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Arthur Rodne Full Name: Arthur B. Rodne Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Father's Name: Ole L. Rodne Mother's Name: Anna Lunde Rodne Siblings' Names: Lars, Oliver, Otto, Alfred, Carl, Gina, Laura, Berger, Sena Arthur B. Rodne was born September 26.1903, to Ole L. and Anna Rodne near Manfred, ND. "Art" attended rural school in the area and in 1910 traveled with his family to Norway where they spent three years with family. As a young man Art began working on the farm of Nels and Cora (Anderson) Nertrost near Manfred. He worked the fields and with the livestock. His entire life was spent working on their farm. His interest in hunting and trapping was shared with nieces and nephews. He had a special heart for children and spent much time with family showering his nieces and nephews with homemade toys as well as bikes and toy trains and dolls to treasure. Art died on December 4, 1964, at age 61 near Manfred. He is buried at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Manfred.

Esther Anderson Full Name: Esther Dorothea Anderson Place of Birth: Manfred, Wells, North Dakota Father's Name: Peter Beck Anderson Mother's Name: Anna D. Johnson Wife's Siblings' Names: Arthur, Nennie, Minnie, Orren, Cora, Gertrude (her twin), Pete, Cora, Perry, Frederik, Florence, Mathilda Esther, born May 10, 1895, was the seventh child born to P. B. and Anna Anderson. Her twin sister Gertrude died of diphtheria while still a child. Esther was reared on the family farm west of Manfred. She attended Valley City State College and later Minot State College where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Esther taught school for 44 years, 37 of them at Roosevelt Elementary School in Minot before retiring in 1960. She came to Minot in 1923 after teaching for a time in Caldwell, Idaho, Maddock, and Manfred. She also taught briefly at Sunnyside Elementary in Minot before going to Roosevelt School. Esther was a member of the Minot First Presbyterian Church, the Church Circle, North Dakota Education Association, the National Education Association, American Association of Retired Teachers, Minot Stamp Club, Trinity Hospital Auxiliary and Minot Business and Professional Women's Club. Esther died on January 2, 1974. Funeral was held the following Saturday at 10 in Memorial Chapel of First Presbyterian Church. Burial was held in the Manfred Cemetery.

Joseph and Anna LeGrand Husband's Full Name: Joseph Alfred LeGrand Husband's Place of Birth: Stora Harrie, Skane, Sweden Husband's Father's Name: Jean Louis (Ludvig) LeGrand Husband's Mother's Name: Christina Svensdotter Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown Wife's Full Name: Anna Kristina Lindstrom Wife's Place of Birth: Svartbjorsbyn, Overlulea, Sweden Wife's Father's Name: Lars Lindstrom Wife's Mother's Name: Kaisa Carlson Wife's Siblings' Names: Charlotte Children's Names: Axel, Astrid, Inez, Sarah, David, Hulda, Gertrude, Harry, Clara In 1894, Joseph and Anna moved to the new community of Manfred taking up a homestead there, farming there and Anna was also a mid-wife. The earliest school records from 1895 list two of their children Hulda and Gertrude attending, with Sarah, David, Harry, and Clara also listed in succeeding years. The first wedding of their children which was for Esther, took place in 1895. The year 1896 was significant as well, with Joseph and his family becoming citizens of the United States. In 1905 Joseph and Anna also obtained land at Denhoff, as did their daughter Hulda, after which they frequented both Manfred and Denhoff. On June 15, 1906, Joseph and Anna sold 80 acres of their river bottom land near Manfred: the south 40 acres to their son Axel for land adjacent to his homestead and the north 40 acres to S. G. Klev. Joseph and Anna intended to made Denhoff their permanent residence with their daughter Hulda, however, on September 2, 1906 Joseph died. His obituary follows: “Joseph Le Grand died last Saturday night at the home of his daughter Hulda near Denhoff. Joseph was born in Sweden 70 years ago next February and emigrated to this country and was living at Northwood until 1894 when he came to Manfred and took up a homestead, which he farmed until last spring, with the exception of a few years when he was in the hotel business in Manfred. He led a quiet and peaceful life and will be remembered with respect by all who knew him. His remains were buried at the cemetery at Denhoff. " When they had sold some of their land at Manfred, they hadn’t sold their home located near the home of their son Axel so this is where Anna stayed. As she grew older, she didn’t like to stay alone anymore, so her granddaughter Evelyn would come over each evening to spend the night with Anna. Sometimes Anna would tell her stories about life in Sweden such as doing laundry only twice a year, in the spring and in the fall when they changed from winter to summer clothing and from summer to winter clothing. During those big laundry times, the neighbors would all come to help. Because Anna spoke only Swedish, Evelyn didn’t always understand everything her grandmother said. Through the years, Anna would visit her married children and stay with each of them for several weeks. She was remembered as being a very sweet, kind, and quiet person. Anna died October 2, 1923, and is buried at Vang Cemetery north of Manfred. Joseph and Anna have many descendants in various parts of Canada and the USA, but there are none to carry on the LeGrand family name. Of their three sons: Harry did not marry, David left Edmonton for the Yukon gold fields in 1908 with no word from him after 1910, and none of Axel’s sons had any male descendants.

