Early Settlers in Flom Township
The pages of American History are alive with the deeds of people who
became famous and made the headlines and thrived on national glory and
public honor. But the real down to earth, honest to God history was
scrawled with the blood and sweat in rugged wilderness by courageous,
rawboned pioneers who with simple tools overcame impossible natural
obstacles. These people fashioned their sturdy homes of log or sod,
built the churches and the schools raised their families with honor and
dignity. Many of those pioneers were immigrants who left their homes in
the Old Country to carve a new life for themselves in a strange and
often hostile land. Thus it was with the Scandinavians who settled in
Flom Township, during the 1870 to the 1890’s. They came to America in
great numbers and their reasons for leaving their homes was varied, but
mainly it was to get for themselves a new life. They were attracted by
the stories of success by people who went before them. In America they
could have free land. A homestead of 160 acres just for living on it
for five years, building a cabin and proving up the claim. Truly here
in America they could be a (stor bonde) big farmer.
Let us trace their route from Scandinavia to America. They either
traveled by sailing vessel or steamship. Most of those who came after
1880 came by steamer. It was faster and safer. It could take as long as
6 weeks to come by sail, but by steamer about 2 weeks. The cost to
travel by steamer was around $66.00, and by sail it was $53.00. Their
route from Scandinavia took them by boat across the North Sea to
Northern England, which took about 3 days. Once in England they
followed the Tyne River to the port of Newcastle. After docking there
they boarded a train for Liverpool. From here they would continue the
journey either by sailing vessel or steamship to America. At New York
after going through custom and exchanging Krona for U.S. dollars, they
would begin the westward travel by rail. Going to Wisconsin, Iowa and
then to Minnesota, and some arriving here at their new destination in
Flom Township.
The following settlers lived in the township in April, 1896, when Flom
Township celebrated their 25th Anniversary and the year they arrived.
1871: Ole O. Rishovd, Section 33
1872: Nicolai Overgaard, Section 8 Nels Nelson, Section 4 Jens Urdahl, Section 6 Jens Urdahl’s Mother, Section 8
1873: Lars Huseby, Section 10 Welleik Larson, Section 2 Ole P.
Lien, Section 10 Peter O. Lien, Section 4 Gustav O. Lien, Section 15
Ole T. Rogen, Section 10
1874: Hans Flom, Section 14 Elling Flom, Section 21 Erick H.
Flom, Section 21 Simon H. Flom, Section 12 Knut W. Larson, Section 10
Andreas Larson, Section 2 Wilhelm Larson, Section 2 Albert Larson,
Section 1
1876: Hans H. Korsgaden, Section 2 Nils O. Midthun, Section 24 Knute Thompson, Section 24 Martin O. Kirkeby, Section 20
1877: Lars H. Korsgaden, Section 2 Knut Jacobson, Section 34 Knut A. Brenden, Section 28
1878: Even Tomtengen, Section 4 Hans Tomtengen, Section 23
Johanes Quit, Section 8 Ingebrigt Quit, Section 8 Elling Ness, Section
26 John Swenson, Section 32 Mrs. John Swenson’s Mother, Jens J. Kvidt,
Section 12 Anne J. Quit, Gjert and Martin Quit, Einar Larson, Section
32 John O. Nysetvold, Section 32 John Dyrdahl, Section 30 Ole Nilson,
Section 28 Christofer Flaten, Section 2 Mathias G. Flifleth, Section 5
Ole O. Waller, Section 18.
1879: Roland B. Johnson, Section 6 Andrew Benson, Section 9 Ole
Sannan, Section 6 Andreas H. Dorseth, Section 29 Hans Dorseth, Section
29 John A. Dorseth, Section 29 Kristian Larson, Section 20 Iver A.
Moen, Section 28 Anders Skeim, Section 11
1880: Even Mellum, Section 15 Emanuel Nielson, Section 7 Gunner O. Lund, Section 27 Nils E. Nelson, Section 28
1881: Johannes Borgen, Section 8 Iver H. Korsgaden, Section 35
Bernt Ask, Section 8 John H. Flom, Section 8 Ole Fossen, Section 9 John
J. Stende, Section 31 John Dullum, Section 30 Sjur S. Stundahl, Section
10
1882: Ole A. Lee, Section 18 Erick A. Holum, Section 16 Thor A.
Holum, Section 16 Hans Odegaard, Section 1 Gilbert Anderson, Section 18
Ole J. Lee, Section 18 Johannes Underdahl, Section 17 Elling Underdahl,
Section 17 John E. Haugen, Section Anders R. Veum, Section 34 Thor E.
Holum, Section 26 Lars J. Houglum, Section 23 Torris Stundahl, Section
10 Hans P. Lien, Section 5 Einar S. Urdahl, Section 9 Johannes G. Moen,
Section 16, Ole Iverson, Peter Stien, Section 5 Anders Winjum, Section
22 Helge Olson, Section 17
1883: Ole H. Olson, Section 36 Peder P. Baukol, Section 24 Mrs.
Johannes Lee, Section 16 Lars Prestegaard, Section 3 Jacob Sannan,
Section 7 Ole A. Hoien, Section 18 Erik S. Urdahl, Section 14
Andrew and Anna EKEN were married in 1889 and bought land in the NW
1/4, Section 3 that same year. They farmed here until April, 1909 when
they moved into Twin Valley where he became a salesman. Andrew was a
brother of A.B. Peterson and Peter Rindahl of Fossum Township.
The following is a list of the early settlers who came to Flom
Township. It tells us where in Norway they came from and the section
they homesteaded or settled on in Flom Township. This information is
given to us by Oscar Lund. These records of these early pioneers were
printed in the Norwegian language and were translated to English by Mr.
