Written by Edward Berger

Alma in the very early days was part of a large geographical area which was called Hummed. This area roughly consisted of what is today the townships of Alma, East Alma, Osford and Montrose. Cavalier County was organized July 8, 1884. At that time Ranges 57, 58, and 59 belonged to Pembina County. Chapter 11 of the Session Laws of 1885 provided that, if a majority of the electors of Pembina County consented by a vote, these ranges would be detached from that county and become a portion of Cavalier County. An election for this purpose was held in May 1885. The question carried and these three ranges became a part of Cavalier County.

On June 28, 1885, the electors of the county voted upon township organization. The question carried and the commissioners then proceeded to divide the county into civil townships. This division created Alma and Montrose. Alma, composed of town 160, ranges 57-58. This then split Hummell east and west. Alma and East Alma were all one township until May 2, 1896. At this time there was consideration to name them designating east and west; however, there was considerable resentment to this so the west part of the original township voted to retain only the name Alma.

By this time the Great Northern Railway had extended westward through Alma and the town of Osnabrock hadalready been founded. Up until the early 1940’s the township business was conducted at the "Ottem Schoolhouse" across the road from the Dovre Church and Cemetery. At that time this building was sold and township meetings, general and primary elections were conducted at Osnabrock in various locations; among them the Osnabrock School, the Fire Hall and in later years at the new Barley Hall.

Although East Alma has wooded areas along the Pembina Hills, Alma is comparatively flat and has a heavier clay-loam type soils. The north branch of the Park River originates in the township. The early settlers began homesteading here in the early 1880’s. They were mostly Norwegians and Swedish people although a few years later people from Austria or Germany began arriving and settled the western part of the township and west from Osnabrock. Up until the last ten years most every farm was diversified and cattle herds were a great part of each farm’s business enterprise. At this writing there is only one farm within the township that still has cattle. Alma Township, as most other agricultural areas of North Dakota, now has large acreage grain farms and very few people live in the countryside. As the older farmers pass away or retire and move into town their acreage is absorbed by neighbors and younger large acreage operators.

Written by Edward Berger

Most of the sturdy Norwegian pioneers who formed the first Dovre congregation came in April 1882. Their possessions were few but they did include a Bible and a hymn book. That first summer they would meet in the various homes and it was at these meetings that the need to organize a congregation and build a church became apparent. The first meeting to organize was called at the Ole Romfo home on October 29, 1882. The name "Dovre" was chosen as it was from an old Norwegian motto which stated "Enige og tro Indtil Dovre Falder" (United and Believing Until Dovre Falls). Dovre was one of the more majestic mountains in Norway.

On September 2, 1883, Rev. H. B. Thorgrimson was called to minister unto these pioneers. Because he had other congregations around Mountain, ND, he was only able to meet every third Sunday. For his compensation he was to receive $100 per year. His services were held until the fall of 1884. The next several years several pastors served the congregation; among them were the Reverends Flaten, Langemo, Skugstad and Wang. In 1888 the congregation was divided and the people in the north area established North Dovre. The two congregations remained one parish.

The original Dovre Church was built in 1903 on the corner of land provided by Jacob Ottun two miles east of Osnabrock. The remains of several settlers and their families which had previously been interred one mile northwest of this site were disinterred and moved to the new cemetery which was now beside the church.

This Dovre Church served its people throughout the years until 1956 when a new house of worship was built in Osnabrock. This new church building now serves the entire Lutheran community there as well as the descendants of the original family members. On the 12th day of July, 1981, "A Day Of Remembrance" service was held at the Dovre Cemetery. A monument built of cut stones with abronze plaque was dedicated to the memory of the early day Norwegian settlers who are now buried in the Dovre Cemetery. This was to commemorate 100 years since the community was settled.

In June of 1982 a three-day service of celebration was held at Osnabrock as the 100th year since the formation of the congregation. The centennial anniversary was attended by many former pastors, friends and former members of the congregation. Dovre and North Dovre are now served by the Rev. David Carlson.

Written by Edward Berger

After Alma became a township in 1896 there were two rural schools established. Up until that year the young people along the eastern part of the township went to what was called ‘‘the Rushford School" which was across the range line in East Alma.

The Alma School No. 1 was located about a mile and a half west from the present Petterson farm. Among the early day teachers who taught there were Ida Musgjerd, Alice Olson, Marie Berger, Laura Olson, Fanny Waind, Minnie Ottem, and Sylvia Johnson. After that school was shut down about 1922 the children from the northeast corner of the township went again into East Alma and attended what was called the ‘‘Dyer School." This Dyer schoolhouse is presently part of the Cavalier County Museum at Dresden.

The other rural school was called the ‘‘Ottem Schoolhouse" and was across the road from the Dovre Church and cemetery. Officially this school was Alma No. 2. Some of the teachers who taught at this school were Pearl Haight, Ida Musgjerd, Tom Butterwick, and Lizzie Lynn. Children from the I. I. Ottems, Anders Musgjerd, Andrew Morken, Lars Dahl, Ed Berger, Jacob Ottun were among the families who went to this school. It was closed about 1912 or 1913. In later years it was purchased by Fritz Ottem and was moved into Osnabrock where it became a granary.

A school was built in Osnabrock shortly after it was founded. This was mainly used by the town people children. It was replaced by another new building in later years and is still in use today. About four years ago the Milton and Osnabrock School systems merged although retaining their individual school boards. At this time the first six grades attended classes in Osnabrock and grades 7 through 12 attend classes in Milton.

EDWARD L. BERGER FAMILY CENTURY FARM 1882 - 1982

Edward L. Berger was born, raised and still farms and resides on the home farm that his paternal grandparents secured as a homestead from the United States Government in 1882. He is a 3rd generation owner of the 640 acre grain and cattle farm together with his sister.

