Ben and Evelyn Fuhrman Husband's Full Name: Benjamin Fuhrman Husband's Place of Birth: Bowdon, Wells, ND Husband's Father's Name: John Fuhrman Husband's Mother's Name: Caroline (Karolina) Dietrich Husband's Siblings'Names: Mathilda, Johanna, Julius, Edward, Edith, August, Emily, Peggy, Robert Wife's Full Name: Evelyn Opheilia Shirley Wife's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Wife's Father's Name: Emil Shirley Wife's Mother's Name: Anna Thompson Wife's Siblings' Names: Gilma, Adolph, Pauline Children's Names: Agnes, Donna Both Ben and Evelyn Fuhrman were buried at the Vang Cemetery north of Manfred.

Erik and Augusta Soderback Husband's Full Name: Erik Lambert Söderback Husband's Place of Birth: Grangarde, Koppaberg, Sweden Husband's Father's Name: Lars Johan S öderback Husband's Mother's Name: Sara Stina Olausson Husband's Siblings' Names: Johan Oscar, Wiljam, Gust, Johan Jacob Wife's Full Name: Augusta O. Peterson Wife's Place of Birth: Ravola, Sweden Wife's Father's Name: Par Erik Jansson Wife's Mother's Name: Susanna Jansson Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown Children's Names: Edith (Albert) Rageth; Henry (Lillian L. Eberlien) Esther (Arthur Valentine) Miller; Freda (Edwin R.) Filler No family photos are available but this is the Soderback Hardware Store. People pictured on the outside of the store may well be the owners. Both Erik and Augusta were born in Sweden. 1900 Census indicated Augusta arrived in 1895 and was a servant in Boston, MA. They immigrated to Wells County in May 1888. They were married shortly after their arrival and lived in Fessenden until 1911 when they moved to Manfred and purchased their home in April 1911. Erik worked as a section foreman for the railroad and owned a farm. Later he worked at the hardware store and in 1925 he purchased that store. His son Henry moved to Manfred from Minneapolis and worked in the Hardware Store as well. They also sold machinery, and at one time ran the cream station. Their home was located near the James River and was sold to the Solheim family. Erik died in 1941 in Manfred and is buried at the Vang Cemetery at Manfred. His wife sold their home in about 1948 and moved to Salinas, California to live with her daughters. She returned to North Dakota and lived with her daughter Edith Rageth in Harvey. Augusta died in 1964 and is also buried at the Vang Cemetery, Manfred, ND.

Vang Lutheran Church 1906 - The church was built. The photo was taken at the Dedication Service on June 26, 1910. ~1910 - The exterior was painted grey with white trim. 2001 - The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The inside of the church. Note the ceiling lights which were originally lit with kerosene. The tin was added in the 1920-1921. The stained glass windows were added in the late 1950s as memorials. 2002 - The front steps were repaired. 2006 - This sign was placed on side on the 100th Anniversary of the building. 2011 - The roof was reshingled. The church still has an active congregation which holds services every other Sunday from Easter to Christmas. 2019- Railing installed in back entry and back entry textured and painted. Future Plans: Work on windows so they function again