Lund. We, the Flom History Committee, wish to thank Oscar Lund for
letting us use them.
1-Johannes Bergen came in 1872 over to America from Tysnes Parish,
Norway, and settled near Cresco, Iowa. In June of 1881 he came with his
family in company with Ingebor Ingebrigsten and her family and then
bought land in Section 8, where he now lives. They have four children,
three born in Iowa and one here.
2-Ole A. Lee immigrated in 1867 from Aurlands Parish, Sogn, Norway to
America. He stopped first in Bonnet Prairie, Wisconsin until 1869 and
then went to Black Hammer in Houston County of Minnesota. In 1882 he
came here and settled in Section 18. He was unmarried.
3-Nicloai Overgaard immigrated in 1879 from Vestaden Parish in Norway
and settled first for a couple years in Filmore County of Minnesota. In
1872 he went westward with several families, all settling in Becker
County of Minnesota. Overgaard then came here to Norman County and took
land in Section 14 in Home Lake Township. This land he let Martha
Urdahl take over. She was later married to Louis Qual. Now this land is
owned by Albert Albertson. He was married and had one child. The 9th of
July 1874 his wife died and was buried on the farm, because they had no
cemetery in the settlement. This is the second person which is buried
in these four townships. In 1879 he was again married, this time with
Ingeborg Urdahl, and they settled on that land in Section 8, in the
township of Flom, which he already had taken on homestead. He has now
sold most of it to John Floen, and they live on 40 acres which he kept
for himself. They have no children.
4-Lars Huseby immigrated from Lekanger Parish, Sogn, Norway in 1867 and
settled in Rice County of Minnesota. In 1871 he was married to Miss
Britha Thorpe. On June 24th he moved from Rice County together with Ole
Rogen, Ole Lien, Lars Lockrem and John Waller. He then took land in
Section 10. They had five children, one born in Rice County and four
born here in Flom township.
5-Amund Holum came from Aurlands Parish, Sogn, Norway in 1856 and
settled in Black Hammer, Houston County in Minnesota. There he lived
until 1885 when he came here to Flom township with his youngest son,
Ole and later another son, Thore. He had three children, namely:
5A-
Erick A. Holum, who came together with his parents from Norway in 1856
and settled in Black Hammer, Houston County in Minnesota. There he
lived until 1882. In 1882 together with his brother, Thore, they came
to Norman County and settled in Section 16 where he bought land and
lived. He was married in 1871 at Black Hammer and they had 14 children,
whereof six were born at Black Hammer and eight were born here.
5B-Thor
A. Holum came also in 1856 from Norway with his parents and lived at
Black Hammer in Houston County of Minnesota until 1882 when he moved
here with his brother, Erik. He also bought land in Section 16. He was
not married.
5C-Ole A. Holum also came with his parents and
brother in 1856 from Norway and lived at Black Hammer in Houston County
of Minnesota until 1885 when he and his parents came here. He bought
land in Section 22, but lived most of the time with Thor.
6-Jens
Urdahl immigrated from Aurland, Sogn, Norway in 1866 and spent his
first years in Washington Prairie in Iowa. He moved to Black Hammer in
Houston County of Minnesota where he spent four years. Then he moved to
Becker County of Minnesota and stayed one year. He then came here in
June of 1872 and took land in Section 6. On this land he lived until
the fall of 1891, when he sold this land to Mr. Emil Smestad, who came
from Dakota. Then he moved to Twin Valley, Minnesota. Here he lived
until the spring of 1894 when he moved to Section 8. He was the first
man that settled in the Township of Flom, when he took homestead land
in April of 1872. This nice farm, which he sold in 1891, he bought back
again in 1894. He was married April 2, 1875 and had eight children.
7-Jens
Urdahl's mother came in 1869 from Norway and settled in Houston County
of Minnesota until she came up here with her other son, Erik and his
son-in-law, Johannes Quit. She stayed awhile first with Jens, but tok
homestead rights with the land that Johannes Quit now has. She died
November 1879 and was buried in Wild Rice Church Cemetery. She was the
first adult who was buried there.
8-Johannes Quit came over from
Aurland, Sogn, Norway in 1869 and settled at Black Hammer in Houston
County of Minnesota. He moved up here in June 1878 and took land in
Section 6, which his mother in law had taken. He was married in June
1857 and had six children. Of the children, four were born in Norway
and two in Houston County of Minnesota.
8A-Ingebrigt J. Quit
came with his parents from Norway in 1869 and then came here in 1878.
In the spring of 1885 he married Ingeborg, daughter of Halvor
Tvedstulen, and settled on the land in Section 8 which he had bought
several years before. They had four children.
8B-Jens J. Quit
came with his parents here in 1878. He was married in April 1887 to
Gurine, daughter of Ingebrigt Ingebrigtson from Home Lake township and
they settled on the land in Section 12. They had four children.
8C-Anne J. Quit was married with Nels Ingebrigtson from Home Lake township in April, 1887.
8D-Gjert and Martin were the youngest sons.
9-Hans
Flom immigrated in 1857 from Aurland, Sogn, Norway and settled in
Winnesheik County of Iowa. In 1874 he left Iowa and came here to Norman
County and took land in Section 14. He was married in Norway having
children, here they had three sons and one daughter. He sold his land
in 1893 and moved in with his daughter, Martha, who in 1880 was married
to John Homelvig in Home Lake township. Here he died in 1894 and was
buried in Wild Rice Cemetery. His wife lives at Homelvig. Their sons
are:
9A-Elling Flom. He came with his parents from Iowa in 1874.
In 1883 he was married and settled in Section 21, which he owned. They
had five children.