Their grandfather, Edward Berger, whose parents emigrated from Norway in 1850, was born near Decorah, Iowa, in 1857. Edward (Edvart in Norse) was the eldest of the surviving family of Berger Sjonneson and his wife, Marthea. Their first two children died in Norway and a third child died en route to America and was buried at sea; they arrived in the new land childless.

Undergoing several years of hardship and privatation, the couple endured the scourge of cholera and hostile Indians. They lost three more children before finally settling in Iowa. The six surviving children were born there. They were Edward, Ben, Ingeborg, Sever, Mathilda and Hans. In about 1872 the family moved to homestead near Renville, Minnesota. It was about at this time that the sons adopted their father’s surname, Berger, rather than Sjonneson.

Edward Berger, at the age of 22 years, came to Dakota Territory and filed on his homestead in the Milton- Osnabrock area. He married Marit Dahl on March 4, 1884 They had 13 children; two died in infancy. They had two sets of twins. The 11 surviving family were Mattie, Ben, Emma, Sena, Annie, John, Julia, Alf, Elmer, Mabel, and Della. Edward Berger was one of the area’s oldest pioneers, coming as he did nearly 10 years before the railroad was extended up into the territory from Larimore. His first farming outfit, like those of the old pioneers, included two yoke of oxen, and with these he broke the virgin sod, seeded and harvested his crops and later hauled the wheat across country to St. Thomas (at that time the nearest market) where he sold it for 36 cents per bushel. On the 27th of June, 1914, he suffered a paralysing stroke and was bedridden nearly 11 years until his death in January, 1924.

Ben E. Berger, eldest son of Edward and Marit, was born in the original sod house in 1886. In 1911 he went to eastern Montana and homesteaded for some years. He returned to this community and married Emma Skrogstad in 1921. They had three children: Edward L., Dolores and Leland. Ben and Emma lived on the home farm until their deaths in 1960 and 1965, respectively.

Edward L. has lived and farmed the home place except for the years he was in the United States Navy during World War II and after discharge attended college in Grand Forks. While in the Navy he served in the Amphibious forces aboard an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry). He participated in campaigns in the Marshall Islands, Marianas, Philippines and Okinawa. As the war ended his squadron was sent to French Indo-China (Vietnam) to evacuate Chinese Nationalist forces from there to Taiwan.

Dolores married Harold Brown in 1946. They had two children, Dennis and Linda. Dennis farms together with his uncle and lives on his own farm northeast of Milton.

Linda graduated from Milton High School and continued her education at Wahpeton and Grand Forks. She worked at the University for some years until she accepted a position as assistant to the President of Blue Cross-Blue Shield in Fargo. Dolores remarried in 1973 to Alan Carlson and they live and farm in the Concrete area.

Leland left this community in the late fifties. He is working in Montana.

ALBERT (BERT) BOWLES FAMILY

Albert (Bert) Bowles was born in Beaulieu, N. Dak., June 16, 1894. He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth McGauvaran Bowles. His father was one of the earliest pioneers who carried the mail between Walhalla and Devils Lake by horse and dog sled before North Dakota became a state.

During the early thirties Bert bought a farm northwest of Milton and in spite of the Great Depression that farm remains in the hands of his sons today. In 1935 he married Vera Irwin, Rolla. Their four children are Helen (Mrs. Robert Torrance), John (Jack), and Harlan, all of Milton, and Margaret (Mrs. Cliff Eckdahl), Red Wing, Minnesota.

Bert was active in Democratic Party politics and served two terms in the North Dakota State Legislature. He and Vera were both members of St. Clothilde’s Catholic Church.

Vera was a quiet, retiring woman devoted to her family, church, and gardening. Many of the mountain ash trees in the area were seedlings she raised. Bert was a man of wide interests, almost entirely self-educated. He quit school in the sixth grade, after a teacher struck him leaving him deaf in one ear and ran away to Canada where he remained until he was 18. He still remained devoted to education. When one of his children mentioned that he was elected to the legislature without the benefit of higher education, he replied, "Yes, but if I’d gone to college, 1 could have been governor.’’

HARLAN BOWLES FAMILY

Helen Heigaard Bowles and Harlan Albert Bowles were married in Gardar on September 26, 1959.

Helen is the youngest daughter of Oliver and Laufey (Erickson) Heigaard of Gardar, N. Dak. She has five brothers and three sisters.

Harlan is the son of Vera (Irwin) and Albert Bowles of Milton. He grew up on the Bowles farm northwest of Milton and attended the Milton school. He graduated from high school in 1956. He enlisted in the Armed Services in October of 1956. After training in the United States, he served in Hawaii for about a year.

After their marriage, Helen and Harlan moved to Grand Forks where Helen was employed as an x-ray technologist at the Deaconess Hospital and Harlan worked at the Valley Lumber Company. They moved back to Milton in 1966 and now live on their farm northwest of Milton.

Harlan and Helen have five children: Kelly Lynne born Nov. 21, 1960, and died Nov. 22, 1960. Kelly Rae, born Jan. 15, 1962, attended grade school and graduated from Milton-Osnabrock High School in 1980. She is a senior at NDSU, majoring in audiology and speech pathology. Michael Keith, born April 20, 1963, died October 1, 1963. James Harlan, born September 27, 1964. He attended grade and high school here and graduated from Milton-Osnabrock High School in 1982. He is farming with his father. Kristine Lynnette was born Feb. 28, 1969, and is at present a freshman at the Milton- Osnabrock High School. Kelly Lynne and Michael Keith are buried in the Milton Cemetery.

Helen, Harlan and their children are all members of the Milton Lutheran Church. Helen is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Harlan is a member of the American Legion.

JOHN BOWLES FAMILY

John Bowles and Laurel Laxdal Bowles were married on September 20, 1957. John (Jack) was born March 18, 1937, to Vera and Albert Bowles. Laurel is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Laxdal of Gardar. They are the parents of five children: Julie, Susie, Angie, and twins Jan and Jason.