Nels and Cora Nertrost Husband's Full Name: Nels Oliver Nertrost Husband's Place of Birth: Griggs Co, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Mads Nertrost Husband's Mother's Name: Sigrid Strand Nertrost Husband's Siblings' Names: Bertha, Mads, Sennev, Anna Wife's Full Name: Cora Pauline Anderson Nertrost Wife's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Wife's Father's Name: Peter Beck Anderson Wife's Mother's Name: Anna D. Johnson Anderson Wife's Siblings' Names: Arthur, Nennie, Orren, Pete, Cora, Gertrude, Esther, Perry, Florence, Frederik, Mathilda Child's Name: Dorothy Harris Cora Anderson Nertrost has the distinction of being the first child born in Manfred Township. Cora Anderson was born on the P. B. Anderson homestead one and one-half miles west of Manfred, then just beginning to emerge as a small country town and as the Soo Line Railway was in the process of being laid. She shared with her family both joys and hardships of the pioneer child and an interesting anecdote is related of her when a small baby. This tells of her two-mile ride in a baby buggy, with two hens as companions. Her mother, whose heart was of the giving and sharing kind, walked the entire distance pushing her precious cargo, that beautiful summer day in 1893. The hens were given to a pioneer neighbor as a start for a flock, which meant so much for the sustenance of the pioneer families. Cora relates many humorous and interesting incidents of her early childhood. Wearing apparel was expensive and hard to get, and money was almost an unknown quantity. So her unusually ingenious mother resorted to the manufacture of clothing for the ten children of the home, not an easy task. For instance, gophers were trapped and their pelts tanned and fashioned into fur caps. A pretty set of furs, Cora relates, was made for her out of the skins of two white cats. Sheep were raised on the farm furnishing both meat and wool converted into yarn. The mother spun sufficient yarn to knit hosiery, and some clothing for the entire family. She taught the three eldest sons to knit, and as an incentive to pursue the art, she made "wonderballs" of yarn, each ball containing some sweet meat, penny or trinket. The boys knit eagerly so as to use up enough yarn to uncover the coveted prize. To take the place of shoes, moccasins from the pelts of sheep were made, the soft wooly side turned in and fitted and stitched for the dozen pairs of feet in need of a warm covering. In her early school years, Cora attended a one-room school in Manfred and later the grade school. From there, her education was procured in the Fessenden High School and later she attended the State Teachers College in Valley City. She taught school for several years and was married to Nels Nertrost in June 1918. They had one daughter, Dorothy Ann. Mrs. Nertrost has been affiliated with the Vang Church and Aid for almost four decades; she was chosen president of the latter in 1947, for a period of two years. She is ever ready to reach out a helping hand at all times and has done much for the betterment of church projects. She lived with her family on the Nertrost homestead, in the township where she was born and grew to maturity. Her hobbies are flowers, gardening and turkeys. Cora Nertrost was born May 27, 1893 and died March 30, 1963 in Minot, ND. She was laid to rest at the Vang Lutheran Cemetery. Nels died in 1972 and was buried beside her. Written by Sennev Nertrost Whipple

Knut and Ragnhild Kopseng Husband's Full Name: Knut C. Kopseng Husband's Place of Birth: Sigdahl, Eggedal, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Christoffer Torsteinsen Kopseng Husband's Mother's Name: Guri Johnsdatter Skar Husband's Siblings' Names: Torstein, John, Karl, John, Kristen, Ingrid, Ingrid Wife's Full Name: Ragnhild Persdatter Arnegard Wife's Place of Birth: Arnegard, Vats, Hallingdal, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Per Embrikson Arnegard Wife's Mother's Name: Borghild Grovo Wife's Siblings' Names: Sander, Anne Children's Names: Gudrun (Martin Bjerke), Ben, Theodor, Clarence, Arne Knut Kopseng was born July 30, 1871 in Sigdal, Norway. He was the son of Christoffer Torsteinsen Kopseng and Guri Johnsdatter Skar Kopseng. The lure of the United States and the stories of free land and opportunities influenced him strongly. In Norway there was not much to look forward to, except for the eldest son, who always inherits the ancestral acres. Knut, as the youngest son of eight children received his passage to America. He never returned to Norway. The trip to the United States was long and strenuous in the year 1893. Knut played the violin well and he felt badly when his trunk with his violin and all his possessions was stolen somewhere along the line. He made his way across the United States and homesteaded on level land seven miles east of Harvey. The land had to be broken up a little at a time, and life was hard. The homesteaders built sod houses and Knut likewise built a home with sod from the native prairie. Life was so very difficult that for long periods of time he would have not so much as a nickel in money. He married a neighboring homesteader Ragnhild Persdatter Arnegard on April 7, 1898, and life was better from then on. Ragnhild had immigrated to America in 1893. They lived the first years of their marriage in the sod house Knut had built in Fram Township. Their first two children Gudrun and Ben were born there. In 1903 they built a two-story frame house and outbuildings. The third child, Theodor Sander was born in the new house in 1904, and a year and a half later there were twin baby boys, Clarence and Arne. Arne died at the age of six months of the summer flu. Knut liked people and he joined the Nonpartisan League in its beginning and during the 1930’s he was fortunate enough to get a job working as a legislative employee in Bismarck. This brought in badly needed cash. His sons were old enough then to do the farm work. The land was good and eventually in the latter years of their life Knut and Ragnhild bought a neighboring farm, and then their son, Clarence and wife Olive did the farming, and Knut and Ragnhild lived comfortably in a small house in Harvey in their retirement, until his death in 1946. They gave their children a deep religious background, and an appreciation of their Norwegian heritage. Source: Growing With Pride.

