarian there. After 5 years of studies he graduated as a such. After that he went back to Norway and started to practice as veterinarian. He was married in 1867 and in 1870 he decided to go to America to see if it was possible to get a home there. He left his family behind in Norway, to fetch them later, if he decided to stay in America. He came first to Stoughton, Wis., where he lived for a short time, because he soon understood, that it was not enough to provide for a family, only to practice as a veterinarian, he also had to be a medical doctor for the people. For that reason he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he after 1 1/2 years of studies by a medical college there, took diploma as doctor. In the fall of 1872 he went to Albert Lea, Minn., where he settled as doctor and started a drugstore business. Here he lived untill 1875 when he moved to Lake Park, Becker Co., Minn., where he started a drugstore once more. In 1877 he decided to use his rights for a homestead, whereafter he the same year took land on section 22 in Town of Wild Rice, Norman Co., Minn. Because he had his Homestead here and the drugstore in Lake Park, and he often had to be on both places, he became post carrier between Wild Rice Postoffice and Lake Park. Every time he carried the post to Wild Rice, he went down to his Homestead and stopped there. He constructed soon a house, and to manage the household he got hold of a swedish Count and a swedish tanner, and the whole lot was given the Noble Name " The Barony of Poor Livelihood ". When the whole staff on " The Barony of Poor Livelihood " was gathered, it consisted of a norwegian doctor, a norwegian veterinarian, a swedish count, a swedish tanner and - a dog. But they were not alone all the time, because often the neighbors often visited them, and if the walls of the Barony could quote the many stories which happened here, then the book about it would be larger than this one. In the beginning of the '80s Dr Froshoug let his business in Lake Park come to an end, and decided to make Wild Rice to his future home. He then send to Norway for his family, which was his wife and 2 sons. He also bought 160 acres of land on section 28. Of this he sold 40 acres to the railway company for city ground where Twin Valley now is located, and where he setlled. He he stayed until 9th June 1889 when he passed away caused by tuberculosis. After his family came here, the family was increased with a daughter. Froshoug's oldest son followed in his fathers steps and be- came a doctor. He took his degree by Reokuk Medical College, Reokuk, Iowa, in the spring of 1896, and then went to Norse, Tex., where he lives by now. His younger son, Arnt, still lives in Twin Valley, where he runs business of hardware and farming machinery. Mrs. Froshoug wnet back to Norway in 1894 to be with her mother's side in her last days.
60-A. Stenseth is born in Skridje parish, Norway, 1857. In 1872 he was married to the maid Lovise Thorsen. This marriage did not last long, because she died after a year leaving him with their baby. In 1876 he was married again to Caroline Marcussen. He left Norway in the spring of 1882 to try his luck in America, and he came directly here to Norman Co., Minn., and obtained work by Heiberg's Mill. Here he worked for 4 or 5 years. In 1888 Heiberg postoffice started and A. Stenseth was hired as postmaster. In addition he has a small store. They have had 9 children, of whom 3 were born in Norway and 6 in Wild Rice. His wife is authorized midwife.
61-Andrew Johnson was born in Sweden about the year 1825. He also got married in Sweden, but when can not be told. About the year ‘55 or '56 he left Sweden and his family, and went to Norway, where he from what is told, stayed for about 12 years near Holmestrand. His family had to go ahead as good as possibly on their own. His wife died about 3 years after he left her, and his 4 sons, so to speak, became orphans. In '67 he went to America, and settled in Freeborn Co., Minn., where he stayed to the spring '71. Then he went with Søren Bergerson, Martin Johnson and others, when they went to the West. He then came here and took land near the others, and after the surveying of the land, it turned out to be in section 35 and 36 in Town of Wild Rice. In the winter of '74 he married again to the widow Anna Maria Engen. This marriage turned out to be unsuccessful too, and they lived together only for a year. They were divorced again by the civil law by which they had been married. Johnson lived thereafter alone on his farm, while his former wife moved to her son Edvard Engen, who lived in the south part of Town of Flom. In the years '80 to '82 his sons came over from Norway. They stayed with him for some time, but went out on their own. He sold his farm in '85 to Nils B. Forseth and moved then to Nils Nilson in Town of Flom. After a while he went back to the old country to see the old homestead. About a year later he came back, and builded a house on his son Andrews farm in Home Lake, to live there for the rest of his life. But in the fall of '91 he got tired by the life, and one night he sat the house on fire, and shot himself a bullet in the forehead. That way died Andrew Johnson.
From the book "Nogle Optegnelser om Settling m.m. indenfor de fire Towns Fossum, Wild Rice, Home Lake og Flom i Norman County, Minn". Collected by R. Grutle, Lars Aamoth, John Narum, O.S. Bentley and John Hommelvig.
Translated by Håkon Skaugvoll and Olaf Kringhaug.
His wife died 17th January 1884, and his only son 24th April 1889. In their marriage they had 4 children, of which 3 were born in Norway and 1 in Decorah, Iowa. One child died in Norway. When he went to Wild Rice for the first time he was together with Martin Johnson, Guldbrand Haagenson, Andrew Johnson and Gunder Gunderson.
2-Martin Johnson was born in Røkens parish, Norway, in the fall 1832. He left Norway in the spring 1854 and arrived to Dane Co., Wisconsin, the same spring. He stayed there for two years. From here he went to Freeborn Co., Minnesota. Here he was married to the maid Caroline Bergerson. In the spring 1871 he left Freeborn Co. along with Søren Bergerson, Guldbrand Haagenson and others to find a new home in the west. They came to Becker Co., Minnesota, first, but because he did not like the land hare, they went further north to Wild Rice River. Unfamiliar with the district they went to far east and entered The White Earth Reservation. Here Martin liked the land and prepared for settling on a ground. But because they met an indian camp, they learned that they had to go far to the west to find free land. When they came that far west, that they were sure they were out of the Reservation, Martin exclaimed : " Well, boys, here I will take land either its indians or Uncle Sams, what he really did, and after the measuring of the land, it turned out that it was on section 36, now Town of Wild Rice. By now Martin was busy, first he had to erect a house and then cleared the ground. The house was ready in a hurry, but unfortunately he had no plow. But he knew what to do; he went all the way to Alexandria to get a plow. And then it
was on plowing; it was the first land ever plowed in this settlement; may be the first in Norman Co. He also brought the first farm tools as hand rake, Reaper, a mower and a hayrake to the settlement. He took his land on June 3rd but his family did not arrive before the fall.
In the years 1872 to 1875 he seeded Martin wheat, but the grasshoppers reaped. In the spring of 1873 he bought 10 bushels of potatoes and in the fall he got back about a pail, the rest of it the grasshoppers took. They have had 11 children, of which 5 were born in Freeeborn Co., and 6 in Norman Co. His oldest daughter died in October 1885, the next oldest is married and lives in Town of Flom, and the others are staying at home.
3-Guldbrand Haagenson was born in Hitterdalen, Norway in 1833. He left Norway in 1858 and arrived in Winnesheik Co, Iowa, the same year. He lived there to the fall 1862 when he enlisted in company D 6th Iowa Cavalry Volunteers. Here he served for 3 years under general Cullen. Then he was discharged and went back to Winnesheik Co. Iowa, where he in the fall 1866 married the maid Ragnhild Christianson. The same fall he went to Freeborn Co., Minn., where he lived until the spring 1891, when he with Søren Bergerson, Martin Johnson and some others went to the west to find land. They arrived in Wild Rice the 3rd of June, and he then took land on section 35. His family came to him the same fall, and all the time they have had their home on this land. He too was amongst them, who had to suffer the grasshoppers ravages and the hard times that followed. They have had 10 children together; 1 was born in Winnesheik Co., 2 in Freeborn Co., and 7 in Wild Rice, of which 5 are passed away. The first child that died here was buried on the farm, because at that time there was no cemetery. Guldbrand Haagenson died from cancer on 18th April 1893 and is buried on the Wild Rice Cemetery.
4-Ole HansonAarstad is born in Ullensaker, Norway, the 16th of May 1823 and was married to the maid Agnethe Hermansdaughter Bjerkein the year 1855. They emigrated from Norway in the spring 1867 and arrived in Fillmore Co., Minn., the same spring. Here they stayed for 4 years, whereafter he moved west with his family to find Land under the Homestead Act. He arrived here in Wild Rice the 1st of July 1871 and took land on section 35. He too took land before it was measured, therefore he did not know on which section the farm was before it was surveyed in the fall. - Together they have had 8 children, of which 6 were born in Norway and 2 of them died there; and 2 are born after he came to Wild Rice, at the same time 3 of the children died here. By them was born the first child amongst the pioneers here, that is the girl Dorothea, born 28th September 1871. Also the first death in this settlement occured in this family, namely the son Anders who died during the night between 3rd and 4th January 1873. He left the home in the evening to visit one of the neighbors. In the morning he was brought back home as corpse, because he froze to death during the night. He too is buried on the farm, because there was no cemetery. Mr. Aarstad has suffered much sorrow and adversity after he came here. First he lost his oldest son, as mentioned, and some years later his wife turned mentally ill and to go to St. Peter. Again after some time one of his sons had to go to the same place, and after the inspectors statement, both are incurable. About 3 years ago, he had to bid farewell to another son who
died from consumption. And finally on January 11th, 1896, his oldest daughter was brought home as corpse from Fargo, N.D., where she served. This show that he has suffered much mourning. At present he lives alone on his farm, but is soon moving to Twin Valley to live with his son Charles Hanson, so it is to hope for, that he hereafter will see a better life in his old age.
5-Hans G. Urdahl was born in Aurlands Prestegjeld, Sogn, Norway on the 14th of February, 1848. He left Norway in the Spring of 1866 and came to Winnesheik County in Iowa that same year. He lived here a year and then moved to Houston County, Minnesota where he lived until the Spring of 1872, when he left to find new land. He came to Wild Rice and took land in Section 20, where he now lives. On the 20th of February, 1879, he was married to the maid Rangnilde Tvedstulen. They have 8 children, whereof 1 has died.
6-Eden Nilson was born in Langsrud, Sweden, July 5th, 1850. He left Sweden in the spring of '73 an came to Wild Rice the same spring, where he already had two brothers. He took land on section 18. In '84 he made a trip back to Sweden just to see the old homestead. Anyway he liked Wild Rice best, and in '85 he came back here. In 1892 he was married to Anna Erikson and still he lives on his farm in section 18.
7-Jakob O. Hereid is born in Ulvigs parish, Hardanger, Norway in the year 1848. He left Norway in the spring of '66 and arrived in St Croix Co., Wis., the same year. Here he lived until 1870 when he moved to Nicollet Co., Minn. He was married there to the maid Olina Knudson. From here he moved again in 1876, when he came here to Wild Rice and took land on section 10. They have had 12 children together, 3 born in Nicollet and 9 in Wild Rice, 2 are dead after they arrived here. His travelling comrades to here were Knut Torgerson, Børe Olson and Svend Quam.
8-Peter Olsen Skjæggerud is born in Grans parish, Hadeland, Norway, December 31th, 1885. He left his home to go to America in 1851. He arrived the same year in Town of Norway, Racine Co., Wis., where he again met his parents who had made the journey two years earlier. In 1854 the family came to Iowa and settled in Town of Frankville, Winnesheik Co., Iowa. Here he was married to the maid Thora Hendrikson and have 9 children. He lived here until the fall of '75 when he went to the Red River Valley, and arrived to Søren Bergersons House in Wild Rice November 12th. By that time no one had tried to use the power which Wild Rice River gives, and a Flour and Saw Mill was of great importance to the people around in this Settlement, it was on the purpose to supply for this need, Olson came here with a large family in the middle of the winter, with humble means and no houses for people and animals. But in the wilderness the brotherly love shows more up than may be other times and places. The people in the settlement came from far away and near by to help him by erecting houses, and as early as December 15th , he and his family could move in, in their own house. During the winter they logged, and in the spring the neighbors gathered again and helped with the erection of the mill house. A simple Flour and Saw Mill was started in 1876. That everything was very simple, shows the following exclamation from Johan Matson, a quite rational man, however. When he got the sight of the water wheel, he exclaimed : " When this wheel can run a saw, may we then see a glass cabinet even in the clouds". When they had to build the Mill on the northern beach of the river, they, who lived on the southern side, had to take their wheat and flour across the river on boat. Because not everybody was accustomed to handling a boat, there were many strange events. Once John Narum was headed for the mill, but losed the whole burden into the river. Ole Holum wanted to cross the river in a boat, but he did not know how to row, the stream in the river seized the boat, which made him scream and bemoan, as if he was near death. Before we got a bridge, Jakob Herreid crossed the river in the morning in the ice to get to his claim to do some work. The river ice had started to break up, but had fastened again, so one could walk on it in the morning, but during the day it broke up. Olson pulled together some poles and in the afternoon crossed the river to fetch Jakob, but he was long in coming, and Olson had to go back without Jakob because it darkened. It was Eastereve '76 and Jakob Herreid had to put up with staying overnight on the other side under the open sky the whole night. Then one started attempts to build a bridge. Olson arrange for materials and the neighbors came and helped by the erection. But the next spring when the the ice broke up, the bridge followed the ice down the river, as if it was made of straws. Later we erected a good wooden bridge. Now we have a gorgeous steel bridge, so we have no difficulties when crossing the river.After some years there came a young miller to this place, Jørgen Heiberg, son of merchant J. Heiberg in Bergen, Norge. Olson now sold the mill with all the accessories, and because Heiberg possessed more resources, he teared down the old mill, an erected a new one. which later over and over again has been improved, so it by now is one of the best mills of its kind in the West. Mr. Heiberg was at that time unmarried, but had a very cheerful maid to keep the house for him. One Sunday eve she should cross the river to fetch the post and so on for Mr. Heiberg. But because it was late and darkened, she stayed over night on the other side. Early Sunday morning Olson should carry her across the river. But unfortunately someone had been there and had taken the boat to the other side. Olson then wanted to go after it in a canoe he had, but the girl thought it too dreary to wait for him, and before Olson knew of it, she was in the canoe too, and the whole mess went into the river; Olson, the girl, the post, cream and eggs. The girl had fastened to the canoe, but all there was to see was the nose and the feathers on her hat, which came up of the water. Many such stories from those days could be told, but this must be enough to show how the conditions were at that time
9-Elling Tharaldson was born in Drangedals parish, Norway, June 15th, 1843. He left Norway in the spring of 1865 and came to Goodhue Co., Minn., the same year. Here he was married to the maid Anne Johnson, and then he went to Norman co., Minn., the same year, and settled in Town of Lake Ida. There he stayed for 10 years and then he moved to Town of Wild Rice, and lives now on section 17. Together they have 7 children, all born in Norman Co.
10-John Olson was born in Sweden in 1844. He left Sweden in '68 and arrived to the state of Maine the same year and lived there in 2 1/2 year. Then he went back to Sweden again, and here he was married to Kaisa Anderson in '72. Thereafter he went to America once more in '73 and then went all the way to Becker Co., Minn. There he stayed for 3 years and then moved here to Wild Rice and took land on section 18. They have had 6 children, one born in Sweden, one in Becker and 4 here in Wild Rice. John Olson died June 11th, '85. The widow and the children have operated the farm afterwards.