Ole H. and Anna Rudi Husband's Full Name: Ole Haldorson Rudi Husband's Place of Birth: Valdres, Norway Husband's Father's Name: unknown Husband's Mother's Name: unknown Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown Wife's Full Name: Anna K. Wife's Place of Birth: Valdres, Norway Wife's Father's Name: unknown Wife's Mother's Name: unknown Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown Children's Names: Kari (Walfred Johnson); Ragnhild (Ole Enger); Gina (Leonard G. Christ) and Anna (Edward Christ) Ole H. and Anna Rudi – Golden Wedding Celebration in 1935 A very pretty Golden Wedding party was held at Manfred on Sunday, May 1st, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Rudi, residents of that community since 1920. The celebration was held in the Manfred Lutheran church parlors, and about 80 friends and relatives were in attendance. Mr. and Mrs. Rudi were married on May 4th, 1885 in Norway, where they lived until 1915. They then came to America where they first settled at Makoti, North Dakota. In 1920 they came to Manfred and for the last number of years, Mr. Rudi has been employed there as a mail messenger. The church parlors were very pretty decorated in white, pink and gold and two wedding cakes added to the occasion. One of these cakes was very unusual, being a Swedish cake, which was made by Mrs. J. P. Nelson of Makati, N. D. Eighty eggs were used in making this cake, which was of a rich gold color inside and out and carried gold writing on the frosting. Rev. J. M. Langseth led a devotion period, after which letters and telegrams of congregation were read. One was from James A. Farley of Washington, D. C. postmaster general, who extended his congratulations. Included on the program were a song by a ladies trio, an instrumental selection by Orlien and Donald Melby, vocal duet by Mrs. Ole Hovey and daughter, Berniece, reading by Mildred Ongstad, with Miss Myrtle Melby at the piano, song by the trio and presentation of a gift to Mr. Rudi, who offered a response. After this lunch was served and another short program was given, at which T. T. Jorstad of Harvey acted as master of ceremonies. Remarks were offered by Mr. T. O. Roble of Harvey and Rev. Langseth, after which both Mr. and Mrs. Rudi responded expressing their appreciation and thanks for the entertainment given for them. Present at the occasion were three daughters and their husbands Mr. and Mrs. Ed Christ of Wimbledon, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Christ of Buchanan, and Mr. and Mrs. Watford Johnson of Plaza. They have one more daughter, Mrs. A. N. Enger, who resides in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Enger celebrated their Silver Wedding in Norway on the same day that Mrs. Enger's parents celebrated their Golden Wedding at Manfred, a feature which was also mentioned at the celebration here. Following the Golden Wedding party, Mr. and Mrs. Rudi received the congratulations of everyone present, and everyone wished them many more years of happy married life. Ole passed away in 1954 in Jamestown, Anna died in 1959 in Minot.