Laurel was born in National City, Calif., but the family has resided at Gardar for many years. Laurel is a 1956 graduate of the Gardar High School and a 1957 graduate of the Northwest Institute of Medical Technology, Minneapolis, Minn. She worked at Crookston, Minn., Cavalier, N.D., and is presently employed as part time nurse’s aide at the Good Samaritan Home in Osnabrock.

Jack is a 1955 graduate of the Milton High School and served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957. After basic training he was stationed at Baumholde, Germany. Jack has been engaged in farming since 1957. Jack and Laurel’s farm is the one formerly owned and operated by Albert and Vera Bowles.

Julie Bowles is a 1978 graduate of Milton High School and a 1982 graduate of the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Susie is a 1982 graduate of the Milton High School and is presently employed at Asmundson’s Hartz store in Milton.

Angie was born May 20, 1970, and is in the 7th grade. She plays clarinet in the band, is a grade cheerleader and plays girls’ basketball.

Twins Jan and Jason were born Feb. 4, 1973, and are in the fourth grade. Jan plays clarinet in the band and both play grade basketball.

KENT BRUSSEAU FAMILY

Kent Brusseau, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Brusseau of Osnabrock, and Linda Padden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Padden of Langdon, were married in 1976. They live on the former Tony Slama farm two miles west of Milton. They have one son, Casey, who is three years old.

Kent attended and graduated from the Osnabrock School. Linda is a graduate of Langdon High School. Kent was actively farming for some years and also was in the trucking business. He is presently employed at the GTA Elevator in Milton. Linda is employed at the Good Samaritan Center in Osnabrock.

JAMES BROWN FAMILY

The James Brown family came from the Park River area in about 1910. They settled on the former John Gustav Olsen farm four miles north from Milton. In the early 1930 period they moved to a farm northeast of Langdon and then later on they moved to Fargo.

It is remembered that Mrs. Brown was a sister of Mrs. James Jobe and the first wife of William Myrta was also a sister. The Jobes and Myrtas were early day residents in East Alma north from Milton.

The James Browns had eight children. They were Vernon, Ruby, Lynn, Muriel, Frances, James Jr., Elizabeth and Dorothy.

LARS DAHL FAMILY

Mr. and Mrs. Lars A. Dahl, after the deaths of their parents, decided to leave their native land in Sundalen, Norway, and emigrate to America. The trip took three weeks and they arrived in Dakota Territory May 27, 1886. Lars then filed preemption rights to a quarter of land three miles north from Milton in East Alma Township. Their first home was built of logs. The winters were long and hard in those early days and often the snow would cover the buildings. The crops of wheat often froze but then they would have it ground into flour at a mill in Milton. Whatever wheat they had for sale brought only twenty-five cents per bushel.

On April 16, 1899, Lars filed a tree claim on eighty acres of land in Alma Township. That same year land in Storlie Township was opened for filing and Lars used homestead rights to file on one quarter of land close to where Hampden, North Dakota, is today. After five years Lars sold this land to a neighbor, William Strayer, and the family moved back to the Milton area. He bought another two quarters in Alma Township and this is now the Dahl family farm; it is farmed by Euphram Dahl (son of Iver) and Euphram’s son, Darryl. They would be a grandson and great-grandson of Lars.

Lars A. Dahl was born April 2, 1861, at Sundalen, Norway. He passed away at his farm home April 25, 1944. His wife, Anne Odegaard, was born June 10, 1865 at Sundalen, Norway, and passed away August 10, 1947. They had eight children.

Andrew went to Montana as a young man to homestead. In later years he was to serve his adopted state as representative and then senator. He also led and served many cooperatives including three years on the Board of Directors of the Farmer’s Union Grain Terminal Association of St. Paul, MN. Sena lived and farmed near Swift Current, Saskatchewan, until retiring and now living in Chilliwac, B.C., Canada.

Iver worked in this area as a mechanic and for a local grain elevator. He lives in Osnabrock, ND. Edwin farmed in Montana after returning from service in the U. S. Army during World War I. Henry, Hattie and Louise maintained and farmed the home place until the death of Henry in 1965 and Hattie in 1978. Louise now resides in the Good Samaritan Home in Osnabrock. The youngest son, Alfred, farmed and had a trucking business in Montana. He also lived in Racine, WI, for some years.

FINNBOGI ERLENDSON FAMILY

Finnbogi and Kristine Erlendson were married in Iceland and immigrated to America in 1883, homesteading on a farm four and one-half miles north of Milton in Alma Township. In 1897 they moved to a farm southwest of Mountain,_ND. They had two daughters, Gudrun, born January 15, 1885 and Anna Margaret, born January 25, 1887.

Gudrun graduated from nurses training in June 1913 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, MN. She married Bjorn Olgeirson June 26, 1914 and they remained on her father’s farm until 1949 when she became matron and nurse at the Borg Memorial Home at Mountain. She retired in 1960. She passed away in 1975.

Anna Margaret studied to become a teacher and taught in area schools. In 1924 she graduated from nurses training at St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, MN. She passed away in January 1933.

The Erlendsons also raised a foster daughter, Laura Sigurdson. She married Melius B. Johnson who passed away in the early 1960s. She later married Jens Eliasson. He passed away in early 1974.

Gudrun and Bjorn Olgeirson were the parents of an adopted son William. He married the former Esther Baarstad of Nome, ND. To this union one daughter Margaret was born. Margaret married Tom Lorenzen of Cavalier, ND. They are the parents of twin daughters, Tonia Marie and Trudy Ann. The Lorenzens reside in Gurnes, IL.

ROLAND GAFFNEY FAMILY

Roland and Daisy Gaffney moved to Milton in 1934. They had five children: Marguerite, June, Dolores, Tommy and Corrinne. They farmed two quarters of land three miles north of Milton.