11-Ole Knudson Tofte was born in Hol Prestegjeld, Hallingdal, Norway, in March of 1822. He left Norway in the Spring of 1865 and came to Goodhue County, Minnesota in the same year. He was married in the Spring of 1876 to the maid Anne Johnson, they moved to Norman County, Minnesota that same year and settled in the Town of Lake Ida. They lived there for 10 years, whereafter they moved to
the Twon of Wild Rice and bought land in Section 17. In their family were 7 children, all born in Norman County.
12-Andreas Peterson was born in Vermland, Sweden in 1837 and was married to Johanna Johnson in the Spring of 1866. They left Sweden in the Spring of 1868 and came to Kandiyohi County, Minnesota the same year. They then moved to Becker County, Minnesota in 1871 and were there until the Spring of 1878, when they moved to Wild Rice and settled in Section 19. In there family were 7 children, 1 was born in Sweden, 3 in Kandiyohi County and 3 in Becker County. 2 of the children died in Becker County.
13-Edon Peterson was born in Vermland, Sweden in 1867. He left Sweden in the Spring of 1868 with his parents and came to Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. He came with his parents to Becker County in 1871 and then to Wild Rice in 1878 and took Land in Section 30 in 1888. He was married to the maid Lottie Johnson and had 3 children.
14-Cornelius Peterson was born in Kandiyohi County of Minnesota on the 19th of July, 1868 and came with his parents in 1871 to Becker County, Minnesota where he lived till the Spring of 1878 when he moved to Wild Rice. He was married in the Fall of 1894 to Minnie Rustad. They lived in Section 19, where they farm.
15-Sivert O. Brække was born in Voss Prestegjeld, Bergens Stift, Norway, on the 2nd of July, 1888. He was married in the Sprin of 1866 to the maid Anne Olson Rørgo. That same year they emigrated from Norway and came to Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, where they were till the Fall of the same year. Then they moved to Winnesheik County, Iowa, where they were for 2 years. Then they moved to Ottertail County, Minnesota, where they were till the Spring of 1878, when they moved to Twild Rice and settled in Section 19. They
have a family of 7 children, 4 were born in Ottertail County and 3 in Wild Rice. Mr. Brække died on the 15th of Februray, 1887. The widow still runs the farm.
16-Martin Gilbertson was born in Næs Prestegjeld, Romerike, Norway on the 11th of May, 1840. He was married to Anne Olson in 1866 and left Norway in the Sprin of 1869 and came to Fillmore County, Minnesota the same year. Here they lived for 6 years, whereafter they moved to Freeborn County, Minnesota, where they lived until the Spring of 1878. They then moved to Wild Rice, where
they took Land in Section 32. On the 14th of April, 1882, his wife died. In there family were 6 children, whereof 1 was born in Norway, 2 in Fillmore County, 1 in Freeborn County and 2 in Wild Rice. 1 child died in Fillmore County and 1 in Wild Rice. Mr. Gilbertson died in the Spring of 1893. His oldest son, Ole, runs the Farm.
17-Henry Peterson was born in Gjøvig, Norway, on the 15th of September 1852. He left Norway in the Spring of 1869 and came the same year to Stephenson County, Illinois, where he was for 2 years. He then moved to Decorah, Iowa. Here his served as a store clerk until the spring of 1879. He was married in Decorah to the maid Bertha Haug in the Fall of 1877. In the Spring of 1879 they moved to Wild Rice and took Land in Section 20. The first 2 years he was the Postmaster and had the Post Office in his house. He has also held Town positions such as Town Clerk and Assesor. They have 3 children, whereof 1 was born in Decorah and 2 in Wild Rice.
18-C.J. Skaurud was born in Winnesheik County in Iowa on the 14th of June in 1857. He was married to Helmine Vig in the Spring of 1879. They moved that same year from Iowa to Minnesota, where he was looking for a home. They came the same Summer to Wild Rice, where they settled in Section 3. In 1893 they rented the farm and moved to Ada, where he built a flour mill which he now operates. They have 5 children, all born in Wild Rice.
19-John Ryding was born in Sweden in 1854. He went to Norway, where in the Spring of 1880 he emigrated to America. He came to Wild Rice in the same year. In 1881 he took land in Section 20 in the Town of Fossum
20-Nils Wold was born in Quams Prestegjeld, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1828. He was married on the 26 of December, 1854 to the maid Cicilia Heiraas. They left Norway in the Spring of 1861 and come to Canada that same year, where they were for 2 years. Thereafter, they moved to Chicago, Illinois, and lived there for 2 years. From Chicago they moved to Sibley County, Minnesota where they lived until the Sprin of 1880: they moved to Norman County, Minnesota and settled in Section 21 in the Town of Wild Rice. In 1889 he began in Twin Valley a Hotel, this he did until 1895 and then his son took over. They have 12 children in the family, whereof 3 have died. 1 died in Trondheim, Norway, 1 died on the boat to America, and was buried at sea, and one died in Chicago, Illinois. None of the children were born in Wild Rice.
21-Peder O. Herreid was born in Ulvigs Prestegjeld, Hardanger, Norway on the 4th of September 1831. He attended a course at Søndre Bergenhus Agricultural School from where he graduated in '56.He emigrated from Norway in the Spring of 1857 to go to America. He came however stopped first in Canada for a time from he went to the State of Maine. He was there until 1860, when he went to St. Croix County, Wisconsin, where he was married in 1861 to the maid Julia Levorson and they lived there until 1869, when they moved to Nicollet County, Minnesota. They lived there till the Spring of 1880 when they moved to Norman County, Minnesota and settled in Section 27 in the Town of Wild Rice. The have had 8 children born in their family, of them, 6 have died: 2 in Wisconsin, 3 died in Nicollet County and 1 died while moving to Wild Rice.
22-P.B. Olson was born in Ekers Prestegjeld, Norway, the 6th of January, 1830. He emigrated from Norway in 1858 in the Spring to America, where he landed first in Eid in Canada, where he came to on the 14th of March. He left from Canada and went to Chicago, Illinois, where he was for 2 years. He then went to Scott County, Minnesota and was ther for 2 years. Thereafter he moved to Sibley County, Minnesota. Here he married in 1868 to Tilda Jensine Heiraas. They stayed in Sibley County until the Spring of 1880 when
they moved up to Norman County and settled in Section 27 of the Town of Wild Rice. They have 9 children in the family, whereof 6 were born in Sibley County and 3 in Wild Rice. One child died in Sibley, County.
23-Hans Nilson Kragerø was born at Kragerø, Norway in April of 1849. He left Norway in the Spring of 1866 and went to Chicago, Illinois the same year. Here he lived one year, whereafter he moved to Ossian, Winnesheik County, Iowa. Here he was married to the maid Annie Larson in the Winter of 1873. In the Spring of 1880 they moved up to Norman County and brought Land in Section 36 in the Town of Wild Rice, where they live now. They have 5 children, whereof 3 were born in Winnesheik County, Iowa and 2 in Wild Rice. One child has died, namely the youngest son, Almer died on the 28th day of August, 1895.
24-Albert J. Skaurud was born in Winnesheik County, Iowa, in 1863. He left from Iowa in 1880 to find a home in Norman County, Minnesota. He came the same year to Wild Rice and settled in Section 9. He was married in the Fall of 1884 to the maid Maria Haug. They had 2 children. Skaurud died the 1st of December, 1891. The widow continues to operate the farm.
25-Leonard Glaus was born in Vermland, Sweden in 1859. He left Sweden in the Spring of 1880 and came to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota the same year and settled in Section 31. He was married to Thea L. Hove in the Fall of 1892. They have 2 children born, but one has died.
26-Ludvig Heiraas was born in Trondhjem, Norway on the 19th of April, 1849. He left Norway in the Spring of 1880 and came to Wild Rice where he took land in Section 24. He is not married.
27-John Heiraas was born in Trondhjem, Norway on the 19th of April, 1849. He left Norway with some Sailors in the Spring of 1878 and sailed around until 1881, when he left Sjøen and came to Norman County, Minnesota, and took land in Section 32 in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. He is not married.
28-Olai O. Lene was born in Herrø Prestegjeld, Norway in 1861. He left Norway in the Spring of 1881 and came directly to Norman County and bought land in Section 5 of Wild Rice Township. On the 6th of February, 1889 he married Regine Hanson. They have 6 children.
29-Hans Hanson Kulsrud was born in Gjerdrums Prestegjeld, Norway, on February 12, 1825. He was married in 1850 to Martha Wilhelmsdatter, who was born July 10, 1826, and in 1871 in the Spring left from Norway and came to Allamakee County, Iowa in the same year. He lived there 5 year, then he moved to Fillmore County, Minnesota, where he lived til the Spring of 1881 then he moved to Norman County and bought land in Section 9, Town of Wild Rice. They have 4 children, of which 2 live with their old grandparents on the Farm.
30-Enok Tobiasien Birkeland was born in Lyngdals Prestegjeld, near Mandal, Norway in 1848. He left Norway in the Spring of 1868 and in the same year came to Ossian, Winnesheik County, Iowa. He he was married on the 13th of November, 1871 to the maid Karen Larson. That same Fall they went to Lyon County, Iowa, where they went to get some Homestad Land, and lived there until the Spring of 1881, when they sold the farm and moved up to Norman County, Minnesota, where he bought Land in Section 36, Town of Wild Rice. The have 10 children, whereof 5 were born in Lyon County, Iowa and 5 in Wild Rice. Three children died in Lyon County, Iowa.
31-Aron B. Johnson was born in Vermland, Sweden on the 10th day of October, 1833. He married the maid Agnethe Johnson in 1858. He left Sweden in the Spring of 1882 and in the same year came to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 19. They have had 12 children born, all born in Sweden. Five of the children died in Sweden and 1 died after they came to Wild Rice.
32-Ole H. Sensland was born in Hjertdals Prestegjeld, Norway, on the 20th of August, 1844. He was married in 1870 to the maid Kari Halvorsdatter. They left Norway to make a home in America. They came to Dunn County, Wisconsin where they lived for 3 years. Then they moved to Otter Tail County in Minnesota, where they lived until the spring of 1882, then they came to Norman County, Minnesota where they took land in Section 4 of the Town of Wild Rice. They had 6 children born, 5 were in Wisconsin and 1 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. One child has died.
33-Oscar Trandum was born in Ullensaker, Norway on the 5th of April, 1860. He emigrated from Norway in 1881 and came the same year to Goodhue County, Minnesota. He was there for a year and then in 1882 moved to Norman County, Minnesota and took land in Section 8 of the Town of Wild Rice. He was married in January of 1887 to the maid Amanda Olson, datter of Peter O. Skæggrud. Mr. Trandum died the 12th of July in 1887, leaving a widow with an unborn child. Since she has lived for most of the time on the farm. Mrs. Trandum was again married the 5th of March, 1896 to Mr. Nils E. Natvig.
34-P.O. Hanson was born in Ringebo Prestegjeld, Norway in 1858. He left Norway with his parents in the Spring of 1864 and the same year went to Waupacca County, Wisconsin. He he lived until 1879 and then moved to Clay County, Minnesota where he where he found work in Moorhead and in Glyndon. In 1882 he moved to Ada, Norman County, Minnesota where he worked for the firm Andrews and Hampton until the fall of 1887, when he moved to Twin Valley, Minn. where he built a store and began an ironmonger business on his own account. He was among the first to begin a business in Twin Valley.He sold the store and business in '90 to his brothers, S. O. and N.O. Hanson who now run the business. At the same time he bought land in Section 28 in the Town of Wild Rice, right by the city of Twin Valley, where he still lives. In '84 he married to Miss Amalia Grovende. They have had 6 children of whom 2 are dead, one in '88 and one in '91
35-Hermand V. Natvig was born in Hitternæs Prestegjeld, in Trondheim, Norway in 1852. He emigrated with his parents from Norway in 1869 and came to Dane County, Wisconsin the same year. Here they lived for 4 years and then went to Shelby County, Iowa. In the Spring of 1875, he married Sønneva Johnson. They left in the Spring of 1882 for Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 7 in the Town of Wild Rice. They have 7 children born, 4 were born in Shelby County, Iowa and 3 in Wild Rice. 2 children
have died here.
36-E. J. Natvig was born in Varsdals Prestegjeld, Sogn, Norway, in 1823. He was married in 1847 to Kirsti Nelson. They left Norway in the spring of 1878 and came to America, and the same year to Shelby County, Iowa. They stayed there until the spring of 1882 and then came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 7, Town of Wild Rice. His wife died on the 6th of February, 1891. They had 13 children born, 3 were born in Norway, 2 died in Norway, 2 were born in Shelby, Iowa and died there, 8 were born in Wild Rice whereof 6 have died. He married again in February of 1892 to the maid Anne Olson. With his last wife, he had one child.
37-Carl Haagenson was born in Hitterdals Prestegjeld, Norway in 1831. He was married to the maid Maria Olson in the fall of 1856. They have 4 children born, and 1 has died. His wife died in 1867. In the fall of 1869 he married Anne Karine Anderson. They left Norway in the spring of 1880 and went to Norway, Michigan the same year. Here they lived for 2 years and then in 1882 they came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 27 , Town of Wild Rice, where they now live.
38-Nicolai Græsdahl was born in Søndmøre, Bergens Stift, Norway, in 1858. He left Norway in the Spring of 1883 and came to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota in the same year. He was married in 1893 to Clara Tharaldson and has two children born.
39-Ole O. Normand was born at Vossestranden, Bergen, Norway in 1844. He left Norway with his parents in 1853 and came to Wisconsin the same year. He was here just one year when he moved to Nicollet Co., Minn. He lived there until 1884, with the exception of 3 years, when he served in the war. He served 1 year in Company B, 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers under General Sibley, then 2 years in Company B, 2nd Cavalry Volunteers under General Sulley.In 1866 he was married. He came in 1884 to Norman Co., Minnesota and took land in Section 12 in Lake Ada. He moved in 1894 to the Town of Wild Rice and now lives on Section 8. He has had 6 children, 3 were born in Nicollet Co., 3 in Norman Co.; One is dead.
40-Ole E. Bakke was born in Sogn, Norway, in 1861. He left Norway in the Spring of 1867 and came with his parents and siblings to Winnesheik County, Iowa, the same year, where he lived for 5 years. He left for Fillmore County, Minnesota, where he lived unti 1882. Then he went to Montana, where he lived until 1884. He moved to Norman County, Minnesota, where he took land in Section 34, Town
of Wild Rice. He was married in the fall of 1885 to the maid Cecilia Syverson and they have 5 children.
41-Kristian Lane was born in Herrø Prestegjeld, Norway in 1854. He was married in 1883 to Karoline Johannesdatter Bøe. They left Norway in the spring of 1884 and came that same year to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota, where they took land in Section 3. They have 10 children born, all in Wild Rice. 5 have died.
42-Bernt Quam was born in Indvigens Prestegjeld, Norway in 1855. He left Norway in the spring of 1883 and came to Swift County, Minnesota the same year. He was married in the spring of 1884 to Sigrid Pederson Eide. That same year they came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 5, Town of Wild Rice. They have 6 children born, all in Wild Rice.
43-Mickel Elmstad was born in Vos Prestegjeld, Norway. He was married to Anna Stensdatter. They left Norway in the spring of 1871 and come to Winnesheik County, Iowa. She died in June of 1880. They had 4 children born, 1 in Norway and 3 in Winnesheik County, Iowa. In the summer of 1880 they moved to Norman County, Minnesota and lived until the fall of 1884 in Lake Ida, then he bought land in Section 7, Town of Wild Rice. He married in the fall of 1887 again to the widow Mrs. Ingeborg Tharaldson who had 5 children
born from her first husband.