Knud and Guri Melby Husband's Full Name: Knud Olsen Melby Husband's Place of Birth: Rudi, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Ola Mikkjelson Rudi Husband's Mother's Name: Ragnhild Knutsdatter Holdal Husband's Siblings' Names: Marit, Ola, Anne, Ole, Ingebjorg, Ragnhild, Wife's Full Name: Guri Kristensdotter Melby Wife's Place of Birth: Melby, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Christen Mikkelson Rogne Wife's Mother's Name: Ingebjorg Iversdotter Melby Wife's Siblings' Names: Knut, Ingebjorg, Ragnhild, Marit, Guri, Ivar, Ole, Ingebjorg, Ola, Torstein, Knut Children's Names: Guri, Ole, Christen, Knute, Ragnhild, Gulbrand, Marit, Caroline, Martin and Oscar Left to right standing: Martin, Ole, Kristen "Chris" Gilbert, Oscar Seated: Knud (father), Ragnhild "Nellie", Guri (mother), Marit "Mary" Guri, Caroline "Lena", not pictured - Knute Knud Olson Rudi b. 1843, was the fourth son of Ole Mikkelson Rudi together with his second wife Ragnhild Knutsdotter Holdal. Knud’s older brother inherited the Rudi farm, Ole. When Knud came of age he was ready to establish his own farm. He and Guri Christensdotter Melby b.1844 were married in 1861. Knud obtained his share of the inheritance money from his older brother, which he then used to buy the Melby farm from Guri’s parents. Guri had been blessed with parents who had each inherited a farm. Her father, Christen Mikkelson Rogne had inherited Røgnemarke farm #43/5 and her mother, Guro Gudbrandsdotter Melby had inherited Melby farm #41/1. Guri was the oldest child and when she came of age and was ready to marry, she was given the inheritance of the Melby farm. Her parents and her siblings then moved to Røgnemarke. Knud and Guri commenced with farming Melby, and also began their family. Born to them in Norway: Guri 1862, Ole 1864, Christen 1868, Knute 1870, Ragnhild 1873, Gulbrand 1877, and Marit 1880. It was not so easy to provide for a large family living on the small Melby farm. There was the pull to go to America which they had resisted considering so far over the years. But the pull was becoming stronger because in the recent years several of Guri’s siblings had immigrated to the USA and were sending back wonderful reports about that place where a large piece could be obtained for only the filing fee. They finally made the decision to go, sold the Melby farm and departed the spring of 1881 with their seven children, ranging in age from 19 to 8 months. Their destination was to Goodhue County Minnesota where others from Valdres already had successful farms established. They stayed there three years while becoming acquainted with their new homeland. New areas further west were continually being opened for settlement. In 1884 they were ready to file on their own land and start farming. They first went to Griggs County, North Dakota where two more children were born to them: Caroline 1884 and Martin 1886, and in 1887 they moved a little further west and farmed in Foster County for six years. It was there that, Knud’s home served as the first mail stop during those years. Also, Knud together with others in his family organized the first school district, which was called Melby, and he served as it’s first chairman. Knud and Guri’s 10th child was born here: Oscar 1890. The crops were failing during those years, so it was not easy for the people. The Soo Railroad track was being constructed westward through the region, so all the men went to work helping to build the track. But their first love was farming and so as the track was being laid they had opportunity to see the new lands that would be soon open to settlement. Knud and others in his family thought that Wells County looked good, and so they went to Sykeston, the location of the first court house in Wells County, and each filed on a new claim which were all located not far from the railroad track. Back in Foster County, they loaded up all their meager belongings on wagons. Knud even took his barn apart and laid it flat in sections on a wagon, they gathered their domestic animals together and caravanned to Wells County to their new claims in Manfred Township. Everyone was busy with putting up sod houses to use as temporary quarters until they could obtain lumber to build their homes. Knud erected his barn, and it is this barn that can be seen on the photo of Knud and Guri proudly standing in front of their home. Their house still stands, though abandoned. And though the barn Knud had brought from Foster County did not survive the years, the granary and the pig and chicken house are still standing. The granary can be seen in that same photo. The photo showing Knud and Guri with nine of their ten children was taken at the home of their son, Ole, in the village of Manfred. This home still stands, though abandoned. Knud was one of five founding fathers of Vang Lutheran Church in 1894. Many of their children were starting to have families of their own, and Guri always had lots of cookies on hand when they came. Music was always a part of family gatherings, and Knud and Guri were gracious hosts. Knud and Guri farmed until 1911, at which time they moved into Manfred and their son Oscar continued on their farm. Guri began to fail in her later years and died in 1921. After that, Knud would often stay at the home of one of his several children living in the area. Knud died in 1927. Both Knud and Guri are buried at Vang Lutheran Cemetery at Manfred.