Gaffneys loved music. Their mother taught them to play the guitar, uke, mouth organ and kazoo. Their dad provided the words for the songs. It wasn’t long until Dolores, June and Marguerite were singing many Sunday nights at Young People Societies in the area. They could also remember Dory Asgrimson paying them a nickel to sing in his store. As they grew older they sang at Community clubs, talent shows or whenever anyone needed a little program. They were even asked to sing on the radio. Due to the lack of transportation this did not happen. By this time Dolores was doing a little tap dance and Marguerite was doing solos.

Tommy and Corrinne continued the singing. Needless to say their dad made many trips to town in the old "Whippit" or horse and sleigh.

Gene, Bonnie, Terry and Michael were added to the family. They, too, continued in music. Thanks to Tony Slama some even had band.

Because of the economics at that time house parties were a big hit. The "town kids" would walk out to Gaffneys. Their mom and dad provided the music and lunch until the girls became accomplished enough to provide their own. Following lunch everyone boarded the sled and headed back to town which actually meant it was now a "sleigh ride" party.

Memories of school were great. The teachers must have been very patient as doing homework in two rooms with wall-to-wall people wasn’t easy. Then there was the year their dad had smallpox. They were quarantined even though he wasn’t too sick. The good thing that came out of that was the "basic skills" that took place. Cards and games were played day and night.

Tommy was the only one in the service. He was in the National Guard during the Korean Conflict. In July 1950, he spent four or five months at Yucca Flat where they were testing atom bombs, then to Fort Lewis with the 231st Combat Engineers. This was a cadre group who trained the military to fight in Korea. He was discharged in October of 1952.

Our family is youngest to oldest: Michael, a Capuchin Brother, is doing sculpturing and artwork at Mt. Calvary, WI; Terry (Mrs. Ray Dusek) lives in Crookston with her husband and four children; Bonnie, in business, lives in Katie, TX, with her five grown children; Gene, a music teacher, lives in Detroit Lakes with his wife Eloyce and four grown children; Corrinne ((Mrs. Ronnie Chapman), a State Highway Department employee, lives in Drayton with her husband and has four grown children; Tommy, a director of procurement and maintenance of G.T.A. feed plants, lives at Sioux Falls with his wife, Lois, and six grown children; Dolores (Mrs. Arni Johnson) lives at Mountain with her husband and two grown children (She’s an artist too); June (Mrs. Louis Papenfuss) died of cancer and left her husband and four children at Park River; Marguerite (Mrs. Danny Walker) is a kindergarten teacher and lives in Mayville with her husband and eight grown children. Roland is living in Walhalla and Daisy is deceased as of 1980.

CHARLES STEWART GILLESPIE FAMILY

Charles Stewart Gillespie was one of the early pioneer settlers in Alma Township.

He was born in the year 1838 in Armaugh County Down, Ireland. He married Susan McMurray, who was born in 1848 in Kilkeel County Down, Ireland. They were married in 1871 and moved to Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada, two years later and lived there until 1882. They moved to North Dakota and homesteaded in Alma Township just north of Milton, which was founded five years later in 1887. The original Gillespie homestead is now the Hanson farm.

In those early years, starting a homestead was very hard work and money was hard to come by. Mr. Gillespie worked in the St. Thomas vicinity to earn enough to maintain his family and prove up their claim.

He would walk home from St. Thomas and carried a sack of flour nearly 50 miles. The well for water was dug by hand. Dirt was pulled up in a pail and the well was curbed with small stones picked from the fields. The water was pulled up with a pail and rope connected with a pulley on a frame over the well.

The garden plot was planted with trees and a stone fence was built around the plot. The early settlers were always willing and ready to lend a hand to help each other in every way possible.

The Gillespie family were charter members of the Presbyterian Church, which was organized October 30, 1887.

There were eight children in their family:

John William, born in Ireland in 1872. He married Annie Voge in 1904. They had no children. He died in 1939 in Spokane, Washington.

George Broronlaw, born in 1874 in Canada. He married Liza Parks in 1904. They had five children, all boys. They moved to Canada shortly after their marriage. He died in 1945 in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada.

Sarah Jane, born in 1875 in Canada. She married John Irwin in 1904. They had four children. She died in 1945 at Milton, N.D.

Susan, born October, 1880, in Canada. She married Harold E. Sunderland December 28, 1898, at the family home. They had eleven children. She lived her entire life in Milton and died June 30, 1966.

Mary Amelia, born 1883 at Drayton, N. Dak. She married Ed Fetterly in February, 1905. They had no children. She died at Rolla, N.D., in 1914.

Charles Stewart, Jr., born August 5, 1885, at Milton. He died June 27, 1892, at Milton, N. Dak.

Thomas, born August 25, 1887, at Milton. He married Nan Elliot December 24, 1907. They had six children. He lived his entire life in the Milton vicinity. Thomas died at Milton January 6, 1946.

Mabel, born February 8, 1890, at Milton, N. Dak. She married Wesley A. Hunter June 8, 1910. They had two children. Mabel lived nearly her entire life in the Milton vicinity. She died at Langdon, N. Dak., on November 12, 1979.

Charles Stewart Gillespie died at the family homestead north of Milton on September 19, 1902. Mrs. Charles S. Gillespie died in Milton January 5, 1915.

When Mabel (Gillespie) Hunter passed away in 1979, that was the last of an early pioneer family. Five of the

children and parents are buried in the cemetery at Milton.

To those of us descendants who remain, we can be proud of our heritage.

Submitted by Thomas J. Gillespie

EDWARD HANSON FAMILY

Edward Hanson was born April 1, 1879, in Norway where he served in the cavalry for one year and later immigrated to the U.S. in 1904.