44-Knut Hedahl was born in Østre Slidre, Valders, Norway. He emigrated from Norway in the spring of 1882 and came to the Town of Flom the same year. In 1885 he bought land in Section 18, Town of Wild Rice. In the fall of 1890, he married Annie Olson. They have 4 children born, whereof 1 died in the fall of 1891.
45-John Benson was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1854. He was married to the maid Maria Johnson in 1881. They left Sweden in the spring of 1885 and came the same year to Wild Rice, where they bought land in Section 30. They have 7 children born, whereof 2 were born in Sweden and 5 in Wild Rice.
46-Nils P. Forseth was born in Gausdal, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, on the 22, September, 1862. He left Norway in 1878 and in the same year went to Rock County, Wisconsin. Here he married Helene Rostad in 1883. They left in the spring of 1885 from Wisconsin to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 36 and 25 in the Town of Wild Rice. Here they lived until the spring of '91, when he sold his land and became U.S. Mail Carrier between Faith and Fossum, Twin Valley, Folkedahl and Ada. Here he drove the mail for 3 years while he with his family lived in faith, as long as his wife lived. His wife died the 24th July '92. In their marriage they had 3 children, all born in Wild Rice. In the fall of '94 he moved to Ada, where he now lives and works as a butcher. His oldest child, a daughter, is with R. Grutle in Fossum, the middle one with C.D.Tvedstulen in home Lake, and the youngest with Hans Nelson in Wild Rice. The middle one is a boy and the youngest a girl.
47-Bernt P. Evenvold was born in Gausdal, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, July 26, 1863. He left Norway in 1883 and came the same year to Coon Prairie, Wisconsin where he lived one yearand then went to Waupacca County, Wisconsin, where he married in the spring of 1886 to Rhoda Forseth and in the same year came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought Land in Section 34 of Wild Rice. In '90 he sold this land, after which that same fall he left his family, wife and 3 children, which should have been his most precious possession on earth, and went out into the world. Where he is now, nobody knows. His wife has built a house and now lives on Section 35 in the Town of Wild Rice
48-Simon Haug was born in Rollags Prestegjeld, Norway, in 1826. He was married at Aurdal, Valders to Gunnild Michelson in 1856. They left Norway in 1871 and came to Black Earth, Dane County, Wisconsin the same year. He lived there until the Spring of 1886, when he moved his family to Norman County, Minnesota, and took land in Section 6 of the Twon of Wild Rice. They have 2 children,
both born in Norway.
49-Bernhard Jensen was born in Hitterdalen, Norway the 25th day of August, 1867. He left Norway in the spring of 1882 and came the same year to Wild Rice. He was married the 21st of July 1894 to Boliva Tomtengen and they live in Section 27 of Wild Rice.
50-Nils G. Hedalle was born in Østre Slidre Prestegjeld, Valders, Norway and was married to Marith Svensen in the spring of 1884. They left Norway right after to seek their fortune in America, and came to the town of Flom, Minnesota the same year. Here he lived for 2 years, after which he went to Clay County, Minnesota. Since he was not content there, he moved back in 1888 to Norman County and bought land in Section 18 in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. He has had 5 children, one born in Flom, one in Clay County and 3 in Wild Rice.
51-Andrew Dahlbom was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1868. He left Sweden in 1884 and came the same year to Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota, where he in 1888 bought land in Section 18 in Wild Rice. He married in 1892 to Mary Nelson and has 2 children born.
52-Jens Brodsho was born in Drangedals Prestegjeld, Norway, on the 5th of November, 1860. He emigrated from Norway in the spring of 1882 and came to the Town of Fossum the same year. He was married in 1888 to Clara Jensveen and settled in 1889 in the Town of Wild Rice in Section 33, where he lives now. They had 7 children born, 1 in Fossum and 6 in Wild Rice.
53-Hans Carlson was born in Hitterdalen, Norway, on the 9th of January, 1860. He emigrated from Norway in 1879 and came to Michigan, where he worked at the Iron Mines until the Fall of 1881. Then he went to Colorado and worked in the Silvermines until the Fall of 1889.From there he moved to Norman County, Minnesota and boought land in Section 35 in Town of Wild Rice. He was married the 26th of November, 1890 to Annie Haagensen and has 4 children.
54-Sivert T. Hove was born in Dane County, Wisconsin in 1861. He left Wisconsin in 1865 with his parents and came to Freeborn County, Minnesota. Here he lived until 1879, when he and his parents came to Norman County, Minnesota, where he bought land in the Town of Rockville, Norman County, Minnesota. He was married in March of 1885 to Karoline Haagenson. In the Fall of 1882 he bought his Father in law, Gudbrand Hagenson's Farm in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. They have had no children.
55-Morten Johnson was born in Ringebo, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, on the 17th of June, 1852. He left Norway in 1869 and came that same year to Waupacca County, Wisconsin, where he lived for 7 or 8 years. Then he left Wisconsin and came to Norman County, Minnesota, and settled first in Lake Ada where he lived for a 5 year period. He then moved back to Wisconsin, but returned to Norman County, Minnesota in 1894, and bought land in Section 8 in the Town of Wild Rice, where he now lives. He is unmarried but his elderly
parents live with him.
56-Emil Johnson was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1870. He left Sweden in 1891 and came to Hickson, North Dakota that same year, where he lived until 1894, when he came to Norman County, Minnesota and bought land in Section 30. He was married the 15th of July, 1895 to Manda Olson.
57-John Hedin was born in Vermeland, Sweden, in 1862.He left Sweden in the Spring of 1885 and cam to Becker County, Minnesota where he lived for 2 years, then he went to Hickson, North Dakota, where he married Manda Gunderson. Here he stayed until 1894, when he moved back to Minnesota, and took land in Wild Rice, Norman County, Minnesota, in Section 29. He had 4 children born, 3 in
North Dakota and 1 in Wild Rice.
58-J. F. Heiberg *) is born in Bergen, Norway, 4th of July 1861. He emigrated from Norway in the spring of 1881 and came to Minneapolis, Minn. Shortle afterwards he went to Dane Co., Wis., and stayed there for a year. After that he went to Minnesota, and came here to Norman Co., where he bought the mill from Peter O. Skjægrud in Town of Wild Rice. The 18th January 1884 he was married to the maid Augusta Slettebakken. He has 5 children. With regard to the new mill by Heiberg it can be added : It was erected in 1882 and was 30 x 40, 3 floors height. In 1890 it was completely changed to roller mill. In 1892 it was improved, enlarged and added 10 feet, so it now is 30x50. The addition is used for rinsing and storing wheat. The mill also has its own Feed Department with excellent rinsing apparatus. Before we got the bridge across the river, there was a ferry on which one transported the wheat across the river. The mosquitos were so many those days, that when one wiped the face with the hand, it was filled of mosquitos. More to conclusion about Heibergs Park. Note from Håkon: *) J. F. Heiberg = Jørgen Faye Heiberg, born 4th July, bapt. 4th Aug 1861 in Nykirken, Bergen, parents : merchant Andreas Heiberg and wife Else Catharine Reutsch born Faye, married in the Cathedral of Bergen on 18th Nov 1849, father was at that time 29 and mother 22 1/4 years old. Digitalarkivet Emigrants from Bergen 1874-1930 says that Jørgen Faye Heiberg,19 years old, emigrated from Bergen 7th May 1880 with State Line
59-Dr. John O. Froshoug was born in the vicinity of Kristiania, Norway, 8th August 1837. At age 18 he went to Copenhagen, Denmark, to be educated as a veterinarian there. After 5 years of studies he graduated as a such. After that he went back to Norway and started to practice as veterinarian. He was married in 1867 and in 1870 he decided to go to America to see if it was possible to get a home there. He left his family behind in Norway, to fetch them later, if he decided to stay in America. He came first to Stoughton, Wis., where he lived for a short time, because he soon understood, that it was not enough to provide for a family, only to practice as a veterinarian, he also had to be a medical doctor for the people. For that reason he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he after 1 1/2 years of studies by a medical college there, took diploma as doctor. In the fall of 1872 he went to Albert Lea, Minn., where he settled as doctor and started a drugstore business. Here he lived untill 1875 when he moved to Lake Park, Becker Co., Minn., where he started a drugstore once more. In 1877 he decided to use his rights for a homestead, whereafter he the same year took land on section 22 in Town of Wild Rice, Norman Co., Minn. Because he had his Homestead here and the drugstore in Lake Park, and he often had to be on both places, he became post carrier between Wild Rice Postoffice and Lake Park. Every time he carried the post to Wild Rice, he went down to his Homestead and stopped there. He constructed soon a house, and to manage the household he got hold of a swedish Count and a swedish tanner, and the whole lot was given the Noble Name " The Barony of Poor Livelihood ". When the whole staff on " The Barony of Poor Livelihood " was gathered, it consisted of a norwegian doctor, a norwegian veterinarian, a swedish count, a swedish tanner and - a dog. But they were not alone all the time, because often the neighbors often visited them, and if the walls of the Barony could quote the many stories which happened here, then the book about it would be larger than this one. In the beginning of the '80s Dr Froshoug let his business in Lake Park come to an end, and decided to make Wild Rice to his future home. He then send to Norway for his family, which was his wife and 2 sons. He also bought 160 acres of land on section 28. Of this he sold 40 acres to the railway company for city ground where Twin Valley now is located, and where he setlled. He he stayed until 9th June 1889 when he passed away caused by tuberculosis. After his family came here, the family was increased with a daughter. Froshoug's oldest son followed in his fathers steps and be- came a doctor. He took his degree by Reokuk Medical College, Reokuk, Iowa, in the spring of 1896, and then went to Norse, Tex., where he lives by now. His younger son, Arnt, still lives in Twin Valley, where he runs business of hardware and farming machinery. Mrs. Froshoug wnet back to Norway in 1894 to be with her mother's side in her last days.
60-A. Stenseth is born in Skridje parish, Norway, 1857. In 1872 he was married to the maid Lovise Thorsen. This marriage did not last long, because she died after a year leaving him with their baby. In 1876 he was married again to Caroline Marcussen. He left Norway in the spring of 1882 to try his luck in America, and he came directly here to Norman Co., Minn., and obtained work by Heiberg's Mill. Here he worked for 4 or 5 years. In 1888 Heiberg postoffice started and A. Stenseth was hired as postmaster. In addition he has a small store. They have had 9 children, of whom 3 were born in Norway and 6 in Wild Rice. His wife is authorized midwife.
61-Andrew Johnson was born in Sweden about the year 1825. He also got married in Sweden, but when can not be told. About the year ‘55 or '56 he left Sweden and his family, and went to Norway, where he from what is told, stayed for about 12 years near Holmestrand. His family had to go ahead as good as possibly on their own. His wife died about 3 years after he left her, and his 4 sons, so to speak, became orphans. In '67 he went to America, and settled in Freeborn Co., Minn., where he stayed to the spring '71. Then he went with Søren Bergerson, Martin Johnson and others, when they went to the West. He then came here and took land near the others, and after the surveying of the land, it turned out to be in section 35 and 36 in Town of Wild Rice. In the winter of '74 he married again to the widow Anna Maria Engen. This marriage turned out to be unsuccessful too, and they lived together only for a year. They were divorced again by the civil law by which they had been married. Johnson lived thereafter alone on his farm, while his former wife moved to her son Edvard Engen, who lived in the south part of Town of Flom. In the years '80 to '82 his sons came over from Norway. They stayed with him for some time, but went out on their own. He sold his farm in '85 to Nils B. Forseth and moved then to Nils Nilson in Town of Flom. After a while he went back to the old country to see the old homestead. About a year later he came back, and builded a house on his son Andrews farm in Home Lake, to live there for the rest of his life. But in the fall of '91 he got tired by the life, and one night he sat the house on fire, and shot himself a bullet in the forehead. That way died Andrew Johnson.
From the book "Nogle Optegnelser om Settling m.m. indenfor de fire Towns Fossum, Wild Rice, Home Lake og Flom i Norman County, Minn". Collected by R. Grutle, Lars Aamoth, John Narum, O.S. Bentley and John Hommelvig.
Translated by Håkon Skaugvoll and Olaf Kringhaug.
Early Settlers in Home Lake Township
1. Jonas Homelvig came with his family from Homelvigen, Trondhjem, Norway in 1870 and went to Goodhue County, Minnesota. In the spring of 1871 he left Goodhue County and came to Norman County of Minnesota and took land in Section 14, Township of Home Lake. His wife died in 1885 and is buried at Wild Rice Parish Graveyard. He lived on his old farm until 1894, then he married Martha Vanberg and bought another farm by the old one where he now lives. His son, Johan Homelvig, took over the farm. He married Martha Flom, the daughter of Hans Flom in the town of Flom in 1880 and had 10 born, where some have died.
2. Peter P. Halle emigrated with his family from Størdalen Prestegjeld in Trondhjem, Norway in 1866 to Goodhue County, Minnesota where he bought land. Here he lived until 1871, when he moved to Norman County in Minnesta and bought land in Section 14 of Home Lake Township where he lives now. He was married in Norway and had 3 born where l has died.
3. Peder Waller came from Solør, Norway , to Goodhue County in Minnesota in 1867. He lived there with his family to 1871, then he moved to this place and took land on section 12, town of Home Lake Township, Norman County, Minnesota, where he still lives. This 3 families : J. Homelvig, P. Halle and P. Waller came together and were the first settlers in Home Lake Township, as well as they shared the burdens of the life of settlers as good as they could. P. Waller has had 7 children in addition to 3 died. His old father, Ole Waller came from Norway in 1869 to Goodhue County in Minnesota and came with the others to this place in 1871 and took land on section 12. He died in 1891. The widow lives at present with the son Peder, who now own their farm too.
4. Peder's brother, Johannes Waller, came from Solør, Norway, to Goodhue County in Minnesota, in 1867, and lived there to 1873. Then he moved here to Norman County in Minnesota but he did not take land before 1874, then he settled on section 24 of Home Lake Township. He is married to a daughter of Jakob Brænden, sister of Mrs Ole Lien, Mrs. Larson and Mrs. Hans Korsgaden of Flom. They have 5 children, 4 are dead.
5. Hans Lockrem came in 1855 from Valdres, Norway, with his parents and settled in Wisconsin. In 1857 they moved to Iowa and in 1859 to Rice County of Minnesota where he took land and lived to 1873, when he moved here to Norman County in Minnesota together with John Waller, Willie Larsson, Ole Lien, Lars Huseby and Ole T. Rogen. He then took land on section 24 in Home Lake Township where he still lives. He has wife and 5 childen. The two oldest daughters - one of them is married - are living in Fargo, North Dakota, the others are staying at home.
6. Christian Olson came to Norman County in Minnesota in 1873 an took land on section 2 in Home Lake Township, where he lived til he died in 1893. He was married and had 5 children. The family still lives on the farm. A child died in the fall of 1895.
7. Mrs. Ingeborg Mikkelson emigrated from Norway in 1870 and came to Winneshiek County in Iowa. Here she lived with her family - her husband died earlier - to 1878 when she moved to here in Norman County in Minnesota and took land on section 6 of Home Lake Township, where she and her son Matthias are living now. One son died a few years ago. Her oldest son has bought land on section 5 where he lives now. He has wife and 4 children.