Olaf and Nina Roble Husband's Full Name: Olaf Roble Husband's Place of Birth: Kenyon, Goodhue Co, MN Husband's Father's Name: Torstein O. Roble Husband's Mother's Name: Guro Skogstad Husband's Siblings' Names: Mary, Gina, Andrew and Melvin Wife's Full Name: Nina Swedlund Wife's Place of Birth: Wheaton, MN Wife's Father's Name: Nils Swedlund Wife's Mother's Name: Christine Lindquist Wife's Siblings' Names: Lillian, Roy, Ida, Dewey, Dancy, Edna, Tony, Una Children's Names: LaVone, Orville, Wayne, Jean and Jerald Olaf Roble was born to Mr. and Mrs. Torstein Roble (Guro Skogstad) at Kenyon, Minn. in 1886. He died at Harvey in 1933. He moved with his parents to homesteads near McHenry and Cooperstown in Eddy County. Then they moved to another homestead between Manfred and Harvey on the James River alongside the Soo Line Railroad. He went to school in Manfred and skated to school on the ice on the James River during the winters. He attended Fargo College where he took up manual training, steam engineering and music. He mastered the valve trombone, cornet, violin and saxophone. At Manfred he played with the Manfred Cornet Band. He started in business in Manfred as a coal dealer selling coal out of a box car. He went into business with Fremont Hanson in a general store, was a barber, worked in the Ford and John Deere dealership under Olaf Anderson who sent him to Harvey to run the A.B. Motive Power Co. The "A" stood for Anderson and the "B" was the previous owner and partner, O. E. Blanding. He had a big steam threshing rig, complete with cook car, which he had nine successful seasons. Olaf Roble went to Swift Current, Sask., Canada with Lars Hanson and stayed a year and acquired a quarter of land by homestead laws of Canada. He returned to Manfred in 1916 denouncing the Queen of England and became an American citizen again. In 1917, he married the schoolteacher that came from Velva and the Minot State Normal School, Nina Swedlund. She lived in Manfred, on the Halvorson farm they purchased west of Manfred, and also in Harvey. She became a widow in 1933 and had five children, age 15 and below. She continued to run the 640-acre farm, acquired full ownership of the business and property of the A.B. Motive Power Co., about eight or ten rental houses and the home which was built new for her at 221 Brewster Street in 1928-29.

Roble-Hanson Department Store Location: Owned property Block 3, Lots 2, 3, 7 Proprietor: Olaf Roble and Fremont Hanson Year Started: 1917 Year Ended: 1918 History of Business: The Manfred News of January 25, 1917 announced “On January 23, 1917, S.N. Willborg transferred the general mercantile stock and store to Olaf Roble and V. F. Hanson. The new firm is known as Roble & Hanson. Mr. Roble is the son of former representative T. O. Roble, and has been successful as a landowner and in other business affairs. Mr. Hanson came from Enderlin some years ago and is already well acquainted with Manfred and the people in the town’s vicinity as head clerk for Mr. Willborg. Both are young men of good reputation and wide acquaintance and we predict for them success. Mr. Willborg began business in Manfred 21 years ago and is now planning to move west. Olaf Roble and Fremont Hanson were co-owners of the Roble-Hanson Department Store. When the store burned down, Olaf went to college in Fargo studying steam engineering as well as the violin. V. F. Hanson joined the boys of the last draft on April of 1918 and left for Camp Dodge via the 106 (train). Star – Roble-Hanson Department Store Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Selmer Eilertson Full Name: Selmer Eilertson Place of Birth: Fram, Wells, North Dakota Name: Osmund Eilertson Mother's Name: Anna Karina Foss Siblings Names: Olga Ostenson, Ola, Borghild, Eilert

