Newsletters Index 2025 Coming Soon 2024 Volume 15 - Issue 3- Dec 2024 2023 Volume 15 - Issue 1 - Sept 2023 Volume 15 - Issue 2 - Dec 2023 2022 Volume 14 - Issue 3 - Apr 2022 Volume 14 - Issue 4 - Dec 2022 2021 Volume 14 - Issue 1 - Mar 2021 Volume 14 - Issue 2 - Nov 2021 2020 Volume 13 - Issue 4 - Apr 2020 2019 Volume 13 - Issue 3 - Dec 2019 2018 Volume 13 - Issue 1 - Mar 2018 Volume 13 - Issue 2 - Nov 2018 2017 Volume 12 - Issue 4 - Nov 2017 2016 Volume 12 - Issue 2 - March 2016 Volume 12 - Issue 3 - April 2016 2015 Volume 11 - Issue 4 - Feb 2015 Volume 12 - Issue 1 - Nov 2015 2014 Volume 11 - Issue 2 - Feb 2014 Volume 11 - Issue 3 - Nov 2014 2013 Volume 10 - Issue 3 - Feb 2013 Volume 10 - Issue 4 - July 2013 2012 Volume 9 - Issue 3 - Feb 2012 Volume 9 - Issue 4 - July 2012 Volume 10 - Issue 1 - Oct 2012 Volume 10 - Issue 2 - Dec 2012 2011 Volume 09 - Issue 1 - Jun 2011 Volume 09 - Issue 2 - Nov 2011 2010 Volume 08 - Issue 2 - Feb 2010 Volume 08 - Issue 3 - Jul 2010 Volume 08 - Issue 4 - Sep 2010 2009 Volume 08 - Issue 1 - Nov 2009 2008 Volume 07 - Issue 3 - Jan 2008 Volume 07 - Issue 4 - May 2008 2007 Volume 07 - Issue 1 - Aug 2007 Volume 07 - Issue 2 - Oct 2007 2006 Volume 06 - Issue 1 - Mar 2006 Volume 06 - Issue 2 - Jun 2006 Volume 06 - Issue 3 - Oct 2006 Volume 06 - Issue 4 - Dec 2006 2005 Volume 05 - Issue 1 - May 2005 Volume 05 - Issue 2 - Aug 2005 Volume 05 - Issue 3 - Oct 2005 Volume 05 - Issue 4 - Dec 2005 2004 Volume 04 - Issue 1 - May 2004 Volume 04 - Issue 2 - Aug 2004 Volume 04 - Issue 3 - Oct 2004 Volume 04 - Issue 4 - Dec 2004 2003 Volume 03 - Issue 1 - Mar 2003 Volume 03 - Issue 2 - Jun 2003 Volume 03 - Issue 3 - Sep 2003 Volume 03 - Issue 4 - Dec 2003 2002 Volume 02 - Issue 1 - Mar 2002 Volume 02 - Issue 2 - Jun 2002 Volume 02 - Issue 3 - Sep 2002 Volume 02 - Issue 4 - Dec 2002 2001 Volume 01 - Issue 2 - Apr 2001 Volume 01 - Issue 3 - Sep 2001 Volume 01 - Issue 4 - Dec 2001 2000 Volume 01 - Issue 1 - Dec 2000

Post Office Location: Block 4, Lot 13 Proprietor: Jerrit Biever Year Started: April 25, 1915 Year Ended: 1944 History of Business: The first Post Office was located in the first mercantile store run by Lars Burkum. In 1903 the post office was housed in the Willborg store. The post office was also located in the C. C. Melby Store, and a building north of the Johnson Place which became the Anderson Drug and later the Confectionery. There is a note in the 1905 Manfred News about Mary Roble’s absence from the post office for a brief period of time, so apparently she worked there at that time. The building pictured above was located between the Hotel Johnson and the Ford Garage. On May 3, 1894, Thorstein K. Rogne was installed as the first Postmaster in Manfred. He was followed by Issac L. Berge in March 1900; Swan N. Willborg, March 1902; Axel LeGrand, November 1906, George Gilbertson, May 1911; Gertrude LeGrand, March 22, 1912; Ole Ranum, January 1914, Ernest Braaten, February 1, 1921; Jerret Biever, April 1925. Oscar Ongstad purchased the Bank Building when he became postmaster in 1944 and this building was used until the post office was closed in October 1992. Edgar Flick was postmaster from 1964 to 1992. The old post office building was used