9B-Erik H. Flom came also in 1874 from Iowa
with his parents. In 1886 he was married and settled in Section 21
where he had already bought land. They had four children.
9C-Simon
H. Flom came also in 1874 with his parents from Iowa. He was married in
1889 and settled in Section 12. They had four children.
10-Wellick
Larson came from Bamble Parish, Norway, in 1850 and settled first in
Iowa, where he lived five years. Thereafter he move to Rice County in
Minnesota. In 1873, together with Ole Rogen, Lars Huseby, Ole Lien and
others, and took land in Section 2. Here he died in 1881 and his wife
died in 1895, both are buried in Wild Rice Cemetery. They had five
children, four boys and one daughter, namely:
10A-Knut B. Larson
came with his parents here and also took land in Section 10, but in the
spring of 1886 he sold this land and went to North Dakota, where he
again too land in 1891. He came back here again and has since lived to
be an old man on Thor Bamble's farm in Section 12. In 1876 he was
married, they have had nine children, whereof four have died.
10B-Andreas
Larson was married in November 1880 and settled on land in Section 2
which he had taken on homestead when he came here in 1874. They have
had seven children, one having died.
10C-Wilhelm Larson was
married in 1874 and lives on his father's farm in Section 2. They have
had five children, whereof two have died.
10D-Albert Larson was
married in 1892 and settled on his land in Section 1. They have two
children, the sister, Amalie, was married in 1873 to John Gronoen and
lived in the township of Fossum Minnesota.
11-Anders Skaim
immigrated with his family from Aurland, Sogn, Norway, in 1845 and
settled first in Koshkonong, Wisconsin where he lived two years.
Thereafter he moved to Winnesheik County in Iowa where he lived near by
Decorah, until in 1879 he moved here. He lived awhile with his children
here, but since settled in Section 11, where he had 1/4 Section of land
which now is owned by his son, Johannes. They have had five children,
four girls and one boy. Three of the children were born in Norway, two
in Iowa. Two children here in the settlement namely, John A. Skaim and
Mrs. Ole Rogen. Two live in Moorhead, Minnesota, Mrs. T. Tollefson and
Mrs. Ole Nilson Odegaard. A daughter, Mrs. Halvorson, lives near
Glenwood, Iowa.
12-John A. Skaim was born in Koshkonong, Dane
County Wisconsin and came with his parents to Iowa in 1847. He moved in
1884 and now lives on the land in Section 11, which his father had. He
was married in Washington Prairie, Iowa in 1879 and they have 7
children, whereof five were born here in the settlement.
13-Lars
H. Korsgaden immigrated from Northern Froen, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in
1871 and settled in Vernon County in Wisconsin where he lived six
years. He moved from Wisconsin and came here in 1877 and took land in
Section 2, where he now lives. He was married in the fall of 1871 in
Vernon County and has ten children, whereof three were born in
Wisconsin, one having died here.
14-Iver H. Korsgaden immigrated
from Northern Froen, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1880. He stayed a years
time in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, whereafter he came here in 1881
and bought land in Section 35, Township of Fossum, where he settled the
year after, namely in 1882. This land he sold again in 1884 to his
brother, Hans Korsgaden. He was married in Black River Falls in 1880.
His wife died in 1882 and is buried in the Wild Rice Cemetery.
15-Hans
H. Korsgaden immigrated from Nordre Froen, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in
1871 with his brother Lars, and settled in Vernon County, Wisconsin
where he lived for five years. He left Wisconsin and moved here in
1876, one year before his brother, and took land in Section 2. He was
married in Wisconsin and they have two children. The oldest daughter
was married to Mr. A. Dorseth and lives west of Flom. The other
children are at home.
16-Hans Peterson Odegaard immigrated from
Eidnanger, Norway in 1854, settling at Bonnet Prairie, Wisconsin. He
came here to Norman County in 1882 and settled on land he had bought in
Section 1, Township of Flom, where he now lives. He was married in
Wisconsin in 1875 and they have nine children, whereof the six youngest
were born here.
17-Roland B. Johnson came here from Freeborn
County, Minnesota in 1879 and took land in Section 4, Township of Home
Lake, where now Anton Lerud lives to whom he sold his improvement in
the spring of 1880. He moved here and bought railroad land in Section
6, Township of Flom. A few years later he sold half of the land to
Peter Stein, and in 1895 sold the rest of the land and moved to Montana.
18-Nels
Nelson immigrated from Varmland, Sweden in 1869 and stopped first in
Red Wing, Minnesota. He moved to Norman County in 1872 and settled in
Section 4 in Flom, where he took homestead. He was married in Becker
County of Minnesota in 1872. They had four children whereof two have
died.
19-Knut Stene immigrated from Aurland, Sogn, Norway in
1870, stopped awhile in Goodhue County in Minnesota. He came here in
March, 1884 and bought land in Section 1. He was married in Winnebago
County in Iowa and they had eleven children, whereof five were born in
Iowa, and six here in the settlement.
20-Even Mellum came from
Birid, Norway to America and settled at Coon Praire, Wisconsin. He
moved here in 1880 and took land in Section 15. He was married in 1882
and had eight children.
21-Even Tomtengen immigrated from Birid,
Norway with his parents in 1850 and they settled first in Dane County
in Wisconsin. In 1852 they went with their family to Vernon County in
Wisconsin where he lived until he came here in 1878 in the township of
Flom, where he bought land in Section 4. He was married in Vernon
County in Wisconsin in 1865 and they had 12 children, whereof six have
died. Six of the children were born here and six were born in
Wisconsin. His wife died in November of 1891 and was buried in Immanuel
Church Cemetery.