Ragna Olson was born March 3, 1881, in Norway and immigrated to the U.S. in 1903. They were both of Nas Hedemarken and were engaged in Norway. They were married in Gary, S.D., in 1905.

They brought 10 children into this world which always creates a lot of activity and joy in a home. The summer months were filled with hard work in the field and making hay for the many horses and cattle; but the winter months were filled with visiting. Many times during the 20’s and 30’s the fire in the round oak stove in the front room would be allowed to die down so it would cool off by 6:00 p.m. so it, along with the furniture, could be moved to an adjoining room to make ample room for a dance. Norman and Morris Olson were among those providing the music. During the evening Ragna and Edward would demonstrate their very capable abilities at the polka.

In 1932 the Nat Walstad family became their neighbors and the children of both families enjoyed ¹ walking to school together in the spring and fall. During the winter they enjoyed showing off their black broncos pairing them off with the race horse "Jim." They boasted the fastest team north of town and proved it a few times. (Especially when Arleen, Sidney, and Harlan passed the ice cream truck coming out of Milton, they thought it was funny; Edward didn’t!) Edwin and Arnold were the horse traders, but the family was happy when they dropped the hobby after a few deals.

People may talk about the dangers of the motorized age, but Edward lost an eye when a horse kicked him in the head. Also, a daughter lost her life at three years of age by being run over by a wagon drawn by horses.

Four of the seven surviving children still live at Milton. Sidney and Marvin live on the farm that was purchased in 1943 and Harlan lives one mile south. Arleen lives in Milton. Arnold has made his home in Seattle, WA, since 1952. Edwin has lived in Coram, MT, since 1946. Thelma married Charlie Rud and thereby chose Minnesota as her state. Bernard lost his life in a truck accident in 1970 in Montana.

Three sons, Harlan, Sidney and Marvin, served in World War II. Marvin served as a surgical technician with the 6th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theatre. He was awarded the bronze star and bronze oak leaf cluster for heroism in giving medical aid to comrades under enemy fire. Sidney served with the 80th Infantry Division in France and was awarded the purple heart for wounds from Nazi 88mm shells in furious battle near Nancy, France. He and Vernon Westburg were side by side when they were wounded. Sidney was evacuated to England and returned to the US for treatment in various hospitals.

In 1950 Ragna and Edward moved into Milton. In 1955 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. In 1965 the farm home burned and was replaced by a new house. 1965 was also the year that Edward passed away. Then Ragna moved back to the farm to live with Sidney and Marvin until 1977 when she had a leg amputated and had to move to Maple Manor in Langdon. An open house was held in the Milton Legion Hall in March, 1981, to honor her on her 100th birthday. She lived at Maple Manor until Oct. 23, 1982, when she passed away at the age of 101 years and seven months.

PAUL LEMMICK FAMILY

Paul Lemmick was born in Osterdalen, Norway, July 27, 1878. He was the son of Soren and Oline Lemmick. The family emigrated to America in 1882. They lived near Cloquet, Minn., about two years. They came to Alma Township in 1884. They filed on a homestead five miles north and one half mile west from Milton.

Paul Lemmick lived there until 1907 when he went to Wynyard, Saskatchewan, and secured land there. He married Anna Berg at Yorktown, Saskatchewan, on April 15, 1916. She died in April, 1917. After the death of his wife he sold his land there and returned to the family farm near Milton. He resided there until entering the Borg Home of Mountain where he passed away in 1957 at the age of 79 years.

NILS LUNDEBY FAMILY

Nils Lundeby was born in Sweden January 18, 1858, to Nils and Ingeborg Olsen Nilsen. When Nils was an infant his father died and when Nils was 17 years old he and his mother moved to Rodness, Norway.

Johanne Degnes was born July 8, 1858, to Christian and Sofie Engen. She was the oldest of five children. Joanne lived with her grandparents until her marriage to Nils.

Johanne Degnes and Nils Nilsen (Lundeby) were married June 29, 1877, in the Rodness Church in Harland, Norway.

In 1882, Nils left his family in Norway and came to America where he settled in Woodville, Michigan. He worked for over a year to save enough money to send for his family which he did.

To avoid mail confusion, Nils changed his last name from Nilsen to Lundeby (post office name in Norway).

In 1884, the Lundebys moved from Woodville, Michigan, to Dakota Territory and homesteaded in Alma Township. Nils, like other pioneer homesteaders, brought his family into the wilderness with no house to move into so he built a 10 by 10 foot sod house to live in.

Their closest town for supplies was St. Thomas, N.D., forty miles away. Nils walked and later drove by oxen to St. Thomas for food and supplies for his family. During the second summer on their homestead, they built a 14’ by 16’ log house which was a great improvement over the sod house.

To this union twelve children were born: Sofie and Maria were born in Norway, Carl, born in Michigan, Henry, Nellie, Inga, Julia, Klara and Lydia were born in Alma Township. Three babies died in infancy.

The Lundeby family was instrumental in organizing and building of the North Dovre Church and were active members there. Nils was a trustee for many years and Johanne was an officer and active in the Ladies Aid.

In 1904, the Lundeby family moved to a farm west of Osnabrock. In 1912, they retired and moved into Osnabrock. The last year of Nils’ life was spent at the Borg Home at Mountain, ND.

Nils and Johanne experienced all the hardships and difficult situations that befell the early pioneers, but through a strong Christian faith and determination, they continued to improve their lives and living conditions.

Nils and Johanne celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary June 29, 1927, and their sixtieth anniversary June 29, 1937.

Nils died April 3, 1953, at the age of 95. Johanne died January 20, 1941, at the age of 82.

Submitted by Mrs. Klara Flom

JOHN GUSTAV OLSEN FAMILY

The John Gustav Olsen family left a farm near Willmar, Minn., in 1883. With their six children they came to Dakota Territory seeking a homestead. As the railroad had only been built as far as Hamilton, they left their worldly possessions there except for the wagon, oxen and a tent. With these they set off to the west. They decided on a homestead 4 miles north from Milton. There was no Milton or Osnabrock yet and Hamilton was 38 miles or a three day trip by oxen.