as a brooder house for the turkeys at Harley Boese’s Farm. Daisy – Post Office Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Oscar and Bertha Melby Husband's Full Name: Oscar Julius Melby Husband's Place of Birth: Cooperstown, ND Husband's Father's Name: Knud O. Rudi Husband's Mother's Name: Guri K Melby Husband's Siblings' Names: Guri Ranum, Ole, Christen Knutson, Knute Knutson, Ragnhild Wolding, Guldbrand, Marit Satterberg Caroline Anderson, Martin Wife's Full Name: Bergit (Bertha) Gulliksdotter Nordtorp Melby Wife's Place of Birth: Valdres, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Gullik Rønjusson Nordtorp Wife's Mother's Name: Ragnhild Olsdotter Hegge Wife's Siblings' Names: Marit Jacobson, Ingrid Hovey, Ingebjorg (Emma), Jennie Isakson, Oscar, Anne, Hilda Roberts, Gladys Basarab Children's Names: Cora Turner, Roy, Ruth Hovey, Muriel Schwartz Boyum, Orlien, Kenneth, Gene, Ethel Bolyard Oscar, also known as O. J. Melby, was the tenth child born to Knud and Guri Melby on March 7, 1890 while they were living in Foster County. The crops were poor during that time. However, the Soo Line railroad track was being laid through North Dakota and so a source of income was possible for the folks. So, Knud and all his neighbors went to work for the railroad, building the track. It was through this work that they learned of the new land opening up further west in Wells County. Knud was impressed with the land and filed on section 8 in Manfred Township. In 1894 when Oscar was 4 years old, his family and other families moved in a caravan, herding their animals and hauling their belongings on wagons. Oscar took all his schooling in Manfred Township. He became well versed in farming having worked side by side with his father and older brothers through the years. His parents retired in 1911, and Oscar took over farming his father's land. He married Bertha Nordtorp on July 10, 1910 in Millet Alberta Canada. Bertha was born May 12, 1891 in Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway to Gullik and Ragnhild Nordtorp. They had first immigrated to the USA in 1892 on Bertha’s 1st birthday, but returned to Norway in 1899, only to return again in 1906 on her 15th birthday. They settled both times in Manfred, and it was there that Oscar and Bertha became acquainted. They became engaged in 1908, but her parents moved to Canada and they needed her help. Oscar and Bertha kept in touch and after the crops were planted in 1910, Oscar went to Canada for his bride. In 1914, Oscar and Bertha bought land in section 30 of Manfred Township, which had been passed from brother to brother Gilbert, then Chris, then Ole, and then finally to Oscar. Here they lived the rest of their lives. They owned and operated a threshing rig for 22 years. Oscar was very musical having a beautiful high tenor voice, and played the clarinet and violin. They were both very active in Vang Lutheran Church, and Sons of Norway, and other offices in the community. Born to them were eight children: Cora 1912, Roy 1916, Ruth 1919, Muriel 1921, Orlien 1924, Kenneth 1925, Gene 1928, Ethel 1931. Oscar died February 16, 1954, and Bertha died November 11, 1985. Both are buried at Vang Cemetery north of Manfred.