22-Hans Tomtengen came with his father from
Wisconsin in 1878. He was married here in 1892 and settled on land in
Section 33 which he had bought a few years before.
23-Emanuel
Nielson immigrated in the spring of 1880 from Drammen, Norway and
stopped in Chicago, Illinois. In the fall of 1880 he moved up here and
bought land in Section 7.
24-Tosten A. Holum came over from
Aurland, Sogn, Norway the summer of 1874 and settled first in Goodhue
County of Minnesota where he lived for eight years. In 1882 he moved to
Cavalier, North Dakota where he took land on homestead, but sold the
land and moved here to Flom. He lived in Section 6 where he built a
house on his son-in-laws, L. Quam's land. Of their children there are
two sons and two daughters.
25-Ole P. Lien was born in Quam,
Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1837. He came over to America in 1869 and
settled in Rice County of Minnesota where he lived for four years. In
1873 he moved here and took land in Section 10. He was married in
Nordre Froen, Gudbrandsdalen in 1864 and had fourteen children, whereof
ten were born here and four in Norway.
25A-Peter O. Lien came
here with his parents. He was married in May of 1895 and had two
children. He lived on the farm in Section 4, which before was owned by
his mother's father, Jacob Branden.
25B-Gustav O. Lien was married in February of 1896 and lived at home with his parents.
25C-Ole
Fossen was born in Nordre Froen, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1864 and
came here to America in 1881. He came directly here and bought land in
Section 9. He was married to Marith, daughter of Ole P. Lien, the 19th
of June, 1887. They had three children.
26-Andrew Benson
immigrated from Sonmore, Norway in 1873 and stayed first for three
years in Rice County in Minnesota whereafter he worked on different
jobs for three years. He came here in June, 1879 and bought 80 acres in
Section 9. He was not married. His brother, Ole, was here also a couple
of years but went back to Norway.
27-Lars Prestegaard immigrated
from Aurland, Sogn, Norway in 1871 but stayed first for a year in
Goodhue County in Minnesota whereafter he went to Freeborn County in
Minnesota where he lived for twelve years. He came here the spring of
1883 and settled on land in Section 3. He was married in Norway in 1866
and had ten children. Of the ten children, three were born here and two
were married, namely Lena to Torres Stundahl and Sonneva to Mons Stene,
who lived a little north of them in Fossum township.
28-Torres
S. Stundahl came from Aurland, Sogn, Norway in 1882 directly here to
the settlement. He worked the first year with the farmers. He married
in 1887 to Lena Prestegaard and settled in Section 10. They have five
children.
29-Jacob Sannan was born in Strinden, Trondhjem,
Norway in 1855 and came over to America at the age of fourteen in 1869.
He came first to Minneapolis, after that he lived off and on at
Minneapolis or Goodhue County both in Minnesota. In 1882 he married
Sigrid J. Haugen, and the following year, 1883, went up here and
settled on the land in Section 7 which he had already bought. He lived
then on the farm for two years, whereafter he moved up to the 13 Towns
in Polk County of Minnesota, where he took land. He left that again the
same fall and then moved to Ada, Minnesota, where he operated a
restaurant for two years. He moved again to his farm in the township of
Flom, but was there only a year. They moved again to the "Vesten" but
settled himself then in Twin Valley, Minnesota, where he operated the
first restaurant and furniture store. Later he built his own store and
operated a furniture store. After two and a half years he sold his
store to the Sethney Brothers and moved back again to his farm in Flom
township. They have had no children of their own but adopted a
motherless girl when they lived in Ada, Minnesota.
30-Lars Quam
was born in Aurlands Parish, Norway, the 18th of March in 1851. On the
2nd of May, 1870 he left Norway to go to America. In June he arrived in
Quebec in Canada and the 2nd of July he came to Goodhue County in
Minnesota. He soon left Goodhue County and went to Steel County in
Minnesota where he lived one year, then moved again to Goodhue County.
Next year he moved again to Steel County. In July of 1871 he went to
Fillmore County in Minnesota and was there until 1873 when he again
moved to Goodhue County. Here he lived until the spring of 1875 when he
moved to Freeborn County and bought land 8 miles from Albert Lea,
Minnesota. In the fall of 1876 he again moved to Goodhue County where
he married Miss Sigrid Holum. They moved then to Goodhue again, where
he again bought land. In the year of 1880 he sold the land in Goodhue
County and moved westward to Walsh County in North Dakota where his
wife's parents died and lived there until spring of 1884. He moved then
to Park River, North Dakota where he built a boarding house. The same
fall he sold out in Park River and moved here, where he bought land in
Section 6, Township of Flom. They had six children.
31-Ole
Sannan was born in 1846 in Stinden, Trondhjem, Norway, and immigrated
to America in 1863 stopping first awhile in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Otherwise he lived the first five years in Goodhue County in Minnesota.
In 1868 he came to Minneapolis, Minnesota and was there two years. He
went then to Watonwan County in Minnesota and took land on homestead.
But after two years time, he left and came back again to Minneapolis in
1872 and lived there for 2 years. He moved then to Goodhue County and
was there about four years. He then went westward to Becker County in
Minnesota and was there about 1 1/2 years, whereafter he came here the
fall of 1879 and bought railroad land in Section 5. He was married in
1883 to Marith H. Lien and had two children.
32-Hans P. Lien was
born in Nordre Froen, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1836 and came here to
America in 1882. He was married in Norway in 1862 to Marith Teigen and
had just one child, Mrs. Ole Sannan, with whom they lived with since
they came here.
33-Hans J. Flom was born in Aurland, Sogn,
Norway in 1848 and came to Red Wing, Minnesota in 1866. He came here to
the settlement in 1886 and bought land in Section 17. He married in
1878 to Miss Martha Nilson and they had eight children.
