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.