8. Østen Hanson came from Lom, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, to Winneshiek, Iowa, in1873. He lived there to 1879 when he moved to here in Norman County in Minnesota and took land on section 8 of Home Lake Township where he still lives. He is married and has 8 children. He came together with Andreas Dorseth of Flom.
9. Hans Erikson Wigesland came from Aurland in Sogn, Norway, 1848 to Wisconsin, where he stayed to 1851 and then he moved to Winnesheik County in Iowa. Here he stayed til 1878 and then came and bought land in Section 8 of Home Lake Township. He got married and had many born.
10. Helge Rinde emigrated from Sogn, Norway in 1860 and moved to Rice County in Minnesota where he lived until 1878, he then moved to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 26 of Home Lake Township. He had a son Jens Helgeson. His wife died in 1894
11. Jens Huseby came from Sogn, Norway in 1867 and came to Rice County in Minnesota where he lived until 1878. He then moved to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 26 of Home Lake Township where he lives. He was married and had 5 children born. His parent's lived in Rice County of Minnesota.
12. Carl Sollien emigrated from Toten, Norway and came to Norman County in Minnesota in 1879. He took a homestead in Section 26 of Home Lake Township where he lives. He was married and had 6 children born where one has died.
13. Thore Thompson came from Laerdals Prestegjeld, Norway to Amerika in 1873 and went to Winnesheik County in Iowa. He stayed there until 1879 when he came to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 18 of Home Lake Township, where he lives. He was married and had 8 children.
14. Jens R. Ramsey was born in Winnesheik County of Iowa in 1855. He then moved in 1868 with his family to Freeborn County in Minnesota. He lived there until 1879, when he came here to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 22 of Wild Rice Township. He lived there until 1887 when he moved to Home Lake Township and took land in Section 20 where he lives now. He was married and had 4 children born
15. Torgrim O. Thompson came from Stavanger, Norway to Iowa in 1859 with his family. He lived there until 1879, when he moved to Freeborn County in Minnesota where he lived until 1880. He then moved to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 36 of Home Lake Township, where he lives. He has a wife and 6 children, 2 have died.
16. John Wangsnaes emigrated from Sogn, Norway in 1864 and went to Winnesheik County in Iowa. He lived there until 1879 when he moved to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 4 of Home Lake Township. He was married to the daughter of Halvor Tvedstulen and had 5 children born. His wife’s family lived in Wild Rice Township.
17. John Tylden emigrated from Størdalen, Norway in 1871 and went to Iowa where he lived 1 year. In 1872 he moved to Goodhue County in Minnesota where he bought land and lived until 1880. He sold the farm and then came to Norman County in Minnesota and bought land in Section 28 of Home Lake Township where he lives. His wife died in 1873.
18. Gunnerius O. Dahl, son of Ole Fordal, came from Norway in 1874 to Goodhue County in Minnesota where he lived until 1880. He then came to Home Lake Township and took land in Section 28 where he lives. He was not married.
19. Anthon Lerud emigrated from Gjerdums Prestegjeld, Norway to Lansing, Iowa in 1873. He lived there until 1880, whe he moved to Home Lake Township and took land in Section 4. He was married and had 5 children born, none have died. He came here with Bernt Ask of Flom.
20. John Maehle came from Størdalen, Norway in 1875 to Lansing, Iowa. He then lived in Nicollet County until he moved in 1878 to Clay County in Minnesota where he bought land and lived until 1881. He then came to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 32 where he lives now. His wife died in 1888. He remarried and has 3 children born who are living and 7 have died.
21. Ole Fordal emigrated from Størdalen, Norway in 1872 to Goodhue County in Minnesota where he bought land and lived until 1882. He sold the farm and came together with John Moen from Flom and Christ Qual from Fossum and took land on section 22 of Home Lake Township where he still lives. He has a wife and 2 children.
22. Jens Sethne came here from Toten, Norway in 1887. His wife died in 1892. He lives with his son Martinius who came here from Norway in 1886 and bought land in Section 35 of Home Lake Township.
23. Johan Sethne came from Toten, Norway in 1881. He bought land in Section 34 of Home Lake Township, where he lives alone. He is not married.
24. Ole Haugan came from Strinden, Trondhjem, Norway in 1881 and stopped in Minneapolis, Minnesota until 1882, when he came here and bought land in Section 11 of Home Lake Township. He died in 1889. His wife lives on the farm. They had children born that are alive and 6 have died. His son Sivert runs the farm.
25. Anders Bakke came from Aurlands Prestegjeld, Norway in 1868 to Winnesheik County in Iowa. From there he moved to Fillmore County in Minnesota in 1878 where he lived until 1882. He then came to Home Lake Township and bought land in Section 10, where he lives. He was married and had 10 children born. His oldest son Louis is married and lives with his parents.
26. Christian Dalhaug, son of Jonas Homelvig, from his first marriage, came from Trondhjem, Norway in 1882 to his father. He bought land in Section 23 of Home Lake Township where he lives now. Soon after his arrival he was married and has 6 children.
27. Martinius Aasgaard came from Hedemarken, Norway in 1866 to Trempealeau County in Wisconsin. He left in 1885 and came to Home Lake Township where he bought land in Section 26 and lives now. He is married and has 5 children living and 1 which died.
28. Ole Ramsey came here from Freeborn County in Minnesota in 1882 and bought land in Section 17 of Home Lake Township. He is not married.
29. Ole Hamre came following his parents from Sogn, Norway in 1875 and came first to Rice County in Minnesota. His father died in 1876. They stayed in Rice County until 1883, when he, in company with his brother Jens and his mother came to Home Lake Township and bought land in Section 30 where he still lives. He is married and has one child living, another child died.
30. Jens Ramsey, Ole's brother, also bought land in Section 30 of Home LakeTownship where he now lives. He is married and have 3 children born.
31. Peder Hambre came from Størdalen, Norway to Goodhue County, in Minnesota in 1869. He lived there until 1882 when he moved here. He is married and have 5 children born, all are grown-ups. Two sons live in Fargo, North Dakota and 2 daughters are in St. Paul, Minnesota. They live with their one oldest son.
32. Erik Hambre came with his parents and bought land in Section 11 of Home Lake Township where he lives now. He is married, but has no children.
33. Paul Johnson came from Gudbrandsdalen, Norway to Michigan in 1879. He lived there until 1881 when he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and lived there until 1883. He then moved to Home Lake Township and bought land in Section 33. His wife died in 1892. His son lives with him (2 sons are living).
34. Fredrik Paulson, son of Paul Johnson, came here with his parents andbought land in Section 32 where he lives. He is married and has 5 living children, 3 have died.
35. Amund Skaim emigrated from Aurland, Sogn, Norway to Dane County inWisconsin in 1851. He lived there until 1853 when he moved to HoustonCounty in Minnesota. He lived there until 1882 when he came to Norman County in Minnesota where he lived in the town of Flom for 1 year. After that he took land in Section 34 of Home Lake Township where he lives. He is married and had 11 children born. He came here with Theodor Orvoll, Ole M. Lee and Ole J. Lee.
36. Theodor Orvoll was married to a daughter of Amund Skiam and now lives with them. They had 2 children born.
37. Erik Ramsey was born in Iowa in 1858 and moved with his parents toFillmore County in Minnesota in 1875. He was married there and in 1882 came here and bought land in Section 10 of Home Lake Township, where he now lives. His wife died in 1889. He married again and had 7 children born.
38. Jacob Lerud, brother of Anton Lerud, came from Norway to Allamakee County in Iowa in 1883. He then moved to Home Lake Township in Minnesota and bought land in Section 16. He was married and had 5 living children and 1 who had died.
39. Peter Ramsey, brother to Jens and Ole Ramsey, came here from Freeborn County in Minnesota in 1886 and bought land in Section 16 in Home Lake Township. He was married and had no living children.
40. Martin Bjerknaes came from Bergens Stift, Norway to Illinois in 1875. He lived there until 1885 when he came to Home Lake Township in Minnesota and bought land in Section 21, where he lives. His wife died in 1877. He married again and had 3 children living and 1 that had died.
41. Amund Olson came from Gudbrandsdalen, Norway to Fillmore County in Minnesota in 1860. He lived there until 1882 when he moved to Norman County in Minnesota and bought land in Section 36 of Home Lake Township where he lives. He is married and has 9 children born.
42. Erik Dyrdahl came from Sogn, Norway in 1886 to Washington Prairie in Iowa. He lived there until 1871 when he moved to Fillmore County in Minnesota where he lived until 1883. He then came to Home Lake Township and bought land in Section 36 where he lives. He has a wife and 3 living children, 1 has died. His oldest son is married and lives with him.
43. Peder Henry came from Sogn, Norway to Mower County in Minnesota in 1868. He lived there until 1882 when he moved to Norman County in Minnesota and took land in Section 10 of Home Lake Township. Peder died in 1888 and his wife died in 1892. Four children are living after him.
44. Peder’s son Nils Pederson lives on the Farm. He is married and has 3 children.
45. Andreas Ryding was born in Sweden and came from Holmestrand, Norway in 1882. He bought land in Section 24 of Wild Rice Township and lived there until 1887. He then moved and bought land in Section 2 of Home Lake Township where he now lives. He was married and had 5 living children and 1 that died.
46. Lewis Silve came from Paris, France to Steele County in Minnesota in 1877. He lived there until 1882 and then moved to Home Lake Township and bought land in Section 36. He was married and had 3 living children and 1 that had died.
47. Ole Hallerud was born in Vestre Toten, Norway and emigrated to Amerika in 1869 to Goodhue County in Minnesota with his wife and children. They lived there until 1878 when he and his family came to Norman County in Minnesota and took 80 acres of land in homestead in Section 12 of Home Lake Township. They had 5 children born and 2 that died. Two of the children married, the oldest daughter married Christ Tvedstulen and the youngest married Jens Sethney, and lived in Twin Valley. One boy is at home.
48. Christ H. Tvedstulen emigrated from Telemarken, Norway to America in1862 and settled in Freeborn County in Minnesota. He moved to Norman County in Minnesota in July of 1877 and homesteaded in Section 34 of Wild Rice Township. On the 4th of June, 1879 Pastor Bjorgo married him to Johanne Hallerud and they moved to Section 11 in Home Lake Township. They had no children.
49. John C. Narum was born in Vestre Toten, Norway the 24th of April in 1847 and emigrated to Amerika in 1869 to Houston County in Minnesota. The same he married Elie Karine Hanson. In 1874 they moved to Norman County of Minnesota. They had 9 children born, 3 in Houston County, namley Karl, Anne Marie and Helene; 6 were born here in Home Lake Township, namely Hanne, Hans, Christian, Albert Kristofer, Martinius, Deoline and Julius. Two are married, namely Marie, married to Andrew Huseby and they live in Clay County in Minnesota and Hanne, married to Olaf Waller, they live in Syre, Home Lake Township and have a store.
50.Ingebrigt Ingebrigtson emigrated from Bergen’s Stift, Norway in 1857 and went first to Winnesheik County in Iowa. He got married on the 1st of Jan, 1858 and lived near Cresco, Iowa, until 1882 when they moved to Norman County of Minnesota and bought Land in Section 1 of Home Lake Township. They had 12 children born, 2 died in Iowa, 4 died in the Town of Flom of Diptheria, 1 died in Home Lake from a gunshot 17th May, 1887, and son Julian died at home the 15th of May, 1896.
51. Nils Albertson came to Norman County in Minnesota from Iowa in 1884. He married Anne Quit on the 13th of April, 1887. They have 6 children born. He lives by his fathers, Ingebr. Ingebritsons farm in Section 1 of Home Lake Township..
52. Anton Aalerud from Skjeberg, Norway came to America in 1888 and first stopped in Duluth, Minnesota. He came to Norman County in Minnesota in 1890. He was married the 6th of July, 1893 to Marie Aalen and have one child.
53. Ole A. Waller came from Kongsvinger, Norway in 1882 to Norman County of Minnesota. In 1890 he married Synneva Iverson and they had 3 children born. They lived in Section 13 of Home Lake Township.
From the book "Nogle Optegnelser om Settling m.m. indenfor de fire Towns Fossum, Wild Rice, Home Lake og Flom i Norman County, Minn".
Collected by R. Grutle, Lars Aamoth, John Narum, O.S. Bently and John Hommelvig.
Translated by Margit Bakke with help from Håkon Skaugvoll, Olaf Kringhaug & Birger Mosknes.
From the book "Nogle Optegnelser om Settling m.m. indenfor de fire Towns Fossum, Wild Rice, Home Lake og Flom i Norman County, Minn".
Collected by R. Grutle, Lars Aamoth, John Narum, O.S. Bently and John Hommelvig.
Early Settlers in Fossum Township
1-A man by the name of Gunder Gunderson took land in Section 30, dug a cellar and lived there for a while but went down and never came back. It cannot be discovered, either where he came from or where he went to. It was the first land filed upon in Fossum. The land is now owned and built on by O. G. Bentley.
2-Hans P. Aamoth born in Lands Prestegjeld in Norway on the 5th of November 1820 but living most of his youth in Faaberg. In the spring of 1871 he emigrated with his family which consisted of his wife, and his 4 youngest children, as the 3 oldest had gone to America before and stayed for a while in in Rock County in Wisconsin where they had family and acquaintances and where their son Lars also was. In the spring of 1872 he moved with his family west to Zumbrota, Goodhue County in Minnesota, where their daughter Agnethe who was married to Johannes P. Lien.
Johannes P. Lien, his old father, together with Mrs. Lars H. Aamoth joined them and went west to find a home. They travelled by land west to Audubon, Becker Co., Minn. where they met their eldest sons Peter and Lars. They then travelled further together with their sons to the town of Fossum, where their sons Peter and Lars had earlier in the spring taken land.They came here the 3rd July, '72. Hans Aamoth bought some railroad land where he lived some years. Later he took a 1/4 section on homestead, where he lived until his wife died. She was born the 28th November 1820 and died the 24th July 1889 and is buried at St. Olaf Cemetery at Faith. After his wife's death he lived a bit with each of his sons until he died the 11th April 1895 at his son Ingvald's home in the City of Twin Valley. He was buried by his wife's side in St. Olaf Parish Cemetery. They have had 7 children, of whom 6 live, all in the Town of Fossum while the youngest son, Ingvald lives in Twin Valley. They are:
2.a-Peter H. Aamoth. He left Lillehammer, Norway in the spring of 1870 and came to Rock Prairie, Wisconsin where he remained with relatives for a year. Then he travelled west in the spring of 1871 to Minnesota and stopped in Becker County where he also took land. In the Spring of 1872 he sold his Improvement there and with his brother Lars he went to Wild Rice and took land in Fossum Township, where he still lives. In the Winter of 1878 he married Miss Lila Olson, daughter of Peter Olson Skægrud. They have 7 born and all are living.