34-Thorvald
Urdahl was born in Aurland, Sogn, Norway in 1835. He was married in
1865 to Miss Kirsten R. Loven and lived in Aurland until 1887 when he
came with his family here. He bought land in Section 17. They had eight
children in Norway.
35-Einar G. Urdahl was born in Aurland,
Sogn, Norway in 1866. He came here to America in 1882 and settled in
the settlement. He was married to Martha C. Urdahl in 1893 and had one
child. They lived in Section 9.
36-Kristian Ingebrigston was
born in Oier, Norway and came to Westby, Iowa in 1876. He came here to
Norman County in 1884 and bought land in Section 16. He married in 1885
to Miss Mathea Erickson. They had no children. They did however raise
Ruth Stolen, who's mother died when she was very young.
37-Johannes
G. Moen was born in Oier, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1848 and came to
Coon Prairie, Wisconsin in 1873. He came here to the settlement in 1880
and bought land in Section 16 in Flom. The same year he married Mis
Sigrid Erickson and had one child.
38-Bernt Ask was born in 1853
in Hedmarken, Norway and came to Spring Grove, Minnesota in 1876, where
he lived six months. He went to Decorah, Iowa in 1876, living there
until 1881, when he moved here and bought land in Section 6. He was
married in Decorah, Iowa to Petrine Knudson. Bernt Ask died the 9th of
July, 1892.
39-Gilbert Anderson Holie was born in Hadeland,
Norway in 1851. He moved to Spring Grove in Minnesota in 1867. He moved
up to Norman County in 1882. He was married in 1876 to Miss Randi J.
Lee and had seven children. He bought land in Section 18. Gilbert died
in 1894.
40-Ole J. Lee was born in 1862 in Houston County in
Minnesota where he lived until the spring of 1882 when he came here and
bought land in Section 18. He was married in 1886 to Marie Underdahl
and had five children.
41-Johannes C. Underdahl was born in 1838
in Aurland, Sogn, Norway and came here to America in 1866 and settled
in Fillmore County in Minnesota. He came here to Norman County in 1882
buying land in Section 17. He was married in Norway in 1864 to
Christine B. Hoiom. They had eight children.
42-Elling J.
Underdahl was born in Aurland, Sogn, Norway in 1864. He came to
Fillmore County in Minnesota with his parents in 1866 where he lived
until 1882 when he came here. He was married in 1893 to Anne D.
Kerkevold. They had three children. They lived in Section 17.
43-Jorgen
Nilson was born in Aurland, Sogn, Norway and came to Goodhue County in
Minnesota in 1870. He came here in 1885 and bought land in Section 17.
In the same year he was married to Berthe J. Underdahl and they had
seven children.
44-John H. Flom was born in 1855 in Hagre,
Trondhjem, Norway. He arrived in Zumbrota, Goodhue County in Minnesota
in 1879, where he lived until 1860 when he then moved to Wanamingo,
Minnesota. He moved to Norman County in 1881 and took land eight miles
south from Twin Valley. For several years since, he bought Nicolai
Overgaard's land in Section 8 in Flom. He was married in 1876 to Randi
J. Bratsburg and they had nine children.
45-John C. Haugen was
born in Lesja, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1821. He was married in 1848
to Anne T. Holen, coming to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1880 and then
here to Norman County in 1882. They had four children, thereof three
lived here in the settlement, namely, the daughter mentioned before who
is married to Jacob Sannan, and:45A-Ingebrigt J. Haugen, born in Lesje,
Norway in 1850 coming here together with his parents to Minnesota
(Minneapolis) in 1880 and then came up here in 1884. He was married in
1881 with Barbro Iverson and had seven children. He lived in Section 12
in Home Lake township and the brother:
45B-Andrew J. Haugen was
born in Lesje, Norway in 1864. He came also to Minneapolis, Minnesota
in 1880 and up here in 1882. He was married in 1892 to Clara Ask. They
had three children. they lived in Section 7, township of Flom.
46-Nils
Midthun was born in Dane County in Wisconsin and came to Freeborn
County in Minnesota in his 5th year. He came to Norman County in 1876
and took land in Section 24. He was married in 1877 and had ten
children.
47-Ole H. Olson came here to Norman County in 1883
from Dodge County in Minnesota. He was married in 1885 and settled in
Section 36 in Flom. They had 4 children.
48-Elling H. Aas came
here to the settlement in 1878 and settled in Section 26. He came here
from Houston County in Minnesota. He was married March 1, 1881 and had
four children.
49-Henry Gunderson came from Clayton County in
Iowa in 1885 with his wife. Both were born there. He settled in Section
35, where he bought land. They had seven children.
50-Anders H.
Veum came in 1882 from Sogn, Norway with his family here to Norman
County and settled in Section 34 of Flom township. He was born in
Norway and had eight children.
51-Knut Jacobson came in 1877 to
Norman County from Pope County in Minnesota. He settled on Section 34
in Flom Township, where he took land on homestead. He was married in
1880 and had five children.
52-Knut A. Brandon came from Nordre
Froen, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway in 1867, settling first in Fillmore
County in Minnesota. Later he went to Pope County in Minnesota, where
he lived for eight years. He came to Norman County in 1877 and took
land in Section 28. He was in Norway in 1867 and married Anne Olson and
had eleven children.
53-Ole Thorson came here from Pope County
in Minnesota in 1886 and lived in the township of Flom. In 1888 he
bought a farm in Section 26. He was married in 1892 and had four
children.
54-Iver Erlandsen Skansgaard came from Nord Fron,
Gudbrandsdalen, Norway to America in 1880, settling first in St. Paul,
Minnesota. He came here to Norman County in 1892. He was married in St.