Ole and Gina Onstad Husband's Full Name: Ole E. Onstad Husband's Place of Birth: Østre Slidre, Valdres, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Engebret T. Alfstad Husband's Mother's Name: Anne Olsdtr Rudi Husband's Siblings' Names: Torger, Knut, Ola, Guri Windingstad Wife's Full Name: Guri (Gina) Eriksdotter Rogne Onstad Wife's Place of Birth: Rogne, Ostre Slidre. Valdres, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Erik Bendiksen Skogen Wife's Mother's Name: Marit Larsdtr Rudi Wife's Siblings' Names: Bendik, Kari Gilbertson, Lars, Erik, Halvor Children's Names: Annie Solheim, Emil Onstad In the spring of 1896 Ole Onstad came to America arriving in Manfred, ND. Here he made his home for a time with an uncle, Knut O. Melby and family. In 1896, Ole filed on a homestead northwest of Manfred. Gina Rogne came to the United States in 1899 with her mother after her brother Erik passed away. Her father had passed away 6 years earlier. They lived in Wisconsin a year before she moved to her homestead at White Earth in Williams County, since there was very little acreage left to homestead in Wells County. Her brother Bendik had come earlier and obtained a homestead just north of Manfred. Her sister Kari, married to Knut Gilbertson owned the hotel in Manfred. Winters were lonely on the prairie in Williams County so she would spend time in the Manfred area. There she met Ole Onstad. On March 18, 1909 Ole and Gina were married at the Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred, and had their wedding reception at the Manfred Hotel. They lived on the homestead near Manfred until the fall of 1949 when they moved to Manfred. They were both members of the Vang Lutheran church and active in the church. They were also active in organizing community activities including the Valdres Lag and the Sons of Norway. They had two children, Annie, who married Helmer Solheim and Emil who married Linda Brusven. Gina passed away in May of 1953, Ole passed away just 9 months later in February of 1954. They are buried at the Vang Cemetery north of Manfred.

William R. and Johanna Owen William and Johanna Owen Husband's Full Name: Dr. William Roy Owen Husband's Place of Birth: Iowa, USA Husband's Father's Name: William Eugene Owen Husband's Mother's Name: Frances Antonette Whitaker Husband's Siblings' Names: Wife's Full Name: Johanna Skogmo Wife's Place of Birth: Elbow Lake, Minnesota Wife's Father's Name: Tomas Anton Skogmo Wife's Mother's Name: Johanna Olasa Kvittum Wife's Siblings' Names: Anna, John T, George B, Jacob, Arthur, James, Alpha, Magda, Arthur, Harold Children's Names: none 2nd Wife’s Name: Sadie Leet Children’s Names: Mary and William Eugene Owen Dr. Owen began his medical practice in 1903 in Iowa. He came to Manfred in 1914 and served as a doctor in Manfred until 1920. At that time he moved to Oakes and served as their doctor until September 1923 when he went back to Osage Iowa and continued to practice medicine in that community until his retirement. He died in Iowa in 1960 at the medical center where he had undergone surgery. In February 1915 Dr. Owen married Johanna Skogmo in Manfred. This marriage lasted only 6 weeks, as Johanna became ill and died at the young age of 21 years. Dr. Owens built a large home in Manfred which was later lived in by P. B. Andersons. He married Sadie Leet in about 1917, and they had two children, both born during the time they were living in Manfred.