2.b-Lars H. Aamoth was born at the Aamoth Farm on the 10th of March 1850 in Lands Prestegjeld, Norway. Eight years old he moved with his parents to Faaberg, where his father had bought the farm Lien Nordre, 1 Mil from Lillehammer ( 1 Norwegian Mil is 10.000 meter = 6 miles á 1682 meter) In the Spring of 1868 he travelled with his sister Agnethe, who was married to Johannes P. Lien, to America. They went with a sailing vessel, and the trip lasted 10 weeks before they arrived in America. They came to Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, in August of that year and stayed there with relatives, who had been there for several years. He stayed there until the fall 1871, then he went to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where his sister and brother had gone earlier. In the beginning of April 1872 he went by the railroad westwards to find a home of his own. He first made a stop at Oak Lake, Becker Co., Minnesota, where his brother Peter the year before took land. After a while he went with his brother Peter, who had sold his Improvement by this time, and Andrew Hanson and Jens Urdahl, to Wild Rice River, Norman Co., (at that time Polk Co.,) The three first mentioned took each one 1/4 Section land in Fossum Township, and Jens Urdahl took land in Flom Township. On this land, which he took in 1872, he has been living all the time since. On September 24th, 1872 he was married in Zumbrota Church by Pastor Nils Ulvisaker with the maid Ingeborg Christoffersdatter from Rock Prairie, Wisonsin. They had 10 children together, of which 2 are dead while they were little. Their two oldest daughters Clara and Thilda are married to the brothers Heregaard and are living near Orfordville, Rock Co., Wis. Most of the other children are at home.
2.c-Hans H. Aamoth came with his family over from Norway and bought land in Section 27 of Fossum Township in Minnesota, where he still lives. He is married to the daughter of Erik Ovaldson, Mina, in the Fall of 1891 and has 2 children born, whereof 1 has died.
2.d-Nils H. Aamoth came too with his parents to this place, and stayed with his father until he in 1885 bought a General Store in Faith from H.W. Hermand, together with A. Hanson. After some years they also bought the mill, so he operated both the store and the mill. In 1894 he sold his part of the store and the mill and moved to his father’s farm, which he had owned in some years, and where he still lives. He was married to Lina, daughter of Hans Ovaldson from Goodhue Co., Minn., in 1890 and at the present has two children.
2-E-Ingvald H. Aamoth lived in Twin Valley in the Township of Wild Rice.
2-F-Hans’ daughter Agnethe was married to Johannes P. Lien and lived in Fossum.
2-G-Hans’ daughter Oline was married to Andrew Hanson and lived at Faith.
3-John Jenson Grønøen was born the 28th of September 1849 on the Grønøen farm in Drangedal parish, lower Telemark, Norway. As a 21 year old boy he left Norway with his brother Jens in the spring of 1870 and went to America to find himself a home. Their brother Jørgen had gone ahead the year before. They met their brother in Leland Minn., and remained there until the next summer, when they went west to Rice Co. Minn. In the spring of 1872 they went further west in the company of Hakon Benson and wife. They were each equipped with a pair of oxen and went west by land. In three weeks time and many troubles they arrived at Norman
Co., where they all took land in the Town of Fossum. On the 28th of September 1872 John Grønøen was married to the Miss Amalia Larson, who the spring previously had come to the settlement together withher parents. They had 8 children, of whom one is dead. The others are at home and help their parents in operating the large farm. John Grønøen and Amalia Larson were the first to be married here in the settlement. The marriage was conducted in the Grønøen’s own house by Pastor K. Bjørgo, who at the same time held services here. At this service were the first children baptized in the congregation, namely Henry L. Aamoth, Karen Hanson and Nils J. Nelson.
4-Jens J. Mørland left Drangedal parish, Norway in the company of his brother John Grønøen. He also came to the settlement with his brother and took 1/4 section on homestead, which he has had as his home ever since. He lived alone on his farm right until the spring of 1884 when on the 27th of March, he married the Miss Elise Dalbu. They had 5 children but one died when it was little.
5-Hakon Benson was born the 15th August 1844 at Fossum Ironworks at østre Bærum, Norway. As a 20 year old boy he left Norway in the spring of 1864 and came to Chatfield, Fillmore Co., Minn. After he had stayed there for a while, he went to Faribault, Rice Co., Minn., where he worked until the fall of ’65, then he went to Olmsted Co. where he remained for 1* years. In March ’67 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he stayed for a short time, and after went to Wisconsin and worked in the woods, also on the Mississippi River right until the fall of 1871. He then went to Faribault again. On the 14th of February 1872 he was married to the Miss Oliana Sander. The same year they prepared to travel west to find their own home. On the 22nd of May they left Faribault with a pair of oxen and a cow.
After 3 weeks on the way they came here to the settlement on the 14th of June 1872, and in the Town of Fossum they took 80 acres of land on homestead. A year later he bought the rights from his neighbour, Jørgen Grønøen, to 80 acres that he then put to a homestead with the first. This has been his home ever since. They had 12 children of which 2 died when they were small. Their first daughter, Mina Gustave, that was born the 30th of may 1875, died in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the 26th of January 1891. She had gone there for work but became sick and died without her parents knowing about it until she was already dead. Their oldest child Bernt Otto was born the 20th of December 1872, the first white child born in Fossum, perhaps the settlement.
6-Andrew J. Hanson. He left Modum, Norway, the 10th of August 1869 and came to Rice Co., Wis. Where he remained for only a short time, then went to Brown Co., Wis. In the spring of 1871 he came to Beder Co., Minn. where he took a 1/4 section land near the City of Audubon. After a short time he sold it to the railroad company. In the spring of 1872 he accompanied, as previously mentioned, Lars and Peter Aamoth and went to Wild Rice and took 1/4 section of land in the Town of Fossum. Here he erected a little shanty and ran a little grocery store until the spring of ’73. This was the first store in the settlement. Later in the spring of ’73 he moved to the Town of Flom, where he again took land and ran the same business for several years. In the spring of 1883 he moved back to Fossum, where he bought a 1/4 section of land, which he still owns. But he does not live on the farm, since he several years ago moved to Faith where, with L. Bjerknæs and O. Fredrikson, he runs a general store, grist mill and recently a saw mill.
7-Johannes Pederson Lien left Faaberg, Norway in 1868. As was usual at that time he went by sailing ship and it took a full 16 weeks before he came to his destination, Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. Here he stayed until the fall of that year, when he went to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., where they had relatives. Here they lived until the spring of 1872 when they went west, as previously told, and came here to the town of Fossum the 3rd of July 1872. He lived the first year with his parents-in-law, Hans P. Aamoth, since he was married to his eldest daughter. Later he took a 1/4 section of land nearby, where they have since lived and still have their home. They have had 9 children, 3 girls and 6 boys. In 1889 the Lord sent them a heavy trial when he took from them 3 of their grown children, namely: Ingeborg Augusta, born 27th September 1871 and died 3rd November 1889, Johan Albert, born 9th October 1876 and died 22nd August 1889 and Anne Marie, born 23rd November 1873 and died 1st February 1890. The other children are at home except the eldest son, Peter, who was been married and for several years has worked on Ingvald H. Aamoth’s farm, which was old Hans Aamoth’s first home here.
8-Ole Ingebrigtson Quit. He was born in the fall of 1832 in Aurland parish, Sogn, Norway. In the spring of 1869 he left his home to go to America. He settled at Bonnet Prairie, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1870 he was married to the Miss Ragnilde Ingebrigtsdatter. They then moved to Black Hammer, Houston Co., Minnesota, where they stayed for 3 years. In the spring of 1873 they went west, came here and took a 1/4 section of land in Fossum, where they have lived ever since. They had 3 children but one died when it was little.
9-Ole Nilson Kragerø. He left lower Telemark, Norway, in the spring of 1866 and came to Winneshiek Co., Iowa, where he lived for 6 years. Afterwards he went to Jackson Co., Iowa, where he remained for about 4 years. In the summer of 1877 he left Iowa and came here, where he took a 1/4 section of land in the town of Fossum, where he still lives. His first wife was Ingeborg Melaas. She died December 1886 and is buried at Wild Rice Cemetery. In the summer or fall of 1867 he remarried to the widow Mrs. Anne Kaardahl, who a few years before had moved here to the settlement from Dakota. With his first wife he had 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls, who
are all at home. With his second wife he has one child.
10-Peter P. Qual. He left Faaberg, Norway for America in the spring of 1871 and came to Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, where he worked through the summer. Later that fall he came to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minn. He remained there until the spring of 1879 when he moved west and came here to the Town of Fossum, where he bought a 1/4 section of land and where he and his family still live.
11-Louis P. Qual was born in Faaberg, Norway in the year 1852. In the spring of 1870 he left his home and came here to America. He came first to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minnesota where he had a brother, Kristian. He stayed here for a while and then in the woods in Wisconsin until he, with his brother Peter came here in the summer of 1878. A couple of years later he married Miss Martha Urdahl, who had a 1/4 section of land in Home Lake where he lived several years. He then sold the farm and bought 80 acres in Fossum, where he continues to live. Together they had 6 children, of which one died in a young age.
12- Olaus Norby. He left Norway in 1871 and came to Fillmore County in Minnesota. After some years he moved to Goodhue County in Minnesota, where he lived till the spring of 1879, when he together with Hans Tokerud went to vesten to find himself a home. He came here to Town of Fossum on March 8th and took 1/4 section of land on homestead close by Wild Rice River. On this land of his he had a good waterfall for a mill, which he some years latersold to a german, Mr. Sohler. He constructed by this waterfall a grinding mill and saw-mill. This was named Faith Millafter the Post Office which was established there shortly afterwards, and that was to large benefits for the people in the settlement, while earlier the mill was far away. Some years later he sold the rest of the farm to a german, Mr. Ohms, who in 4 years brought the post between Ada and Faith. At the same time he bought another farm a bit more to the south, where he still lives. He was married in Goodhue Co., Minn., to the maid Maren Ovaldson, before they came here, and together they have had 7 children.
13-Ole M. Dalby. He left Faaberg by Lillehammer, Norway, with his parents in 1879, and came to Black Earth, Wisconsin, where he the first year stayed with an uncle. In the spring of 1880 they went westwards to Audubon, Becker County in Minnesota, where his brother lived. After a week by his brother, he and his father went to town of Fossum, where his father took a 1/4 section Land on homestead in the vicinity of Johannes P. Lien. On this land he has been living all the time.His mother died years ago and is buried cemetary of Wild Rice congregation. His old father, Mikel, still lives and is hale and healthy although he is more than 70 years old. Ole Dalby was married in this settlement in the 1880's and has 3 children.
14-Anton Johnson Enger came as young boy from Toten, Norway, to Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where he for many years worked as clerk in a store on Wastedo. Later he established his own store in Dell, Olmsted County in Minnesota. Then he sold the store and went back to Norway again. In the spring of 1879 he came back to America, and came to this settlement where he in the fall of 1879 established a general store business in a small log house owned by Knut Larson, and erected on the land now owned by Sjur Stundahl in Town of Flom. On this place he carried on to the summer 1880 when he established a store in section 30 of Fossum, where Fossum Post Office came. Here he run a large and profitable business until 1890, when he sold to L. J. Morland, who still runs the business. Mr. Anton Johnson later went back to Norway, came back to America in 189l or 1892, but at present is home in Norway again.
15-Ole S. Bentley is born in Næs, Hallingdal, Norway, on February 2nd 1850. With his parents he left Norway in the spring of 1885. Arrived at Winneshiek Co., Iowa the same year where his parents had bought land. He remained with his parents until 1867, when he went to Decorah, Iowa and where he attended high school until the spring of 1868. He then took a position as a salesclerk with the firm, Olson and Thompson. He was with that firm until the fall of ’71. On the 26th of March that year he married Miss Anne Bergite
Bergerson. When in the fall of ’71 he quit the firm of Olson and Thompson, he got a position with the firm of Dusjin and Gaston. He was with them until the spring of 1874 when he moved to Northwood, Iowa, where he served as a clerk for 3 years and Deputy Postmaster for about 2 1/2 years. In the spring of ’79 he got a month’s holiday from the Post Office and made a trip to Wild Rice, Norman Co., Minnesota to visit his in-laws. On this trip he came to the conclusion he should take advantage of his homestead right and took land. In October of that year he sent his family to Wild Rice while he himself remained another three months with the Post Office in Northwood. Between Christmas and New Year’s he went west and came to Ada, Minn. On the morning of January 1st, 1880 he went on foot and arrived in the evening at Søren Bergerson’s in Wild Rice, where his family was. He took a 1/4 section of land in the spring of that year in the Town of Fossum, on Section 30, where he still lives. Almost all the time since he came here to Fossum he has held one or another public office in the Town such as Judge, Justice of the Peace; he has also been Clerk of School District 41 since it was organized in ’83. His children number 10, 5 boys and 5 girls. Of them, 2 were born in Decorah, 2 in Northwood and 6 in Fossum.
16-Martin Qual left Faaberg, Norway accompanied by his aged mother in the spring of 1872 to go to America and find his people who had left before and lived in Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where they also went. They lived here until the spring of ’80 when they went west to find a home. He came here to the Town of Fossum where he bought an Improvement on a homestead. Later he bought a 1/4 section of railroad land, where he now lives with his aged mother.
17-T. Iverson. He left Telemark, Norway in the spring of 1861 and came to Koshkonong, Wisconsin, and stayed there for a couple of years after which he went to Waseca Co., Minnesota, in ’63. He stayed here all the time until the spring of ’80 when, with his family and brothers, Ole, Lars and Nils Amundson, they moved west to find homes for themselves. They came then to the Town of Fossum, where he took a 1/4 section of forest land in the Town of Fossum, near Faith, where he still lives with his family. In addition to
running his farm, he has been a teacher and chorister with St. Olaf Parish at faith, served by Pastor A. Lien of the Norwegian Synod. \par 18-Ole O. Jenssveen left Faaberg in Norway in the spring of 1855 to try his luck in America. He arrived at Rock Prairie, Wisc., the 3rd of July 1855. Here he stayed as a farm worker for the farmers until the fall of 1861, when he left Wisconsin and went to Zumbrota, Minn. His sister lived here and with her he had his home when he was not away for work. Here he was married to the maid Elise and he took on a farm on shares, which they worked for some years. In the spring of 1880, he moved with his family to the west and arrived on the 15th of May in the Town of Fossum. Here he bought first a 1/4 section of land in Section 33, later he also got his
father’s homestead which lay right next to his land. And here he has lived since. They have 6 children, 2 are married and the others are at home.
19-Aadne K. Fjeld was born in Telemarken, Norway. In the spring of 1852 he came to America and stoped first at Freeborn Co., Minnesota. When the war broke out between the North and the South, he went immediately into the field and remained until the end of the war. Later he returned to Freeborn Co., Minn., where he lived until the spring of 1880 when with his family, he moved west and came here to the settlement where he took land in the Town of Fossum and where he has lived since. His 2 sons, Knud and John are married and with their families live on land near their father, not far from Faith.
20-R. Grutle was born in Finaas Parish in Bergen Diocese, 1st July 1854.In the fall of 1870 he entered Kopervig Teacher’s Seminary from which he graduated in the fall of 1872. Right after, on the 8th of December, he began at a school in Jælse (Jelsa), 40 km out of Stavanger, where he remained for 4 years. On the 28th of May 1875 at Jælse, he married Miss Martha Ellingsdatter. In the beginning of October 1876 they left Jælse and drew to American after he had been hired by Pastor Nils Hvisaker as a teacher and choirmaster for the Minnesota Congregation, Goodhue County, Minnesota. On the 31st October they came to Lands Parish near Zumbrota and in a week’s time he began his duties for Minnesota Congregation. Here he remained for 4 years but since land was so expensive here that there was no opportunity to get his own home, they decided to move west to find a home. Through contact with Mr. Even Narum
he began to exchange letters with Pastor Sagen, who then was the minister for Wild Rice Parish and the result was that he was called by Wild Rice Parish to be teacher and choirmaster, which call he accepted. In the fall of 1880 he moved west and on the 8th of November he came to Mr. Ole Kallerud. Soon after he came here he began his duties in the parish, which duties he still continues. At the same time he has also served Twin Valley Parish as choirmaster, right from its foundation. The first winter they lived with Mr. Ole
Sannan and in the spring of 1881, they moved to their land in Section 31, Town of Fossum, where they still live. They have only one child, a son, born in Norway.