Paul to Anne Pedersen Aspehaug. they had seven children, whereof one
was born in St. Paul and the others in the town of Flom. He lived in
Section 28.
55-Lars D. Kjornes was born in Sogndal, Norway and
came here to America in 1861, stopping first at Wisconsin. He moved to
Becker County in Minnesota in 1874 and to Norman County in 1884. He was
married the 5th of February, 1865 to Kristine Olson and had nine
children. He lived in Section 21 where he had bought land. He served in
the Civil War for four years, enlisting in 1861 in the 12th Wisconsin
Infantry Co. K under General Grant and Sherman. He has seen action in
33 major actions, besides many small skirmishes. He was mustered out
after the war's ending.
56-Thor E. Holum came to Norman County
in 1882 with his family from Houston County in Minnesota. He lived in
Section 26 and had four children.
57-John Nygaard came from
Goodhue County in Minnesota here to Norman County in 1889. He was
married in 1891 and settled in Section 24 in Flom.
58-Ole
Johnson Vang immigrated from Viks PArish, Sogn, Norway and came to
Norman County in 1886 with his family, consisting of his wife and three
children. He bought land in Flom in Section 25.
59-Lars J.
Houglum came from Goodhue County in Minnesota to Norman County in 1882
with his family and bought land in Section 23. He had eight children.
60-Knut
Thompson came from Freeborn County in Minnesota in 1876 and settled in
Section 24 where he took land on homestead. He was married in 1881 and
had 6 children.
61-Hans Olson came from Rock County in Minnesota
to Norman County in 1888. He was married in 1892 and had two children.
He lived in Section 13 where he bought land. He came from Kvas,
Lyngdal, Vest Agder, Norway.
62-Amdrew A. Lomland came here to
Norman County in 1895 from Clay County in Minnesota and bought a farm
in Flom in Section 12. He had a wife and 5 children.
63-Johannes
C. Skaim came to Norman County with his family from Houston County in
Minnesota in 1892. From Sogn, Norway he came to Houston in 1869. He was
married in 1872 and had four children. He bought a farm on Section 13,
Flom township.
64-Emil Smestad was born in Eidsvold Parish,
Norway in 1859, and then came to America with his parents in 1869. They
settled in Allamakee County in Iowa, living there until 1878 when he
moved with his parents west to North Dakota, where they took land. He
alone went shortly after to Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He was then
married to Kristine Satre. They went again to North Dakota, Cass County
and took land. He sold the land again in 1891 and in the same fall came
here to Norman County where he bought a farm in Section 6 in Flom of
Jens Urdahl's. This farm he left in 1895 and has now bought land in
Section 13. He has six children.
65-Mrs. Johannes Lee came to
America in 1854 from Aurland, Sogn, Norway with her husband Johannes
Lee. They settled first awhile in Wisconsin but moved shortly after to
Houston County in Minnesota where they lived until 1883 when they came
up here. She lived on Section 16 where she had a little farm. They had
seven children.
66-Gunder O. Lund was born in Goodhue County of
Minnesota. He came here to Norman County in 1880 and bought land in
Section 27 in the town of Flom. He was married in Goodhue County. He
had eight children.
67-John Svendson Aas came from Trondhjem,
Norway to America in 1866. He settled first in Iowa and moved then to
Becker County in Minnesota in 1874. He came to Norman County in 1878
and took land in Section 32. He was married in Norway and had three
children born in Norway and one in America. His son Ole J. Svendsen,
died the 26th of January, 1896 of tuberculosis at his parent's home.
68-Mrs.
John Aas' mother, Gisken Olson, died in 1890 at the age of 88 in the
township of Flom. Mrs. Aas' father, Ingebrigt Olson, died in Rock
County in Wisconsin at the age of 64.
69-Anders Winjum
immigrated from Aurland, Sogn, Norway in 1866, coming to Goodhue County
in Minnesota. Here he lived until 1882 when he came to Flom and bought
land in Section 22. He was married in Norway and had eight children
whereof only two lived. He sold his farm to Kristen Prestegaard.
70-Ole
O. Waller came from Grue in Solar, Norway to America in 1868 and
settled in Northfield, Minnesota. He was here in 1874 and married to
Miss Ingeborg OStensen. He came to Norman County in September, 1878 and
took land in Section 18 in Flom township. They had seven children,
whereof two were born in Northfield and five here in Flom.
71-Peter
Stuenas came from Stordalen, Norway to America in 1876. He settled with
his wife near Vermillon, South Dakota first and then came here to
Norman County in 1891 and bought land in Section 31 in Flom township.
His wife died November 10, 1894. He was again married the 17th of
January, 1896.
72-Ole M. Hoien immigrated from Ostre Toten,
Norway in 1882 and settled for a short while in Iowa. In the spring of
1883 he came here and bought land in Section 18 in Flom township. He
was married in Norway to Oline Narum and had three children. His wife
died the 24th of August, 1884 and also their youngest child.
73-Laurits
O. Dahl came from Holand, Norway to America in 1872 and settled in
Trail County in North Dakota. Then came to Norman County in 1892 with
his wife and six children and bought the farm from Hans Flom's in
Section 14 in the township of Flom.
74-Ole Steile came from Vang
in Valders, Norway to America in 1886 and bought the farm of Edward
Engen in Section 32. He was unmarried.
75-Knut R. Lunde came
from Valders, Norway to America in 1884 and settled in Renville County
in Minnesota. He came to Norman County in 1890. On the 9th of December
1893 he was married to Miss Louise Gustina Engeben and lived in Section
32.
