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.