Hotel Johnson Fagerlund Sons of Norway Lodge 1906 - Hotel built by Nennie Johnson. It also served as a barber shop and restaurant. 1908 - Purchased by Knut Gilbertson and renamed it the Manfred Hotel. 1922 - Christ Anhorn purchased the hotel, and in 1924 he established a lunch counter in connection with his pool hall. 1953 - Purchased by Fagerlund Sons of Norway to serve as their lodge. 1988 - Last year of use. 2005 - Front boardwalk installed. 2008 - Exterior restoration, jacking of floors, and building of webbing network inside. 2009 - Exterior painting. 2017- Exterior painting. 2019- Shingling of outhouse. Future Plans: Maintain the Exterior of the Building

Johannes and Christina Anhorn Husband's Full Name: Johannes Anhorn Husband's Place of Birth: Besesina, Besserabia, Russia Husband's Father's Name: Joseph Anhorn Husband's Mother's Name: Christine Kohler Husband's Siblings' Names: Johann, Madalena, Jakob, Anna, Joseph, Jacob, Frederik, Katherine 1st Wife Full Name: Maria Rotacker (died in 1881) 2nd Wife's Full Name: Christina Stadel 1st Wife's Place of Birth: Besesina, Besserabia, Russia 1st Wife's Father's Name: Martin Rothacker 1st Wife's Mother's Name: Anna Elisabeth Teske 1st Wife's Siblings' Names: Unknown) 2nd Wife’splace of Birth: Beresina, Bessarabia, South Russia 1st Family: Children's Names: Maria, Dorothea, Frederika and Johannes who died as an infant 2nd Johannes Jr, Fred, Mathew, Gottlieb, Christian, John, Christina (Mrs. Chris Wagner); Chris, Othelia (Mrs. John Dockter) Johannes and Maria Rotacker were married in South Russia in 1873. In 1881, after eight years of marriage, she died leaving three young children. This was his first marriage. In 1881, Johannes married Christina Stadel in South Russia. To this union, six sons, Johannes, Jr, Fred, Mathew, and Gottlieb, Christian, John , and one daughter Christina were born. In 1894, the family came to the United States homesteading two miles south of Manfred in Manfred Township where another son Chris and a daughter Othelia were born on this farm.

Frank and Mary Janisch Husband's Full Name: Franz Janisch Husband's Place of Birth: Gerersdorf, Austria Husband's Father's Name: Paul Janisch Husband's Mother's Name: Maria Koller Husband's Siblings' Names: Paul, Anna Wife's Full Name: Maria Koller Janisch Wife's Place of Birth: Gerersdorf, Austria Wife's Father's Name: Michael Koller Wife's Mother's Name: Maria Pitz Wife's Siblings' Names: Michael, Frank Children's Names: 1) Theresa “Grace” (Mike) Seil; 2) Mary (Patrick) O’Neill; 3) Annie (Joseph) Hilbert; 4) Katherine (John) Smith; 5) Josephine (Anton) Breyer; and 6, 7) twin girls who died in infancy. Frank and Maria were married on February 12, 1890. Their first daughter “Grace” was born in Austria/Hungary. They immigrated to the USA in 1892. Frank worked near Fingal for a year, where their second daughter Mary was born in 1893. Frank was one of the early pioneers of Wells County and homesteaded in Manfred where their other daughters were born. Frank was highly respected. He was a butcher, a necessary occupation not only for his family, but also for the other families in the area. Maria died in 1925, Frank in 1939. They were buried in the Hillside Cemetery in Fessenden. Source – Fessenden Centennial Book 1893 - 1993

Joe Biever's Machinery Location: Next to Renden’s Blacksmith Shop Proprietor: Joe Biever Year Started: Year Ended: 1918 (fire destroyed it) History of Business: No information of this business is known besides its location Daisy – Joe Biever's Machine Shop Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Anderson House 1905 - House on left built for Charles Fjerestad by carpenter B. Thompson and crew of Harvey. 1906 - Porch added to kitchen 1913 - House sold to Olaf Anderson. After 1913 - Caroline "Lena" Anderson started growing flowers in the garden next to her house. "Lena's" Garden continued until 1970. 1970 - Lena Anderson moves out of house. Last year of residence. 2003 - New shingles and ceiling reinforcements placed. 2006 - Porch rebuilt and installed. 2008 - Exterior prepared for paint 2008 - Lena's Garden restarted. 2011 - Exterior painting begun. 2016 - Exterior painting finished. Front view today. Future Plans: Painting upkeep Install windows Clean out interior Plaster and painting of interior