76-Einar Larson Lovoen came from Selbu, Tronhjem, Norway to
America in 1869 and settled in Iowa. He came to Becker County in
Minnesota in 1871 and to Norman County in 1878 and took land in Section
32. In 1879 he was married to Magli Henningsdatter Stuedahl (a sister
of Guri Nysetvold and Lisbet Sakrismo) and had four children, all have
died.
77-John O. Nysetvold came from Trondhjem, Norway to
America in 1872 settling first in Iowa. He came here to Norman County
in 1878 and took land in Section 32. He was married in 1883 to Miss
Guri Henningsdatter Stuedahl who had emigrated from Norway in 1882, and
had four children, Ole, Ingeborg, Henry and Johan.
78-Martin O.
Kirkeby came from Hakedalen, Norway to America in 1847 with his
parents. They settled first in Wisconsin, but moved shortly thereafter
to Winnesheik County in Iowa. Here he lived until he moved up here and
was married to Miss Berthe Amlien. He came with his family here to
Norman County in 1876 and took land in Section 20 in Flom. They had six
children.
79-Mrs. Thorine Mathia, widow of Nils Daniels, came
from Nordre Land, Norway in 1875. She lived first in Iowa, then in
Goodhue County in Minnesota and then came here to Norman County in
1893. She became a widow the 8th of December 1894 and had three
children living, one dead. She lived in Section 31, Flom township.
80-John
L. Ask came from Hedemarken, Norway to America in 1868 settling in
Wisconsin. He came here to Norman County in 1884. He was married in
1888 to widow Juliane Olson and had three children which were born here
in the township of Flom. He had bought land in Section 29.
81-John
Dyrdahl came from Aurland, Sogn, Norway to America in 1869 settling in
Goodhue County in Minnesota. He was married the 4th of August, 1874 to
Oline Haagenson. He came here in 1878 and took land on homestead in
Section 3. They had eleven children.
82-Lars Erickson came from
Trondhjem, Norway to Norman County in 1890. He was married in Norway to
Magli Larson. They had three children, one born in Norway and two here
in Flom He had land in Section 33.
83-Andreas Dorseth came from
Vestre Toten, Norway to America in 1870, settling in Iowa. He was
married in Norway to Helen Amlien and had five children, two born in
Norway and three here. They moved here to Norman County in 1879 and
took land in Section 29.
84-Andrew Dorseth came from Vestre
Toten, Norway to America in 1870, along with parents and one brother,
Hans. He married Mathilda H. Korsgaden in 1894 and lived in Section 29,
Flom township. They had five children.
85-John Dullum from
Trondhjem, Norway came to America in 1880 and settled first in Douglas
County in Minnesota. He moved to Norman County in 1881 and bought land
in Section 30. The same year he was married to Helen Mathiason and they
had three children.
86-Ed H. Rude came from Odalen, Norway to
America in 1883 and settled first in Wisconsin. He moved to Washington
in 1887. He was married in 1881 and they had three children. He lived
in Section 30 in Flom township.
87-Ole T. Rogen came from Vang,
Valdres, Norway to America in 1857 and settled in Iowa. He married
February 13, 1866 to Miss Ingeborg Skaim. In 1873 he moved to Norman
County where he took land in Section 10. They had seven children,
whereof two were born in Iowa and five here. He had served three years
in the Civil War in the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, Co. K., having seen
action in 14 encounters.
88-Hans Mollerstuen came to Norman
County the 28th of March, in 1886, from Freeborn County in Minnesota.
He married the 22nd of November, 1888 to Miss Martha T. Urdahl. They
lived in Section 19 where he had bought land. They had four children.
89-Guldvrand
R. Braaten came from Ringerike, Norway to America in 1878 and settled
in Houston County of Minnesota. He moved here to Norman County in 1885
and lived in Section 22. He was married the 8th of December, 1884 to
Anne Marie Botolfson Berquam. They had four children.
90-Ole
Nilson Odegaard came from Valders, Norway to America in 1858 and
settled in Winnesheik County, Iowa. He came to Norman County in 1878
and bought land in Section 28. He had, for many years, lived in
Moorhead, Minnesota, but still owned the farm. He was married to Miss
Kari Skiam, December 8th, 1865. They had no children, but adopted a
motherless girl. Ole Nilson had served in the Civil War for three years
in the 6th Iowa Regiment, Co.D.
91-John Vahle came from Voss,
Norway to America in 1852 and settled in Goodhue County in Minnesota.
Here he was married in 1880 and bought land in Section 3, Flom
Township. They had two children.
92-Erik S. Urdahl came from
Aurdahl, Sogn, Norway to America in 1883 and settled here in the new
settlement. In 1887 he was married to Dorthea Rogen and they had one
child. They lived in Section 14 of Flom Township.
93-Andreas
Underdahl came from Aurland, Sogn, Norway to America in 1886 and
settled in Mower County in Minnesota. He came to Norman County in 1887
and bought land in Section 21 in Flom, Minnesota. He was married in
1889 to Dina Underdahl and had three children.
94-Helge Olson
Bergetangen came from Sigdal, Norway to America in 1853 and settled at
Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin. Later he moved to Iowa. He came to Norman
County in 1882. He was married to Sigrid Gildorandson and had nine
children. He bought land in Section 17 in Flom. He served in the Civil
War one year in the 15th Wisconsin, Regiment Co.K. He became sick and
had to stay at a hospital, whereafter he was mustered out.
95-Ole
O. Rishovd came from Hallingdal to America in 1883 with a wife and five
children. He settled first in Grand Forks County in North Dakota but
moved here to Norman County to the Township of Flom.
96-Hans H.
Lian came from Tydalen, Norway to America in 1869. He came first to
Becker County in Minnesota, but moved in 1890 to Norman County. He had
a wife and six children, all born in Norway.