Pioneer Burials A Time of No Regulations At this time, in the early eighties, there were no regulations governing burials. I am citing a tragic instance in a sister county. It concerns a young mother living with her family on their claim thirty miles from the nearest town. This young woman had suffered with tuberculosis for several years, without treatment or medical aid. In early winter she died. A casket was made out of boards by kindly neighbors. Several women of the neighborhood prepared the remains for burial. Since the ground was frozen, the coffin was placed the north side of the shanty until spring, when interment could be made. In the absence of ministers, her brother-in-law Torstein O. Roble, officiated at the last rites. At the grave side, Norwegian funeral hymns were sung by the few mourners, the committal lines were pronounced and the remains of Mrs. Tollef (Jessie) Roble were consigned to earth on the lone prairie of Paradise Township near the country post office named Tiffany. 1897 Burial of Twin Girls A little twin monument in the Hovey family plat at Vang Cemetery near Manfred marks the graves of year-old twin girls who died 70 years ago when they succumbed to a virulent case of dysentery. In preparation for interment kind friends assisted in making caskets out of boards. These were lined with white sheets, the exterior painted black. Floral offerings were wreaths of wild fall flowers such as goldenrods, blue asters and baby sunflowers. In the absence of a clergyman the Deacon of the congregation, Mr. T. O. Roble conducted the grave side service. After the lines of the Committal Service were spoken on that beautiful autumn day, the remains of the twins were delivered to their final resting place. The inscription on the monument reads: Julia Matilda born October 25, 1896, died August 26, 1897 Nora Amanda born October 25, 1896, died September 6, 1897 Source: Sennev Nertrost Whipple Date: March 1966

Gerhart M. and Geoline Christensen Husband's Full Name: Gerhart M. Christensen Husband's Place of Birth: Copenhagen, Denmark Husband's Father's Name: Christensen Husband's Mother's Name: unknown Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown Wife's Full Name: Geoline Flolo Wife's Place of Birth: Minnesota, USA Wife's Father's Name: Ole O. Flolo Wife's Mother's Name: Gunhild Espeseth Wife's Siblings' Names: Ole Flolo, Knut Flolo, Carl Flolo, Anne Flolo, Ida Flolo, Louise Flolo, Alfred Flolo, Martin Flolo, Gerhard Flolo, Ingvald Flolo Children's Names: Fern, Genevieve, Harriet, Woodrow and Gladys Gerhard immigrated to America from Denmark as an infant in 1888. Gerhart and Geoline were married about 1910 in Minnesota. They came to Kongsberg, McHenry County, North Dakota the summer of 1917 where he ran the Rogers Lumberyard at Kongsberg. This town was first named Olivia, but because of confusion of similar names, the town name was changed to Kongsberg in 1916. G. M. Christiansen was the manager of the Manfred Roger’s Lumberyard from 1924 - 1932. From Manfred they moved to Knox, Benson County, North Dakota. They were active at Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred and she was a member of the Manfred Homemakers Club. Gerhard died in September 1962 in Maddock; she lived until September 1991.

Sven and Natalie Grane Husband's Full Name: Sven P. Grane Husband's Place of Birth: West Salem, Wisconsin Husband's Father's Name: Peder Swendson Grane Husband's Mother's Name: Maria Dorthia Larsdatter Husband's Siblings' Names: Peter N., Lars M., Petrena, Mekal, Maren, Anton, Berndt, Pauline, Anna Wolford, Olga, Delia, Benek Wife's Full Name: Natalie Jacobson Grane (Hattie) Wife's Place of Birth: Toronto, South Dakota Wife's Father's Name: Christian Jacobson Wife's Mother's Name: Ellen Caroline Johansdatter Wife's Siblings' Names: Lillian (Charles Fjerstad) Children: none Sven Grane (pronounced Grana) came to Manfred in 1896 with the Johnson brothers. He was the Manfred News Editor and wrote very colorful, informative items about Manfred each week from 1905-1907. From these news articles we have been able to gather history on the village and are very grateful to his work. This item was written Aug 24, 1906, and example of his writing: S. P. Grane has installed an Oliver in his sanctum sanctorum. He traded off his old “Williams” towards it when the general salesman Mr. Markwood was here. The typewriter is a standard machine, up-to-date in all particulars and is an honor to the man using it. Sven homesteaded the southeast 40 acres of Section 20 in Manfred Township. On this land he built a claim shanty with 2 x 4’s and attached vertical boards to the exterior. Later this land was transferred to John A. Johnson who owned the adjacent the land in this section. In 1909 he married Natalie, aka Hattie. They moved to Bowman, North Dakota. His wife Hattie died in 1936. He later moved to Oregon to live with his sisters and brothers. He died on August 30, 1959 in Salem, Oregon.