21-Ole K. Johnson was born in the fall of 1842 in Ramsey Co., Minn., where he lived with his parents until he was 24. He then left home to seek his own fortune and he went to Jackson Co., Minnesota, 1866, where he took a 1/4 section land on homestaed.. But he remained here just a year's time, after which he sold his rights and went to Freeborn Co., Minnesota. Here bought a farm and worked for about 10 years, after which he sold again and then went west. In the fall of 1881 he came to Ada, Minn., and in a short time he bought 160 acres in the Town of Fossum, where he still lives with his family.
22-Peter P. Kinseth. He left Trondhjem (Stjørdalen?) in the spring of 1871 and went to Goodhue Co., Minn., where he had family and friends. Here he stayed until the spring of 1881 when he came here to Norman Co. The 28th April the same year he took land on homestead in the Town of Fossum, where he still lives, not far from Faith.
23-Kristian P. Qual. He emigrated from Faaberg, Norway, 1867, to Goodhue Co., Minnesota. He remained there until 1882, when he went from Goodhue to Norman Co. to get a home for his family. He went to the Town of Fossum where he had previously bought a 1/4 section of land. He later sold this to his brothers, while he himself bought 80 acres of State land nearby, which is now his home.
24-Oluf Pederson. He was born in Sweden but came as a little boy to Kristiania, Norway. He left Kristiania on the 13th April 1882 and came to Ada, Norman Co., Minnesota, one day in May the same year, after which he went to Faith, where he got work with P. Sohler on the mill until it was finished. Later he bought 80 acres of land from Lars Norby – right by the mill, on which land he and his family live. He also drives the mail from Twin Valley and Faith.
25-Kristian Oleson left Norway in 1861 and on arrival in New York, he enlisted in the war and served there a full 4 years. When the war was over, he returned to New York but stayed there only a few weeks when he moved to Chicago, Ill., where he lived for 17 years. In 1882 he left Chicago to go west and find land. He took some land on homestead in the Town of Fossum, where he still lives with his family.
26-Amund G. Otternæs was born in Aurland Parish, Sogn, Norway in the year 1836. He emigrated from his home 1868 and came to Columbia Co., Wis., where he stayed for 3 years, After that he went to Goodhue Co., Minn., where he lived for about 4 years. He left Goodhue Co.., and came here to Norman Co. where he took a homestead in Section 34, Town of Fossum, where he still lives. In 1881 or 1882 hus wife died, with whom he had two children, a son and a daughter. The daughter several years ago married Arnt Thompson and lives in the Town of Flom. The son is sometimes home, sometimes with his sister. In 1883 he married again to Miss Ingeborg Lien, with whom he has 4 children.
27-Mons L. Stene. He was born the 8th of May 1869 in Aurlands parish, Sogn, Norway. He went to America the 2nd April 1882 and came to the Town of Flom the same year. He later bought 80 acres of land in the Town of Fossum, Section 35, where he still lives. In 1893 he married Mis Sønneva Prestegaard. They have two children of which one died young.
28-Peter Rindahl. He was born the 20th March 1847 on the Rindahl farm in Engan parish, Norway. As a 14-year old he left Norway with his parents and came to Madison, Wis.,1861. Here they remained for just a short time whereupon they went to Columbia Co. Wis., where they remained for 3 years. Froere they went to Goodhue Co., Minn. Here he was married in 1873. They lived here until 1876, then they moved to Dakota Co., Minn. where they lived until 1882, then in the spring they went northwest to find a new home. He then came to Norman Co., the Town of Fossum, where he had already bought a 1/4 section of land in Section 33, where he still lives. They have had 9 children all of whom are living home with their parents.
29-Carl S. Wroolie left Telemark, Norway in 1850 and came to faribault Co., Minn. Here he lived for about 32 years and came here to Norman Co., Minn. in 1882 and have remained mainly in the Town of Fossum and now the last years in Faith.
30-Elling R. Skilbred. He was born 22nd January 1852 in Bratsberg County, Norway. A little over 20 years old he married Else Marie, born on the Grønøen farm, 1856 (a sister to John Grønøen and Jens Morland) After their marriage they lived on the Juklum farm for a year. The 11th July 1882 they left Norway and emigrated to America.. On the 4th August they came to Norman Co., Minn., to their family, with whom they lived at first. In the spring of 1883, he bought 210 acres in the Town of Fossum, in Section 29. On the grounds of adversity and misfortune, partly with harvests and partly with livestock, he has twice sold off 80 acres. The first 80 acres now belongs to John Widme and the second 80 acres is now owned by L. Aamoth. They have had 8 children of which one doed in Norway.
31-Alenius Presteng emigrated from Trondhjem in 1866 and settled as a smith in Goodhue Co., Minn. He stayed there until 1878 when he moved up to Hawley, Minn. He lived here for just a year when he moved in1879 to the Town of Fossum where he bought a claim and took a 1/4 section of land om homestead in Section 31, where he bgan at his old trade as a smith. He was married in 1868 in Bang Church by Pastor B.J. Muus to Miss Hanna Gjervan. They have had 6 children of which 1 was born here. Alenius died in 1882 and is buried at Wild Rice Cemetery.
32-Gunhild Olson Ellingstuen emigrated from Nordre Froen, Norway in the summer of 1881 and came directly to the settlement. Right after she arrived she took 80 acres of land on homestead in Section 26 in the Town of Flom. She lived in recent years with her son, Peder, where she died on the 8th of November 1894 and is buried in St. Olaf Parish Cemetery at faith.
33-Ole Ellingstuen came here to the settlement with his mother in 1881 from Nordre Froen and settled on he land he now has in Section 36, Town of Fossum. He was married in 1887 and has 2 children.
34-Peder Ellingstuen, Ole’s brother came here N. Froen, Norway in 1880. Soon after he purchased land in Section 36, Town of Fossum, where he still lives. He lives alone since he is not married. Their sister is married to Elling H. Flom in the Town of Flom.
36-Knut Kleven was born the 16th February 1836 in Vaage Parish, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. The 28th February 1863 he was married to Miss Rønoug Pedersdatter, who was born the 14th July 1841. In the year 1866 they emigrated to America and came to Coon Valley, La Crosse Co., Wis. the same year. Here they lived until the fall of 1883 when they left Wisconsin for the west to find a new home. They decided in the end to settle in the Town of Fossum where they bought land in Section 35 and where they still live. Together they have had 7 children, of which 1 is dead. The 6 who live are 4 girls and 2 boys. The eldest daughter is married to Gilbert
Goodrich, the next eldest is also married and lives with her husband on one of Dakota’s big farms where her husband is foreman. The 2 unmarried daughters are at home. Their two sons, Peter and Melvin operate a store – General Merchandise- 6 miles in the Town of Flom.
37-Ole Løken left Sundal, Norway in 1863 and came here to Norman Co. the same year and settled in the Town of Fossum, where he worked about for other farmers at first. In 1889 he took land on homestead in the same Town, where he now lives.
38-Thore Løken from Sundal, Norway, came to America in 1884. He came here and took land in nearby his brother Ole in 1888, where he now lives.
39-G. Vigerson emigrated from Norway in 1861 an arrived in Iowa the same spring. Here he lived for 8 years, whereafter he went to Yellow Medicine Co., Minnesota, in 1869, where they stayed for 2 years and in 1871 they moved to Swift Co., Minnesota, where they lived for 10 years. In 1883 he moved to Norman Co., Minnesota, and took land in Town of Fossum.
40-Tollef Henrikson is born in Orfordville, Rock Co., Wis., where he lived until he was more than 20 years old. Then he left Wisconsin and went to Burlon, North Dakota, where his brother Henrik lived. Here he stayed for a while, wherupon he moved to Norman Co. Minnesota, - to Town of Fossum - in the fall of 1884. Here he lived on different places , depending on his work. Some years later he was married to the Maid Helene Goodrich, who had taken 1/4 section land on homestead and bought 40 acres close by Wild Rice River, where they by now have their home. They have no children.
41-Nils S. Aamoth. He left Nummedal in Norway in the year 1871 and arrived in Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where he lived about 4 years. He then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he lived some years. In the year of 1885 he came to Norman Co., Minn., and bought land on section 35 in Town of Fossum, where he still lives. He was married in Minneapolis to Miss Dahl, and they have had 6 children.
42-Lars Bjærknæs emigrated from Norway to South Dakota, where he stopped for a short time. He came here to Town of Fossum in 1885. In 1893 he bought Mr. Hosø who operated a store in Faith with N. Aamoth and A. Hanson.
43-Nicolai Hanson emigrated from Eidsvold, Norway, with his parents in 1882 and arrived to Sabin, Clay Co., Minnesota, where they lived for two years. In 1885 he came to Town of Fossum, where he homesteaded and lives here.
44-Ole D. Pederson left lower Sogndal, as child with his parents in 1861 and came to Columbia Co., Wisconsin. Here they lived until 1864 when they moved to Goodhue Co., Minnesota. Here he lived with his parents in 23 years. In 1887 he left Goodhue Co. and came here to Town of Fossum, where he got 80 acres land after his deceased brother and lives there with his family.
45-Edvard Pederson was born in Boston, Wisconsin, in 1861. His parents moved from Wisconsin, when he was 1 year old, and settled in Goodhue Co., Minn. Here they lived in 28 years but then they moved to Norman Co. and arrived in Town of Fossum April 23rd 1891 where he bought land and by now lives with his wife. They have no children.
46-John A. Widme left Sogndal, Norway, in the year 1875 and came to Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where he lived for 7 years. Then he moved to Pembina Co., North Dakota, where he took land and lived for 9 years. In 1890 he left Dakota and arrived her in Norman Co., Minn. Here he at first worked as a renter of a farm in Town of Wild Rice. In 1894 he bought 80 acres land on section 20 in Town of Fossum, where he and his family now are living.
47-Andreas Pedersen Grande was born in The Ytterøen parish, Trondhjem County, Norway in 1837. He emigrated from Trondhjem the 3rd of May 1865 and came to La Crosse, Wis. Here he stayed for some weeks, and then he went to Bostwick Valley, Wisconsin, where he also stayed for a short time, wherafter he went to La Crosse. Here he was employed by an old german by the name Graham. The work consisted in travelling with a freighter up and down the Root River, transporting firewood, wheat and whatsoever down to La Crosse or other cities by the Mississippi. The life on this journeys was ups and downs, sun and rain; some times food more than needed, but also times when there was little to eat, and that was forgiven. While Mr. Graham was a very kind Man, he liked very much to stay with him. But it was Grahams bankruptcy in the fall of 1865 which made him leave the service. In the spring of '66 he was married by pastor Frich in La Crosse, from where he with his young wife went to Houston Co., Minnesota, where he bought 40 acres land. Here they lived until 1879 when he sold the land and moved to Fillmore Co., Minn. Here they stayed for one year only, and moved in 1871 to Lake Park, Minn., where he took 1/4 section land on pre-emption a few miles from the town. Here they lived some years and moved then up here to Town of Fossum, where he took land on Homestead on section 20. At the same time he also bought 1/4 section railway land on section 31, where he still lives. They have had 6 children together, 5 boys and 1 girl. At home now is only the youngest boy, the other boys are in Dakota, and the daughter at present is south by Lake Park
48-Faith. A german by the name H. Sohler builded the flour- and sawmill in the summer of 1882, about 2 miles west of the White Earth Indian Reservation. A bit later that summer came another german, H. W. Harman, and builded a little store and started to deal with General Merchandise, which he continued until 1885, when he sold to Nils Aamoth and Andrew Hanson. The miller H. Sohler operated the mill for about 4 years, whereupon he sold the mill and other things to two other germans, Ohm & Hoss. They operated the mill about 4 years, whereafter Ohm sold his part to Aamoth & Hanson. During the winter '93 Hoss sold his part to Lars Bjærknæs. The company then was called Aamoth, Hanson & Bjærknæs. They made great changes with the mill, when they installed complete Roller- Machinery. But during the winter the whole mill with all its content of machinery, wheat and flour. Because there was no insurance neither of the mill nor the equipment, the company sustained heavy losses. Soon after the Mill burned down, N. Aamoth sold his part of the business to Ole Fredriksen from Ada, Minnesota. The company now was called A. J. Hanson & Co. The last year they have increased the business not a little by purchasing pine logs from the Reservation and convert it to main lumber of all kinds. The flour mill was reopened in the summer '93, and that in much better conditions than before.
49-Gilbert Goodrich was born in Town of Rushford, Fillmore Co., Minn., October 31st 1856. Here he lived with his parents to 1869 when he moved to Lake Park, Minnesota, and lived there for a while. In 1877 he left Lake Park and went to Norman Co., Minn., where he took Homestead land on Section 24, where he still lives. November 27th 1887 he was married to the maid Mathea Kleven. Mr Goodrich has 3 children. He operates the farm and does carpenting as handicraft.
50-Iver R. Braget was born 29th Dec. 1850 in North Froen, the Gudbrandsdalen valley, Norway. Here he in 1876 was married to the maid Guri Østensdatter. They left Norway in the spring '84 and went to America to find a better home. At first they came to Lake Park, but soon they went to Norman Co., Minn., but because all the land was occupied, he had to work as common worker untill he was able to buy a little piece of land. On the section 36 in Town of Fossum he now has made a nice home where he lives with wife and some children.
Translated by Håkon Skaugvoll and Olaf Kringhaug.
From the book "Nogle Optegnelser om Settling m.m. indenfor de fire Towns Fossum, Wild Rice, Home Lake og Flom i Norman County, Minn".
Collected by R. Grutle, Lars Aamoth, John Narum, O.S. Bently and John Hommelvig.
Permission needed to publish.
2-Hans P. Aamoth born in Lands Prestegjeld in Norway on the 5th of November 1820 but living most of his youth in Faaberg. In the spring of 1871 he emigrated with his family which consisted of his wife, and his 4 youngest children, as the 3 oldest had gone to America before and stayed for a while in in Rock County in Wisconsin where they had family and acquaintances and where their son Lars also was. In the spring of 1872 he moved with his family west to Zumbrota, Goodhue County in Minnesota, where their daughter Agnethe who was married to Johannes P. Lien.
Johannes P. Lien, his old father, together with Mrs. Lars H. Aamoth joined them and went west to find a home. They travelled by land west to Audubon, Becker Co., Minn. where they met their eldest sons Peter and Lars. They then travelled further together with their sons to the town of Fossum, where their sons Peter and Lars had earlier in the spring taken land.They came here the 3rd July, '72. Hans Aamoth bought some railroad land where he lived some years. Later he took a 1/4 section on homestead, where he lived until his wife died. She was born the 28th November 1820 and died the 24th July 1889 and is buried at St. Olaf Cemetery at Faith. After his wife's death he lived a bit with each of his sons until he died the 11th April 1895 at his son Ingvald's home in the City of Twin Valley. He was buried by his wife's side in St. Olaf Parish Cemetery. They have had 7 children, of whom 6 live, all in the Town of Fossum while the youngest son, Ingvald lives in Twin Valley. They are:
2.a-Peter H. Aamoth. He left Lillehammer, Norway in the spring of 1870 and came to Rock Prairie, Wisconsin where he remained with relatives for a year. Then he travelled west in the spring of 1871 to Minnesota and stopped in Becker County where he also took land. In the Spring of 1872 he sold his Improvement there and with his brother Lars he went to Wild Rice and took land in Fossum Township, where he still lives. In the Winter of 1878 he married Miss Lila Olson, daughter of Peter Olson Skægrud. They have 7 born and all are living.