97-John J. Stende
came from Valders, Norway to America in 1869 together with his parents.
They settled in Goodhue County of Minnesota. Here he was married the
4th of November, 1874 to Ingeborg Thoresdatter. They had three
children, all born in Goodhue County. They came here to Norman County
in October 1881 and took land in Section 31 in Flom. Since, they had
four children.
98-Christofer Flaten came from Vang in Valders,
Norway to America in 1871 and settled in Goodhue County in Minnesota.
Here he lived until 1878 when he moved to Norman County and took land
in Section 29. In 1880 he was married to Margrethe Nilson. They had
three children.
99-Ole O. Rishovd came from Sogn, Norway to
America in 1871 and settled in Norman County and took land in Section
35. He had a wife and four children.
100-John Haugen came from
Tydalen, Norway to America in 1891 and settled in Section 33, where he
bought a few acres of land; otherwise he worked as a carpenter most of
the year. He was married in Norway and they had three children when
they came here. Since, they had three more.
101-Nils E. Nilson
Odegaard came from Valders, Norway to Winnesheik County in Iowa with
his parents in 1858. He lived there until he moved to Norman County in
Minnesota where he took land in Section 28. There he operated with the
Post Office of Wild Rice, Minnesota. He was married in Iowa but had no
children.
102-Sjur S. Stundahl came from Sogn, Norway to America
in 1881 and settled here in Flom. In Norway he was married to Miss Anne
Larson. They had three children in Norway and seven more here.
103-Ole
Iverson Sjothun came from Sogn, Norway to Freeborn County in Minnesota
and here to Norman County in 1882. The 17th of April, 1884 he was
married to Martha Grinde and had one child, which died in 1893.
104-Kristian
Larson came from Faring in Hurdalen, Norway to America in 1868 together
with his parents. They settled in the neighborhood of Ossian, Iowa
where he lived until 1879 when he moved here to Norman County. In 1887
he was married to Gunhilde Olson and had five children. He bought land
in Section 20.
105-Hans Erlandsen Skansgaard came to Norman
County from Pope County in Minnesota. In 1888 he bought land in Section
27 of Flom Township. He was born to Erland Hanssen & Beret
Nilsdatter Skansgaard in Sodørp, Nord Fron. Oppland, Norway. They also
came to Flom Township. He was married to Anne Thorsen Volden on May
14,1903 and had 3 children.
106-Peter Stien was born in Bo
Parish, Norway in 1838. He lived at home as a carpenter and boat
builder until he immigrated to America in 1867. He was married in the
fall of 1866 to Miss Gjertrud Olson. He settled in Stoughton, Wisconsin
where he worked at the well known Mandts Wagon Manufacturing Co. until
1875 when he left Wisconsin and moved to Story City, Iowa. Here, and in
the neighboring towns, he worked as a carpenter and blacksmith until
the fall of 1881, when he moved to Rice County in Minnesota. Here he
lived only to 1882 when in the spring he moved here to Norman County in
Minnesota where he took 40 acres of land on preemption in Section 4 in
Flom Township. He sold this land, though after a couple of years he
bought 80 acres of Roland Johnson's land near the town of Fossum. Here
he had a blacksmith shop, which he operated besides the farm.
107-Iver
A. Moen came from Vang in Valders, Norway to America in 1864 and
settled in Winnesheik County in Iowa. He came here to Norman County in
1879 and settled in Section 28 in the township of Flom. This land he
sold again in 1892, but lived in Flom.
108-Mathias G. Flifeth
was born in Faaberg, Norway in 1842 and immigrated to America in 1869,
coming to Goodhue County in Minnesota. There he lived for three years,
whereafter he went to Dunn County in Wisconsin, living there for about
five years. He moved to Goodhue County again living there for two
years. In 1877 he was married in Goodhue County to Miss Ronnoug Ulland.
In 1878 he came here to Norman County and bought land in Section 5 in
the township of Flom. They had five children.
109-Halvor Tvedten
was born in Houston County of Minnesota in 1857. Here he lived until
1875 when he then moved westward to the Red River Valley and settled
near the Buffalo River, Clay County, Minnesota. Here he did farm work
for about four years, whereafter he bought land and farmed on his own.
Three years later he sold that land but bought land two years later.
This land he sold in 1895 and in the fall moved here, taking Jens
Urdahl's farm on share, in Section 6 in Flom Township. Mr. Tvedten was
married the 15th of April, 1880 in Houston County of Minnesota where
his father-in-law lived. His wife died the 4th of April in 1895,
leaving four children.
110-Johannes Rollefson Valler was born
the 14th of April, 1849, in Saude Parish, Nedre Telemarken, Norway. In
the spring of 1862 he immigrated to America and settled in Columbia
County in Wisconsin. The 12th of September, 1873, he was married to
Anna Svensdatter. They had eight children. The 11th of December, 1887
he was ordained of Forman Preus Pastor after he had acknowledged a call
from congregations in Polk County in Minnesota. The churches of Wild
Rice and Twin Valley had notified him the 14th of July, 1895, and he
had moved here the 18th of September of the same year.
111-Hans
Erickson was born the 28th of May, 1841, in Kvam, Gudbrandsdalen,
Norway. In 1859 he went to Hoten to learn mechanics, and finished that
course in 1861. Thereafter he went as a mechanic on a steamship for
several years. He was a mechanic with Frydenlunds Brewery in
Christiania for four years. He came to America in 1888 and bought land
in Section 5. He was married on the 2nd Penticost day 1869 and had one
son.
This completes the listing of settlers in Flom Township in 1896.
This was translated by Oscar Lund.
Information added by Margit (Nysetvold) Bakke