Their first house was sod, built with the help of neighbors who had arrived in an earlier period. Some years later a one and one half story log house was built. The logs were cut and hauled from wooded land some miles to the east. This was done during the long winter months. John Gustav was a fine carpenter and soon put siding on the dwelling inside and out with lumber hauled from Hamilton. The Olsen home was used for church services before any churches were built in the area. It was surely ecumenical as Lutherans, Methodists and Baptists met there.

The Great Northern Railroad eventually came through four miles from the home farm and the town of Milton grew fast. As churches were built in town the Olsens attended Sunday school and church services at the Methodist Church.

When the Olsen family came to Dakota they had six children., Frank, Albin, Willie, Amanda, Henry and Hattie. Hattie was only six weeks of age at the time of the move. One more son, Alert, and another daughter, Amey, were born after the move.

In 1905 Willie, Henry and Alert, with their father, John Gustav, decided to again make a major move. New land was opening for homesteading in Canada and they located at Phippen, Saskatchewan. They built another sod house and by 1910 they sold the farm at Milton and shipped the farm machinery, horses, etc., to Canada. Son Frank lived with his family near Park River. Daughter Hattie married Oscar Rude of the Mona area. Hattie is the last surviving member of the Olsen family and at this writing makes her home at the Good Samaritan Center at Osnabrock. She is now one hundred years of age.

The Olsen farm is now owned and occupied by the Jack Bowles family.

NELS OLSON FAMILY

Nels Olson was born in Norway September 24, 1857. His wife, Mathilda, was also born in Norway April 1, 1858. They came to Cavalier County and filed on a homestead four miles north and Vi mile west from Milton, N.D., in 1884.

They had seven children. Alma married Just Lugvigson of Osnabrock; Amelia was Mrs. A. C. Quale (former pastor at Milton in 1908); Laura was Mrs. Ole Stortroen of Crookston, Minn.; a son, Fred, also lived at Crookston; Alice was a teacher in Alma rural schools; another son, Henry, married Josie Swanson of East Alma community and they homesteaded and farmed near Wynyard, Saskatchewan; another daughter, Effie, passed away while an infant.

Mrs. Olson died in 1914 and Nels then moved to Milton and made his home there for some years. His last years were spent in Saskatchewan where he made his home with a son, Henry. Nels died there March 10, 1930.

At this writing there are no known survivors of this family. The Lindtweds now own and farm the Nels Olson farm.

HENRIK OVERBOE FAMILY

Henrik Overboe, son of Berthe Johannesdaughter and Hans Olsen Overboe, was born in the Hafslo area, Norway, about 1850. He was the third child in a family of ten children. His father, Hans Olsen Overboe, was born in 1815, and his mother, Berthe Johannesdaughter, was born in 1825. Henrik was seventeen years old when he came to America.

Henrik married Anna Grove, daughter of Thrond and Anna Grove. She was born August 14, 1857, at Goodhue County, Minnesota. They lived in the Osnabrock and Milton, N. Dak., area where several of their children were born. Their children were Hans, born January 8, 1879; Thomas, born June 1, 1881; Anna, born May 16, 1883; Andrew, born June 27, 1884; Anna, born January 14, 1887; Josef, born June 2, 1888; Ellert, born August 12, 1890; Annette, born October 7, 1892; Ellert, born July 18, 1894; and Bertha, born March 4, 1896.

Henrik passed away October 11,1897, at the age of 46 years, and is buried in the Dovre Cemetery, near Milton, N. Dak. Anna was left to raise her family of six children, with ages ranging from one to eighteen years. The two children named Anna and the two named Ellert passed away when very young.

Henrik’s wife, Anna, passed away on January 29, 1936, and is buried in Moorhead, Minn.

HANS OVERBOE FAMILY

Hans, the oldest child of Anna and Henrik Overboe, was born January 8, 1879, in Cherry Grove Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. He was confirmed April 22, 1894, at Osnabrock, N.Dak.

He married Ida Nilson Hanson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nils Nilson, Milton, N. Dak. Her first husband, Christ Hanson, passed away before their daughter, Ella, was born. Ella was born in 1905, and passed away in 1964, at Alameda, Calif., where she is buried. Hans and Ida had a son, Nuel Howard, born June 20, 1910, at Milton, N. Dak.

Hans was a rural mailcarrier and did many favors for his patrons during the years he served them. Many remember him as being a kind-hearted man.

Ida passed away in July, 1918, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Clara Herseth, Battleview, N. Dak. Hans passed away December 15, 1931, at the age of 51 years. Both he and Ida are buried in a cemetery near Milton, N. Dak.

NUELL HOWARD OVERBOE FAMILY

Nuell Howard, son of Hans and Ida Overboe, was born June 20, 1910, at Milton, N. D. His mother passed away when he was eight years old. He lived with his father; attended the Milton Public School; was an excellent basketball player; and became a great help to his father by serving as an assistant mailcarrier.

He married Margaretha Hendricks in 1938. They were divorced in 1949. He married Helen Hays Wright in 1951. She had a daughter, Jayne, by a previous marriage. Nuell Howard and Helen were divorced in 1957.

Howard, as he is known, retired in 1965, after being involved in various occupations throughout the years. He has been interested in inventing numerous devices, one which is being manufactured now after several years have elapsed.

Howard lives in Mesa, Arizona, but spends the summer months at his home in Hayden Lake, Idaho.

HANS PETTERSON FAMILY

Hans P. Petterson was born in Osterdalen, Norway, November 24, 1869. At the age of twelve he came with his parents and a sister and a brother to Cloquet, Minn. In 1884 he came to Alma Township in Cavalier County. He worked as a farm laborer until 1897 when he settled on the farm where the Petterson family still reside today. This farm had formerly been homesteaded by an Icelandic family named Fimbogi Erlendsen in 1883.