Rage and Fury of Blizzards Courage and Strength North Dakota blizzards can call for courage, even now, but more so in the prairie years of the early nineties. (The following accounts show the bravery and hardships endured by our early pioneers. Even today, blizzards batter our homes, wildlife and vegetation; but it cannot break our spirit and love of the prairie.) Self-sacrifice, heroism and personal bravery, symbolic of pioneers were exemplified by Gullick Nordtorp of Manfred when he risked his life to save that of another. It concerns a young mother-to-be, who with her husband lived in the Nordtorp home. She was awaiting the arrival of their first child. During the ordeal, grave complications set in and medical aid became a dire necessity. It happened during a snowstorm when roads were blocked, making horse and sleigh travels impossible. Mr. Nordtorp decided to call a doctor by walking on the railroad tracks to Fessenden, eight miles distant. Dressed in warm clothing a grain sack over his fur cap and face he began the arduous journey. By forethought, should necessity demand he deemed it wise to arm himself with a long staff resembling a cane by which he could feel his way along the rails enabling him to follow the tracks. After he had traveled halfway, the strong wind whipped up a blinding blizzard, which proved to be a grueling challenge. Through faith and courage and determination, and the guidance of his staff, he finally reached his destination, which was Fessenden. A west bound freight train arrived just in time and carried the doctor and Mr. Nordtorp back to Manfred. The mother’s life was saved, but due to the long delay the child was stillborn. A posthumous Carnegie Medal is due this brave pioneer for his courage and noble service to humanity. Blizzard of 1891 A rather unusual blizzard incident of seventy-five years ago was experienced in the southern section of our state. Picture, if you can, a country schoolhouse built of sod and a partial earthen floor. This particular day when school was in session, a blinding blizzard struck the community without warning. It would have been sheer folly for the anxious parents to even attempt to reach their children. As darkness came on a little flame from a lone candle barely lit up the school room. At the eerie hour of midnight, the winds with added furry moaned and groaned around the eves. Presently the teacher heard a muffled commotion outside the door. At first, she became fearful but finally decided to investigate. To her great surprise she found a small flock of sheep huddled together at her doorstep. She let them enter thinking that they might shed a little warmth to the chilly room. Through the chilly and eerie night hours she stood guard over her charges, the children in winter wraps nestling among the wooly invaders and oblivious to the ordeal. When morning arrived, the frantic parents had to do some shoveling to gain entrance and though the air inside wasn’t of the purest, they found their children, the teacher and the sheep safe and sound. March Blizzard of 1906 There may be many of our older folks who recall the three-day March blizzard of 1906 which took its toll on human lives and hundreds of cattle. I shall site an instance when a pig saved the life of a man, Mr. Barreson, who was returning from McClusky to his home near Manfred. He was driving a horse drawn lumber wagon with a cow tied behind. In the wagon box was a good-sized pig grunting on a pile of straw. A blinding blizzard suddenly overtook the victims as they were in Hustoft’s pasture, about a mile west of Manfred. Travel became impossible. The only thing to do was to stop and wait. He unhitched and tied the team to the wagon. Mr. Barreson wrapped himself in available extra clothing and when night came on, he snuggled down beside the pig. After several anxious days and nights, morning dawned, clear and cold, calm and crisp. He barely managed to ride the horse back to a nearby snow-bound farmstead, which was the P.B. Anderson home. Here he was cared for until his many wants were satisfied by the ever-good Samaritans, Peter (P. B.) and Anna Anderson. At first Mrs. Anderson fed him warm milk by the teaspoonful. His frozen feet were thawed out, but several damaged toes required amputation. A close call, when a human life was saved by the presence of a lowly pig. Fury of Storms Blizzards have raged since time immemorial and will continue. The storm of March 2 and 3, 1966 in several instances was the worst ever experienced in North Dakota. Six human lives and thousands of cattle and sheep were lost. Quoting from Mr. Moses in the Fargo Form “in terms of ferocity, this storm of 1966 may well rank as the worst in recorded N D Weather Bureau history. It is doubtful if any other winter storm in history has circled on itself twice, as this one did or hit so large an area, with so much, for so long.” Source: Sennev Nertrost Whipple Date: March 1966