2.b-Lars H. Aamoth was born at the Aamoth Farm on the 10th of March 1850 in Lands Prestegjeld, Norway. Eight years old he moved with his parents to Faaberg, where his father had bought the farm Lien Nordre, 1 Mil from Lillehammer ( 1 Norwegian Mil is 10.000 meter = 6 miles á 1682 meter) In the Spring of 1868 he travelled with his sister Agnethe, who was married to Johannes P. Lien, to America. They went with a sailing vessel, and the trip lasted 10 weeks before they arrived in America. They came to Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, in August of that year and stayed there with relatives, who had been there for several years. He stayed there until the fall 1871, then he went to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where his sister and brother had gone earlier. In the beginning of April 1872 he went by the railroad westwards to find a home of his own. He first made a stop at Oak Lake, Becker Co., Minnesota, where his brother Peter the year before took land. After a while he went with his brother Peter, who had sold his Improvement by this time, and Andrew Hanson and Jens Urdahl, to Wild Rice River, Norman Co., (at that time Polk Co.,) The three first mentioned took each one 1/4 Section land in Fossum Township, and Jens Urdahl took land in Flom Township. On this land, which he took in 1872, he has been living all the time since. On September 24th, 1872 he was married in Zumbrota Church by Pastor Nils Ulvisaker with the maid Ingeborg Christoffersdatter from Rock Prairie, Wisonsin. They had 10 children together, of which 2 are dead while they were little. Their two oldest daughters Clara and Thilda are married to the brothers Heregaard and are living near Orfordville, Rock Co., Wis. Most of the other children are at home.
2.c-Hans H. Aamoth came with his family over from Norway and bought land in Section 27 of Fossum Township in Minnesota, where he still lives. He is married to the daughter of Erik Ovaldson, Mina, in the Fall of 1891 and has 2 children born, whereof 1 has died.
2.d-Nils H. Aamoth came too with his parents to this place, and stayed with his father until he in 1885 bought a General Store in Faith from H.W. Hermand, together with A. Hanson. After some years they also bought the mill, so he operated both the store and the mill. In 1894 he sold his part of the store and the mill and moved to his father’s farm, which he had owned in some years, and where he still lives. He was married to Lina, daughter of Hans Ovaldson from Goodhue Co., Minn., in 1890 and at the present has two children.
2-E-Ingvald H. Aamoth lived in Twin Valley in the Township of Wild Rice.
2-F-Hans’ daughter Agnethe was married to Johannes P. Lien and lived in Fossum.
2-G-Hans’ daughter Oline was married to Andrew Hanson and lived at Faith.
3-John Jenson Grønøen was born the 28th of September 1849 on the Grønøen farm in Drangedal parish, lower Telemark, Norway. As a 21 year old boy he left Norway with his brother Jens in the spring of 1870 and went to America to find himself a home. Their brother Jørgen had gone ahead the year before. They met their brother in Leland Minn., and remained there until the next summer, when they went west to Rice Co. Minn. In the spring of 1872 they went further west in the company of Hakon Benson and wife. They were each equipped with a pair of oxen and went west by land. In three weeks time and many troubles they arrived at Norman
Co., where they all took land in the Town of Fossum. On the 28th of September 1872 John Grønøen was married to the Miss Amalia Larson, who the spring previously had come to the settlement together withher parents. They had 8 children, of whom one is dead. The others are at home and help their parents in operating the large farm. John Grønøen and Amalia Larson were the first to be married here in the settlement. The marriage was conducted in the Grønøen’s own house by Pastor K. Bjørgo, who at the same time held services here. At this service were the first children baptized in the congregation, namely Henry L. Aamoth, Karen Hanson and Nils J. Nelson.
4-Jens J. Mørland left Drangedal parish, Norway in the company of his brother John Grønøen. He also came to the settlement with his brother and took 1/4 section on homestead, which he has had as his home ever since. He lived alone on his farm right until the spring of 1884 when on the 27th of March, he married the Miss Elise Dalbu. They had 5 children but one died when it was little.
5-Hakon Benson was born the 15th August 1844 at Fossum Ironworks at østre Bærum, Norway. As a 20 year old boy he left Norway in the spring of 1864 and came to Chatfield, Fillmore Co., Minn. After he had stayed there for a while, he went to Faribault, Rice Co., Minn., where he worked until the fall of ’65, then he went to Olmsted Co. where he remained for 1* years. In March ’67 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he stayed for a short time, and after went to Wisconsin and worked in the woods, also on the Mississippi River right until the fall of 1871. He then went to Faribault again. On the 14th of February 1872 he was married to the Miss Oliana Sander. The same year they prepared to travel west to find their own home. On the 22nd of May they left Faribault with a pair of oxen and a cow.
After 3 weeks on the way they came here to the settlement on the 14th of June 1872, and in the Town of Fossum they took 80 acres of land on homestead. A year later he bought the rights from his neighbour, Jørgen Grønøen, to 80 acres that he then put to a homestead with the first. This has been his home ever since. They had 12 children of which 2 died when they were small. Their first daughter, Mina Gustave, that was born the 30th of may 1875, died in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the 26th of January 1891. She had gone there for work but became sick and died without her parents knowing about it until she was already dead. Their oldest child Bernt Otto was born the 20th of December 1872, the first white child born in Fossum, perhaps the settlement.
6-Andrew J. Hanson. He left Modum, Norway, the 10th of August 1869 and came to Rice Co., Wis. Where he remained for only a short time, then went to Brown Co., Wis. In the spring of 1871 he came to Beder Co., Minn. where he took a 1/4 section land near the City of Audubon. After a short time he sold it to the railroad company. In the spring of 1872 he accompanied, as previously mentioned, Lars and Peter Aamoth and went to Wild Rice and took 1/4 section of land in the Town of Fossum. Here he erected a little shanty and ran a little grocery store until the spring of ’73. This was the first store in the settlement. Later in the spring of ’73 he moved to the Town of Flom, where he again took land and ran the same business for several years. In the spring of 1883 he moved back to Fossum, where he bought a 1/4 section of land, which he still owns. But he does not live on the farm, since he several years ago moved to Faith where, with L. Bjerknæs and O. Fredrikson, he runs a general store, grist mill and recently a saw mill.
7-Johannes Pederson Lien left Faaberg, Norway in 1868. As was usual at that time he went by sailing ship and it took a full 16 weeks before he came to his destination, Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. Here he stayed until the fall of that year, when he went to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., where they had relatives. Here they lived until the spring of 1872 when they went west, as previously told, and came here to the town of Fossum the 3rd of July 1872. He lived the first year with his parents-in-law, Hans P. Aamoth, since he was married to his eldest daughter. Later he took a 1/4 section of land nearby, where they have since lived and still have their home. They have had 9 children, 3 girls and 6 boys. In 1889 the Lord sent them a heavy trial when he took from them 3 of their grown children, namely: Ingeborg Augusta, born 27th September 1871 and died 3rd November 1889, Johan Albert, born 9th October 1876 and died 22nd August 1889 and Anne Marie, born 23rd November 1873 and died 1st February 1890. The other children are at home except the eldest son, Peter, who was been married and for several years has worked on Ingvald H. Aamoth’s farm, which was old Hans Aamoth’s first home here.
8-Ole Ingebrigtson Quit. He was born in the fall of 1832 in Aurland parish, Sogn, Norway. In the spring of 1869 he left his home to go to America. He settled at Bonnet Prairie, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1870 he was married to the Miss Ragnilde Ingebrigtsdatter. They then moved to Black Hammer, Houston Co., Minnesota, where they stayed for 3 years. In the spring of 1873 they went west, came here and took a 1/4 section of land in Fossum, where they have lived ever since. They had 3 children but one died when it was little.
9-Ole Nilson Kragerø. He left lower Telemark, Norway, in the spring of 1866 and came to Winneshiek Co., Iowa, where he lived for 6 years. Afterwards he went to Jackson Co., Iowa, where he remained for about 4 years. In the summer of 1877 he left Iowa and came here, where he took a 1/4 section of land in the town of Fossum, where he still lives. His first wife was Ingeborg Melaas. She died December 1886 and is buried at Wild Rice Cemetery. In the summer or fall of 1867 he remarried to the widow Mrs. Anne Kaardahl, who a few years before had moved here to the settlement from Dakota. With his first wife he had 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls, who
are all at home. With his second wife he has one child.
10-Peter P. Qual. He left Faaberg, Norway for America in the spring of 1871 and came to Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, where he worked through the summer. Later that fall he came to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minn. He remained there until the spring of 1879 when he moved west and came here to the Town of Fossum, where he bought a 1/4 section of land and where he and his family still live.
11-Louis P. Qual was born in Faaberg, Norway in the year 1852. In the spring of 1870 he left his home and came here to America. He came first to Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minnesota where he had a brother, Kristian. He stayed here for a while and then in the woods in Wisconsin until he, with his brother Peter came here in the summer of 1878. A couple of years later he married Miss Martha Urdahl, who had a 1/4 section of land in Home Lake where he lived several years. He then sold the farm and bought 80 acres in Fossum, where he continues to live. Together they had 6 children, of which one died in a young age.
12- Olaus Norby. He left Norway in 1871 and came to Fillmore County in Minnesota. After some years he moved to Goodhue County in Minnesota, where he lived till the spring of 1879, when he together with Hans Tokerud went to vesten to find himself a home. He came here to Town of Fossum on March 8th and took 1/4 section of land on homestead close by Wild Rice River. On this land of his he had a good waterfall for a mill, which he some years latersold to a german, Mr. Sohler. He constructed by this waterfall a grinding mill and saw-mill. This was named Faith Millafter the Post Office which was established there shortly afterwards, and that was to large benefits for the people in the settlement, while earlier the mill was far away. Some years later he sold the rest of the farm to a german, Mr. Ohms, who in 4 years brought the post between Ada and Faith. At the same time he bought another farm a bit more to the south, where he still lives. He was married in Goodhue Co., Minn., to the maid Maren Ovaldson, before they came here, and together they have had 7 children.
13-Ole M. Dalby. He left Faaberg by Lillehammer, Norway, with his parents in 1879, and came to Black Earth, Wisconsin, where he the first year stayed with an uncle. In the spring of 1880 they went westwards to Audubon, Becker County in Minnesota, where his brother lived. After a week by his brother, he and his father went to town of Fossum, where his father took a 1/4 section Land on homestead in the vicinity of Johannes P. Lien. On this land he has been living all the time.His mother died years ago and is buried cemetary of Wild Rice congregation. His old father, Mikel, still lives and is hale and healthy although he is more than 70 years old. Ole Dalby was married in this settlement in the 1880's and has 3 children.
14-Anton Johnson Enger came as young boy from Toten, Norway, to Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where he for many years worked as clerk in a store on Wastedo. Later he established his own store in Dell, Olmsted County in Minnesota. Then he sold the store and went back to Norway again. In the spring of 1879 he came back to America, and came to this settlement where he in the fall of 1879 established a general store business in a small log house owned by Knut Larson, and erected on the land now owned by Sjur Stundahl in Town of Flom. On this place he carried on to the summer 1880 when he established a store in section 30 of Fossum, where Fossum Post Office came. Here he run a large and profitable business until 1890, when he sold to L. J. Morland, who still runs the business. Mr. Anton Johnson later went back to Norway, came back to America in 189l or 1892, but at present is home in Norway again.
15-Ole S. Bentley is born in Næs, Hallingdal, Norway, on February 2nd 1850. With his parents he left Norway in the spring of 1885. Arrived at Winneshiek Co., Iowa the same year where his parents had bought land. He remained with his parents until 1867, when he went to Decorah, Iowa and where he attended high school until the spring of 1868. He then took a position as a salesclerk with the firm, Olson and Thompson. He was with that firm until the fall of ’71. On the 26th of March that year he married Miss Anne Bergite
Bergerson. When in the fall of ’71 he quit the firm of Olson and Thompson, he got a position with the firm of Dusjin and Gaston. He was with them until the spring of 1874 when he moved to Northwood, Iowa, where he served as a clerk for 3 years and Deputy Postmaster for about 2 1/2 years. In the spring of ’79 he got a month’s holiday from the Post Office and made a trip to Wild Rice, Norman Co., Minnesota to visit his in-laws. On this trip he came to the conclusion he should take advantage of his homestead right and took land. In October of that year he sent his family to Wild Rice while he himself remained another three months with the Post Office in Northwood. Between Christmas and New Year’s he went west and came to Ada, Minn. On the morning of January 1st, 1880 he went on foot and arrived in the evening at Søren Bergerson’s in Wild Rice, where his family was. He took a 1/4 section of land in the spring of that year in the Town of Fossum, on Section 30, where he still lives. Almost all the time since he came here to Fossum he has held one or another public office in the Town such as Judge, Justice of the Peace; he has also been Clerk of School District 41 since it was organized in ’83. His children number 10, 5 boys and 5 girls. Of them, 2 were born in Decorah, 2 in Northwood and 6 in Fossum.
16-Martin Qual left Faaberg, Norway accompanied by his aged mother in the spring of 1872 to go to America and find his people who had left before and lived in Zumbrota, Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where they also went. They lived here until the spring of ’80 when they went west to find a home. He came here to the Town of Fossum where he bought an Improvement on a homestead. Later he bought a 1/4 section of railroad land, where he now lives with his aged mother.
17-T. Iverson. He left Telemark, Norway in the spring of 1861 and came to Koshkonong, Wisconsin, and stayed there for a couple of years after which he went to Waseca Co., Minnesota, in ’63. He stayed here all the time until the spring of ’80 when, with his family and brothers, Ole, Lars and Nils Amundson, they moved west to find homes for themselves. They came then to the Town of Fossum, where he took a 1/4 section of forest land in the Town of Fossum, near Faith, where he still lives with his family. In addition to
running his farm, he has been a teacher and chorister with St. Olaf Parish at faith, served by Pastor A. Lien of the Norwegian Synod. \par 18-Ole O. Jenssveen left Faaberg in Norway in the spring of 1855 to try his luck in America. He arrived at Rock Prairie, Wisc., the 3rd of July 1855. Here he stayed as a farm worker for the farmers until the fall of 1861, when he left Wisconsin and went to Zumbrota, Minn. His sister lived here and with her he had his home when he was not away for work. Here he was married to the maid Elise and he took on a farm on shares, which they worked for some years. In the spring of 1880, he moved with his family to the west and arrived on the 15th of May in the Town of Fossum. Here he bought first a 1/4 section of land in Section 33, later he also got his
father’s homestead which lay right next to his land. And here he has lived since. They have 6 children, 2 are married and the others are at home.