He married Cecili Marie Lundeby at Osnabrock March 28, 1901. Mrs. Petterson was born near Oslo, Norway, January 23, 1881. She came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nels Lundeby to Michigan in 1882. In 1884 the family came to Alma Township and established their home in a log shanty five miles northeast of Osnabrock.

Hans Petterson helped build the North Dovre Church and was a charter member of that congregation. He also served as secretary of the church for many years. He was a member of the Alma Township school board for 21 years and also belonged to the A.O.U.W. Lodge at Milton. Mr. Petterson passed away April 16, 1937.

Mrs. Petterson continued to live and work on the farm with her two sons, Carl and Gordon, until her death March 29, 1976.

The Pettersons had six children. Peter and his wife, Julia, live in Osnabrock, N. Dak.; Mrs. Ralph (Julia) Klai at Mayville, N. Dak.; Mrs. Lewis (Mabel) Dahl at Hillsboro, N. Dak.; Mrs. Henry (Lavina) Olson at Sunnyvale, Calif.; and Carl and Gordon who still live on the home farm five miles north of Milton.

PETER PETTERSON FAMILY

Peter Petterson, the son of Hans Petterson and Marie Lundeby Petterson, was born December 20, 1901, at Milton, North Dakota. On October 12, 1929, he was married to Julia Moland at Crookston, Minn. She was born November 8, 1906, at Fertile, Minn, to Carl Moland and Ida Herseth Moland.

Peter and Julia farmed north of Milton in Alma Township until 1975 when they retired and moved to Osnabrock, where they now make their home. They are members of North Dovre congregation and have been active in church and community activities.

Mr. and Mrs. Petterson are the parents of five children, Robert of Aurora, Ill., married to the former Nancy Millen of Aurora; Orval, whose wife is the former Betty Heck of Osnabrock, lives in Osnabrock. A daughter, Idella, now Mrs. John Franz, has her home at International Falls, Minn. Harold married the former Linda Krohn of Osnabrock and they make their home at Leeds, North Dakota. Their daughter, Joan, married Larry Schrader and lives in Osnabrock.

Peter and Julia Petterson celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on October 14, 1979, at the Dovre Lutheran Church in Osnabrock with all their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren present for the occasion.

ROYAL DAKOTA PHELPS

Royal Dakota Phelps was born Feb. 19, 1882, at Eau Claire, Wise., He moved with his parents to Thompson, N.D., and from there to West Hope, N.D. He spent many years of his life there. He married Mertie Henry and they had eleven children. Two children died at birth and four are now living. Mertie passed away in Sept. 1926 at the age of 42 years.

Roy married Florence Seufert Feb. 9, 1931, and they had 12 children. Two died at a very young age. They lived on a farm near Bottineau for two years. In 1932 they moved to a farm south of Olga. From there they moved to another farm west of what is now the Senator Young Dam. They moved to another farm known as the Laxdal farm and then to the Alma farm just west of Milton where they lived for three years. They moved to Gardar next and from there to a farm east of Edinburg. The next move was to Hoople where they lived for 20 years until Roy passed away June 29, 1969, at the age of 87.

Florence lived in Hoople at the same residence until she passed away April 7, 1983, at the United Hospital in Grand Forks. They were both members of the Hoople Methodist Church.

L. ERNEST SANDERS FAMILY

L. Ernest Sanders and his wife, Daisy, who was Daisy Lemmon, came to the Milton-Osnabrock community in 1917. Ernest was born in Pennsylvania and Daisy was born in Maryland. They were married at Franklin Grove, 111. They had two children, a son, Ralph and one daughter, LaRue. They lived on their farm four miles west of Milton until they retired. They moved in to town and lived there until their deaths. Daisy passed away in August 1950, and Ernest in September 1954.

Ralph lived on the Sander’s farm until the time of his death in April, 1975 at the age of 62 years. He was married to Marjorie Phelps and they had five children. Their children are Phyllis Sunderland, Virginia French, Lois Barnes and Earl and Terry.

LaRue married Ralph Roop of Milton in 1931. They lived and farmed near Milton until 1941 when they moved to Franklin Grove, Ill. They had four children — Beulah Carter, Erma Woods, Leo and Dale. LaRue and Ralph retired in 1977 and are now living in Tucson, Ariz.

RALPH SANDERS FAMILY

Ralph Sanders was born at Dixon, Ill. March 8, 1911. In 1917 he moved with his parents to a farm south of Osnabrock, where he lived all of his life except one year after graduation from Osnabrock high school, which he spent working in Kansas and Texas.

He and Marjorie Phelps were married on June 11, 1941 in the Zion Evangelical Church north of Osnabrock. They have five children.

Phyllis (Mrs. Don Sunderland) of Fargo, N.D.; Virginia (Mrs. Wayne French) of Edina, Minn — the Frenches have two children, Scott and Kristine; Lois (Mrs. Ron Barnes), Wichita Falls, Tex — the Barnes have two children, Randy and David; Earl, married to the former Sheila Lykken and residing on the family farm — the Earl Sanders have two children, Jonathon and Suzanne; and Terry, married to the former Mary Earley, they also reside on the family farm — the Terry Sanders have two children, Deborah and Robert.

Ralph passed away on April 9, 1975 at the Grand Forks hospital. Marjorie married Charlie Krom on November 24, 1978.

EARL SANDERS FAMILY

Earl Ralph Sanders was born on December 2, 1945 to Marjorie and Ralph Sanders of rural Osnabrock, N.D.

Sheila Kaye Lykken Sanders was born October 6, 1948 to Doris and Thilfer Lykken of rural Milton, ND.