James and Norma Jacobson Husband's Full Name: James Arthur Jacobson Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, Wells, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Rasmus Jacobson Husband's Mother's Name: Margit Gulliksdotter Nordtorp Husband's Siblings' Names Gladys Jacobson Wife's Full Name: Norma Emily Ayres Wife's Place of Birth: Hopewell, Mercer, New Jersey Wife's Father's Name: Ernest W. Ayres Wife's Mother's Name: Clara Belle Bovet 2nd Wife's Name: Marion Onderdonk Cole James Arthur Jacobson, 84, a retired banking executive whose government efforts during World War II helped spur China's wartime production, died Sunday at Bryn Mawr Terrace, PA, where he resided. He died of congestive heart failure and Alzheimer's on May 3, 1992 - he was born Feb 1, 1908. He lived in South Orange, New Jersey until 1990 when he moved to Bryn Mawr, PA. He made annual trips to North Dakota to see his aunts and cousins for many years. He also traveled to Norway to visit his father's family several times. Between his work with the War Production Board and his position as head of the international department of the old Chase National Bank, Mr. Jacobson was ever on the move. He once estimated that he had traveled around the world 53 times. James was born in Manfred, to Rasmus and Margaret (Nordtorp) Jacobson. Bertha Melby delivered James and was the first person to hold him. The Jacobson house is the corner house (across from Bertha's "new" house). James kept a picture of this house on his desk "so I always remember my roots." Mr. Jacobson grew up in Fairview, MT. He attended Spokane Academy and graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN in 1929. James was a good friend of Ole Rolvaag's son. (Ole wrote Giant's of the Earth and other novels regarding the immigrant's experiences). James received a master's degree from Harvard's business school in 1931. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from St. Olaf College. He went to work for Chase National Bank in 1931 and soon after was directing most of the institution's Far East operations. During WW II, Mr. Jacobson served the War Production Board as a special assistant to director Donald Nelson, undertaking assignments in Great Britain, Mexico, and China. He accompanied a delegation that included Vice President Henry A. Wallace and Gen. Patrick J. Hurley to the Soviet Union, India, China, and other Eastern nations to coordinate Allied war production. Next he was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a special liaison officer to increase the Chinese nationalist government's output of war materials. Stationed in Chungking, he and Wong Wen Hao, minister of economics of China, developed a system for the assembly of American-made trucks that were flown in unassembled over the Himalayas from India. He also organized the manufacture of bayonets for rifles. For his efforts, Mr. Jacobson was awarded China's Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award by Gen. Chiang Kai-shek. Returning to the Chase bank after the war, Mr. Jacobson spent many more months in the East, especially in Shanghai, but also in Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. He retired in 1973 as the senior vice president in charge of all banking operations outside the United States. (His social circle included the Rockefeller from the bank.) Mr. Jacobson was director emeritus of the Research Corp., a New York-based foundation that finances research in chemistry and physics. He was also a director of Research Cottrell, Inc. and a member of the Japan Society, the Asia Society and the Council of Commerce and Industry in New York. He was a member of the Merion Cricket Club and the Merion Golf Club, the Harvard Business School Club and the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr. Mr. Jacobson was an avid and talented fly fisherman - an avocation he pursued in all parts of the world. Surviving are his second wife, Marion Onderdonk Cole, stepdaughters Patricia Onderdonk Pruett and Adrianne Onderdonk Dudden and four step grand children. Cousins of James are children of Oscar and Bertha Melby and Anna (Ekrem) Bymoen of New Rockford. James' first wife was Norma Ayres, she died Oct 17, 1982. James had many priceless gifts from his work and travels that were of museum quality. He met with leaders of various countries, including Nehru, Ghandi, and the President of the Philippines. James was also influential in starting the Dr. Tom Dooley Foundation to help Dr. Tom Dooley in Viet Nam (A book was written by Dr. Dooley). James had many personal letters and photos from Dr. Dooley.