19-Aadne K. Fjeld was born in Telemarken, Norway. In the spring of 1852 he came to America and stoped first at Freeborn Co., Minnesota. When the war broke out between the North and the South, he went immediately into the field and remained until the end of the war. Later he returned to Freeborn Co., Minn., where he lived until the spring of 1880 when with his family, he moved west and came here to the settlement where he took land in the Town of Fossum and where he has lived since. His 2 sons, Knud and John are married and with their families live on land near their father, not far from Faith.
20-R. Grutle was born in Finaas Parish in Bergen Diocese, 1st July 1854.In the fall of 1870 he entered Kopervig Teacher’s Seminary from which he graduated in the fall of 1872. Right after, on the 8th of December, he began at a school in Jælse (Jelsa), 40 km out of Stavanger, where he remained for 4 years. On the 28th of May 1875 at Jælse, he married Miss Martha Ellingsdatter. In the beginning of October 1876 they left Jælse and drew to American after he had been hired by Pastor Nils Hvisaker as a teacher and choirmaster for the Minnesota Congregation, Goodhue County, Minnesota. On the 31st October they came to Lands Parish near Zumbrota and in a week’s time he began his duties for Minnesota Congregation. Here he remained for 4 years but since land was so expensive here that there was no opportunity to get his own home, they decided to move west to find a home. Through contact with Mr. Even Narum
he began to exchange letters with Pastor Sagen, who then was the minister for Wild Rice Parish and the result was that he was called by Wild Rice Parish to be teacher and choirmaster, which call he accepted. In the fall of 1880 he moved west and on the 8th of November he came to Mr. Ole Kallerud. Soon after he came here he began his duties in the parish, which duties he still continues. At the same time he has also served Twin Valley Parish as choirmaster, right from its foundation. The first winter they lived with Mr. Ole
Sannan and in the spring of 1881, they moved to their land in Section 31, Town of Fossum, where they still live. They have only one child, a son, born in Norway.
21-Ole K. Johnson was born in the fall of 1842 in Ramsey Co., Minn., where he lived with his parents until he was 24. He then left home to seek his own fortune and he went to Jackson Co., Minnesota, 1866, where he took a 1/4 section land on homestaed.. But he remained here just a year's time, after which he sold his rights and went to Freeborn Co., Minnesota. Here bought a farm and worked for about 10 years, after which he sold again and then went west. In the fall of 1881 he came to Ada, Minn., and in a short time he bought 160 acres in the Town of Fossum, where he still lives with his family.
22-Peter P. Kinseth. He left Trondhjem (Stjørdalen?) in the spring of 1871 and went to Goodhue Co., Minn., where he had family and friends. Here he stayed until the spring of 1881 when he came here to Norman Co. The 28th April the same year he took land on homestead in the Town of Fossum, where he still lives, not far from Faith.
23-Kristian P. Qual. He emigrated from Faaberg, Norway, 1867, to Goodhue Co., Minnesota. He remained there until 1882, when he went from Goodhue to Norman Co. to get a home for his family. He went to the Town of Fossum where he had previously bought a 1/4 section of land. He later sold this to his brothers, while he himself bought 80 acres of State land nearby, which is now his home.
24-Oluf Pederson. He was born in Sweden but came as a little boy to Kristiania, Norway. He left Kristiania on the 13th April 1882 and came to Ada, Norman Co., Minnesota, one day in May the same year, after which he went to Faith, where he got work with P. Sohler on the mill until it was finished. Later he bought 80 acres of land from Lars Norby – right by the mill, on which land he and his family live. He also drives the mail from Twin Valley and Faith.
25-Kristian Oleson left Norway in 1861 and on arrival in New York, he enlisted in the war and served there a full 4 years. When the war was over, he returned to New York but stayed there only a few weeks when he moved to Chicago, Ill., where he lived for 17 years. In 1882 he left Chicago to go west and find land. He took some land on homestead in the Town of Fossum, where he still lives with his family.
26-Amund G. Otternæs was born in Aurland Parish, Sogn, Norway in the year 1836. He emigrated from his home 1868 and came to Columbia Co., Wis., where he stayed for 3 years, After that he went to Goodhue Co., Minn., where he lived for about 4 years. He left Goodhue Co.., and came here to Norman Co. where he took a homestead in Section 34, Town of Fossum, where he still lives. In 1881 or 1882 hus wife died, with whom he had two children, a son and a daughter. The daughter several years ago married Arnt Thompson and lives in the Town of Flom. The son is sometimes home, sometimes with his sister. In 1883 he married again to Miss Ingeborg Lien, with whom he has 4 children.
27-Mons L. Stene. He was born the 8th of May 1869 in Aurlands parish, Sogn, Norway. He went to America the 2nd April 1882 and came to the Town of Flom the same year. He later bought 80 acres of land in the Town of Fossum, Section 35, where he still lives. In 1893 he married Mis Sønneva Prestegaard. They have two children of which one died young.
28-Peter Rindahl. He was born the 20th March 1847 on the Rindahl farm in Engan parish, Norway. As a 14-year old he left Norway with his parents and came to Madison, Wis.,1861. Here they remained for just a short time whereupon they went to Columbia Co. Wis., where they remained for 3 years. Froere they went to Goodhue Co., Minn. Here he was married in 1873. They lived here until 1876, then they moved to Dakota Co., Minn. where they lived until 1882, then in the spring they went northwest to find a new home. He then came to Norman Co., the Town of Fossum, where he had already bought a 1/4 section of land in Section 33, where he still lives. They have had 9 children all of whom are living home with their parents.
29-Carl S. Wroolie left Telemark, Norway in 1850 and came to faribault Co., Minn. Here he lived for about 32 years and came here to Norman Co., Minn. in 1882 and have remained mainly in the Town of Fossum and now the last years in Faith.
30-Elling R. Skilbred. He was born 22nd January 1852 in Bratsberg County, Norway. A little over 20 years old he married Else Marie, born on the Grønøen farm, 1856 (a sister to John Grønøen and Jens Morland) After their marriage they lived on the Juklum farm for a year. The 11th July 1882 they left Norway and emigrated to America.. On the 4th August they came to Norman Co., Minn., to their family, with whom they lived at first. In the spring of 1883, he bought 210 acres in the Town of Fossum, in Section 29. On the grounds of adversity and misfortune, partly with harvests and partly with livestock, he has twice sold off 80 acres. The first 80 acres now belongs to John Widme and the second 80 acres is now owned by L. Aamoth. They have had 8 children of which one doed in Norway.
31-Alenius Presteng emigrated from Trondhjem in 1866 and settled as a smith in Goodhue Co., Minn. He stayed there until 1878 when he moved up to Hawley, Minn. He lived here for just a year when he moved in1879 to the Town of Fossum where he bought a claim and took a 1/4 section of land om homestead in Section 31, where he bgan at his old trade as a smith. He was married in 1868 in Bang Church by Pastor B.J. Muus to Miss Hanna Gjervan. They have had 6 children of which 1 was born here. Alenius died in 1882 and is buried at Wild Rice Cemetery.
32-Gunhild Olson Ellingstuen emigrated from Nordre Froen, Norway in the summer of 1881 and came directly to the settlement. Right after she arrived she took 80 acres of land on homestead in Section 26 in the Town of Flom. She lived in recent years with her son, Peder, where she died on the 8th of November 1894 and is buried in St. Olaf Parish Cemetery at faith.
33-Ole Ellingstuen came here to the settlement with his mother in 1881 from Nordre Froen and settled on he land he now has in Section 36, Town of Fossum. He was married in 1887 and has 2 children.
34-Peder Ellingstuen, Ole’s brother came here N. Froen, Norway in 1880. Soon after he purchased land in Section 36, Town of Fossum, where he still lives. He lives alone since he is not married. Their sister is married to Elling H. Flom in the Town of Flom.
36-Knut Kleven was born the 16th February 1836 in Vaage Parish, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. The 28th February 1863 he was married to Miss Rønoug Pedersdatter, who was born the 14th July 1841. In the year 1866 they emigrated to America and came to Coon Valley, La Crosse Co., Wis. the same year. Here they lived until the fall of 1883 when they left Wisconsin for the west to find a new home. They decided in the end to settle in the Town of Fossum where they bought land in Section 35 and where they still live. Together they have had 7 children, of which 1 is dead. The 6 who live are 4 girls and 2 boys. The eldest daughter is married to Gilbert
Goodrich, the next eldest is also married and lives with her husband on one of Dakota’s big farms where her husband is foreman. The 2 unmarried daughters are at home. Their two sons, Peter and Melvin operate a store – General Merchandise- 6 miles in the Town of Flom.
37-Ole Løken left Sundal, Norway in 1863 and came here to Norman Co. the same year and settled in the Town of Fossum, where he worked about for other farmers at first. In 1889 he took land on homestead in the same Town, where he now lives.
38-Thore Løken from Sundal, Norway, came to America in 1884. He came here and took land in nearby his brother Ole in 1888, where he now lives.
39-G. Vigerson emigrated from Norway in 1861 an arrived in Iowa the same spring. Here he lived for 8 years, whereafter he went to Yellow Medicine Co., Minnesota, in 1869, where they stayed for 2 years and in 1871 they moved to Swift Co., Minnesota, where they lived for 10 years. In 1883 he moved to Norman Co., Minnesota, and took land in Town of Fossum.
40-Tollef Henrikson is born in Orfordville, Rock Co., Wis., where he lived until he was more than 20 years old. Then he left Wisconsin and went to Burlon, North Dakota, where his brother Henrik lived. Here he stayed for a while, wherupon he moved to Norman Co. Minnesota, - to Town of Fossum - in the fall of 1884. Here he lived on different places , depending on his work. Some years later he was married to the Maid Helene Goodrich, who had taken 1/4 section land on homestead and bought 40 acres close by Wild Rice River, where they by now have their home. They have no children.
41-Nils S. Aamoth. He left Nummedal in Norway in the year 1871 and arrived in Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where he lived about 4 years. He then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he lived some years. In the year of 1885 he came to Norman Co., Minn., and bought land on section 35 in Town of Fossum, where he still lives. He was married in Minneapolis to Miss Dahl, and they have had 6 children.
42-Lars Bjærknæs emigrated from Norway to South Dakota, where he stopped for a short time. He came here to Town of Fossum in 1885. In 1893 he bought Mr. Hosø who operated a store in Faith with N. Aamoth and A. Hanson.
43-Nicolai Hanson emigrated from Eidsvold, Norway, with his parents in 1882 and arrived to Sabin, Clay Co., Minnesota, where they lived for two years. In 1885 he came to Town of Fossum, where he homesteaded and lives here.
44-Ole D. Pederson left lower Sogndal, as child with his parents in 1861 and came to Columbia Co., Wisconsin. Here they lived until 1864 when they moved to Goodhue Co., Minnesota. Here he lived with his parents in 23 years. In 1887 he left Goodhue Co. and came here to Town of Fossum, where he got 80 acres land after his deceased brother and lives there with his family.
45-Edvard Pederson was born in Boston, Wisconsin, in 1861. His parents moved from Wisconsin, when he was 1 year old, and settled in Goodhue Co., Minn. Here they lived in 28 years but then they moved to Norman Co. and arrived in Town of Fossum April 23rd 1891 where he bought land and by now lives with his wife. They have no children.
46-John A. Widme left Sogndal, Norway, in the year 1875 and came to Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where he lived for 7 years. Then he moved to Pembina Co., North Dakota, where he took land and lived for 9 years. In 1890 he left Dakota and arrived her in Norman Co., Minn. Here he at first worked as a renter of a farm in Town of Wild Rice. In 1894 he bought 80 acres land on section 20 in Town of Fossum, where he and his family now are living.
47-Andreas Pedersen Grande was born in The Ytterøen parish, Trondhjem County, Norway in 1837. He emigrated from Trondhjem the 3rd of May 1865 and came to La Crosse, Wis. Here he stayed for some weeks, and then he went to Bostwick Valley, Wisconsin, where he also stayed for a short time, wherafter he went to La Crosse. Here he was employed by an old german by the name Graham. The work consisted in travelling with a freighter up and down the Root River, transporting firewood, wheat and whatsoever down to La Crosse or other cities by the Mississippi. The life on this journeys was ups and downs, sun and rain; some times food more than needed, but also times when there was little to eat, and that was forgiven. While Mr. Graham was a very kind Man, he liked very much to stay with him. But it was Grahams bankruptcy in the fall of 1865 which made him leave the service. In the spring of '66 he was married by pastor Frich in La Crosse, from where he with his young wife went to Houston Co., Minnesota, where he bought 40 acres land. Here they lived until 1879 when he sold the land and moved to Fillmore Co., Minn. Here they stayed for one year only, and moved in 1871 to Lake Park, Minn., where he took 1/4 section land on pre-emption a few miles from the town. Here they lived some years and moved then up here to Town of Fossum, where he took land on Homestead on section 20. At the same time he also bought 1/4 section railway land on section 31, where he still lives. They have had 6 children together, 5 boys and 1 girl. At home now is only the youngest boy, the other boys are in Dakota, and the daughter at present is south by Lake Park
48-Faith. A german by the name H. Sohler builded the flour- and sawmill in the summer of 1882, about 2 miles west of the White Earth Indian Reservation. A bit later that summer came another german, H. W. Harman, and builded a little store and started to deal with General Merchandise, which he continued until 1885, when he sold to Nils Aamoth and Andrew Hanson. The miller H. Sohler operated the mill for about 4 years, whereupon he sold the mill and other things to two other germans, Ohm & Hoss. They operated the mill about 4 years, whereafter Ohm sold his part to Aamoth & Hanson. During the winter '93 Hoss sold his part to Lars Bjærknæs. The company then was called Aamoth, Hanson & Bjærknæs. They made great changes with the mill, when they installed complete Roller- Machinery. But during the winter the whole mill with all its content of machinery, wheat and flour. Because there was no insurance neither of the mill nor the equipment, the company sustained heavy losses. Soon after the Mill burned down, N. Aamoth sold his part of the business to Ole Fredriksen from Ada, Minnesota. The company now was called A. J. Hanson & Co. The last year they have increased the business not a little by purchasing pine logs from the Reservation and convert it to main lumber of all kinds. The flour mill was reopened in the summer '93, and that in much better conditions than before.
49-Gilbert Goodrich was born in Town of Rushford, Fillmore Co., Minn., October 31st 1856. Here he lived with his parents to 1869 when he moved to Lake Park, Minnesota, and lived there for a while. In 1877 he left Lake Park and went to Norman Co., Minn., where he took Homestead land on Section 24, where he still lives. November 27th 1887 he was married to the maid Mathea Kleven. Mr Goodrich has 3 children. He operates the farm and does carpenting as handicraft.
50-Iver R. Braget was born 29th Dec. 1850 in North Froen, the Gudbrandsdalen valley, Norway. Here he in 1876 was married to the maid Guri Østensdatter. They left Norway in the spring '84 and went to America to find a better home. At first they came to Lake Park, but soon they went to Norman Co., Minn., but because all the land was occupied, he had to work as common worker untill he was able to buy a little piece of land. On the section 36 in Town of Fossum he now has made a nice home where he lives with wife and some children.
Translated by Håkon Skaugvoll and Olaf Kringhaug.
From the book "Nogle Optegnelser om Settling m.m. indenfor de fire Towns Fossum, Wild Rice, Home Lake og Flom i Norman County, Minn".
Collected by R. Grutle, Lars Aamoth, John Narum, O.S. Bently and John Hommelvig.
Permission needed to publish.
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