Earl attended school at Osnabrock and graduated in 1964. He joined the Army National Guard that year. He attended basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., and served as Sergeant in the Cavalier North Dakota Guard Unit. He was discharged in 1971. He was employed by American Crystal Sugar Co. at Drayton, N.D. from 1966 to 1972. He and his brother, Terry, farmed with their father until his death in 1975 after which they continued their farming operation together.

Sheila attended Milton Public School and graduated in 1966. She attended Mayville State College and graduated in 1970 with a B.S. degree in elementary education. She taught first and second grades at Osnabrock from 1970-1975 and part-time basic skills in 1977.

Sheila and Earl were married April 11, 1970 at Hitterdal Lutheran Church, rural Milton. They have two children. A son, Jonathan Earl, who was born Dec. 10, 1975 and a daughter, Suzanne Marie, was born Feb. 19, 1979.

Sheila is a teacher at His Kids Christian Nursery School in Milton and a substitute teacher in the Milton- Osnabrock Elementary School system.

They are members of the Milton Lutheran Church and its auxiliaries and also the American Legion Post and Auxiliary.

TERRY SANDERS FAMILY

Terry Sanders, the youngest child of Ralph and Marjorie Sanders, was born May 2, 1947. He attended school in Osnabrock and graduated from High School there in 1965. He served in the National Guard after his graduation. He and his brother, Earl, worked with their father operating the family farm and also worked at the American Crystal Sugar Company at Drayton for several years.

In June of 1970 Terry and the former Mary Earley were married at her parent’s home at Fountain, Minn. Her father and mother are James and Marjorie Earley who farm near that place. Mary, who is a Registered Nurse, received her training at Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minn. After graduation she worked at the Methodist Hospital, which is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, for a time. She also worked at a hospital in Dallas, Tex. She came to the Langdon Hospital and continues to work there part time.

Terry and Mary have two children, Deborah Lynn, age 12, and Robert Terry, age 9. They attend school in the Milton-Osnabrock School System. Terry and Mary live in their home on the Sanders farm and together with his brother, Earl, continue their farming operation.

ANTHONY SLAMA FAMILY

Anthony "Tony" Slama was born in Osford Township Jan. 8, 1894. He was the seventh son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Slama, pioneer settlers of the Milton- Osnabrock community. Tony owned and operated his own farm west of Milton throughout his life. Lie served in the first World War from 1917 to 1918 and saw action in France. When the war ended he returned here and married Marie Meling Nov. 20, 1919. They had three children — DeLorris, Kenneth and Shirley.

Tony was an avid musician. He formed and led several bands in this area for near 50 years. He also taught band lessons in the Milton Public Schools for many years. Tony’s band will be remembered leading all civic, Legion and Memorial Day, 4th of July and other community functions. Besides the local band he also led and conducted a "little German Band" with members from Milton, Pisek and Lankin.

Tony was a charter member of the Eagleson-Meling Post of the American Legion and also a member of the Last Man’s Company World War I. In later years he also worked with the ASCS from the Langdon office. He passed away April 7, 1970.

Mrs. Slama, Marie, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Erick Meling Feb. 21, 1901. The Melings were old time residents of Osford Township. Together with her husband she raised her family and was a true farmer’s wife. She was a member of the Legion Auxiliary and St. Clothilde’s Altar Society. After a long illness, she passed away Nov. 13, 1954.

DeLorris was born Oct. 28, 1921. She attended Osford rural schools until high school at Milton, and graduated from Milton High School in 1940. She then entered Demming’s Beauty College and after graduating worked in beauty parlors in Devils Lake, until establishing her own shops in Walhalla, Osnabrock and then in Milton. She has one daughter, Karyn, who was born June 22, 1951. Karyn married Ron Jonasson Aug. 16, 1969. They have two sons and Ron works as an electrician at Comeau Electric, Grand Forks.

Kenneth was born March 26, 1923. He also went to grade schools in Osford Township. He attended Milton High School and graduated in 1941. He farmed with his father for some years until he married Kristine Einarson of Mountain. They moved to California in the early 1950s. They have four children, Julene, Thomas, Sandi and Kevin. The Kenneth Slamas and their family still live at Garden Grove, Calif.

Shirley was born Aug. 31, 1931. She attended the Milton Public School and graduated from high school in 1948. She went to Teacher’s College in Minot. July 12, 1949 she married Bruce Gemmill of Milton. They lived in Milton where Bruce owned and operated a garage until moving to Tucson, Ariz., and from there to Corona, Calif. They had three children — Lance, Debra and Scott. Shirley worked for a grocery concern in California until her health failed. She passed away Jan. 30, 1970, at the age of 39 years.

CHRIS VOLLUM FAMILY

Chris Vollum was born in Gulbrandsdalen, Norway, Oct. 11, 1891 He came with his parents, Peter and Martha,

to East Grand Forks, Minn., in 1896. In 1900 the family came to Cavalier County and settled in the Mona community. Chris had four brothers and five sisters. The brothers were Einar, Morris, Henry and Nels; the sisters Annie, Gunda, Hilda, Minnie and Ruth.

When a young man, Chris came to the Milton community. The farm five and one half miles northwest from town is still owned and operated by his family. The first years his sisters kept house for him. On June 18, 1925 Chris married Gunda Otilda Olson. She was a daughter of Gulick and Gurina Olson, early settlers in Alma Township.

Chris and Gunda were faithful members of the North Dovre Church and Chris served as a trustee of that congregation for many years. Gunda was church organist for thirty-five years as well as an active member of the Lutheran Ladies Aid. They had two children — Glenn and and Clarice. Glenn P. Vollum lives in his home at Osnabrock but farms the family land. Clarice taught school for some years and then married Orville G. Rollefstad of rural Langdon where they own and operate their own farm.

Chris Vollum died January 15, 1969 at his farm home. Mrs. Vollum passed away shortly after on Aug. 29, 1969.