Marvin C. Christensen Full Name: Marvin Charles Christensen Place of Birth: Tyler, Lincoln, Minnesota, USA Father's Name: Fred George Christensen Mother's Name: Margaret Celia Hensler Siblings' Names: Raymond, Harold, Florence, Cecelia, Floyd, Leo, Victor, and Margaret (Mrs. Herbert Ongstad) Marvin was born in Tyler, Minnesota. As a young man he farmed in the Tyler area and in 1951 he moved to Boone, Iowa where he worked as a mechanic. In 1962 he started custom combining and retired in 1977. He then lived and farmed in the Manfred area, with the Herbert Ongstad family, before moving into a housing complex in Harvey. Following his funeral service in 1985 he was buried at the Vang Cemetery north of Manfred.

Martin and Clara Moen Husband's Full Name: Martin Moen Husband's Place of Birth: Trysil, Hedmark, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Mattias Stoa Husband's Mother's Name: Berta Flotlien Husband's Siblings' Names: John, Borah, Eric Wife's Full Name: Clara Oline Ongstad Moen Wife's Place of Birth: Pelican Rapids, MN Wife's Father's Name: Hans Peder Hendrickson Wife's Mother's Name: Nicoline Olson Ongstad Wife's Siblings' Names: Hilda, Alfred, Emil, Anna, Henry, Olaf, Oscar, James, Lottie, Ida, Minnie, Edna Children's Names: Harry, Myrtle Hustoft Sund, Ben, Jewel Johnsrude, Alma Johnson, Gladys Beil, Lillian Booth, Ruth Curry, Roy, Florence Murbach, Arnold, Leila, Delbert Clara Oline Ongstad, born October 31, 1882 near Pelican Rapids, MN, was the second child of Hans and Nicoline Ongstad. She married November 16, 1903 in Ringsaker Church of Pelican Rapids, MN to Martin Moen. Martin (birth name Mathias Stoa) was born January 16, 1873 at Trysil, Hedmark, Norway to Mathias and Berte Stoa. Mathias’ name was Mattias Flotlien, and when he married Berte Stoa and moved to the Stoa farm, his name changed to Mattias Stoa. Also, their sons had worked on different farms and so each had taken the name of that farm resulting in different last names as: Borrah Johnson, John Skovlie, Eric Stoa, and Martin Moen. The family came to Ottertail County in about 1889, when Martin was 16. He worked for Hans Ongstad in MN, and also helped a horse trader drive horses to settlers in ND. In 1902, he homesteaded NW of Manfred in Heimdal Township. After Martin and Clara married, they settled on this homestead and raised thirteen children in their very small house: Harry, Myrtle, Ben, Jewel, Margaret, Gladys, Evelyn, Ruth, Roy, Florence, Arnold, Leila, Delbert. They lived here the rest of their lives, and were members of East Vang Lutheran Church. Clara became ill with a kidney disorder and died in the Harvey hospital on February 20, 1936 at the age of 53. Martin died on July 22, 1952. Both are buried at East Vang Cemetery. Their son Harry continued on with the farming tradition at the Moen farm and has since passed away.

Axel and Jennie LeGrand Husband's Full Name: Axel LeGrand Husband's Place of Birth: Sweden Husband's Father's Name: Joseph LeGrand Husband's Mother's Name: Anna Christian Lidstrom Husband's Siblings' Names: Esther, Inez, Sarah, David, Hulda, Gertrude, Harry and Clara Wife's Full Name: Jennie Fincher Wife's Place of Birth: Milan, Michigan Wife's Father's Name: Herbert J. Fincher Wife's Mother's Name: Eliza Cone Fincher Wife's Siblings' Names: Jessie, Cora, Grace and Nellie Children's Names: Norman (Theresa Rogers), Evelyn (Art Carter), Herbert (Esther Janz), Helen (George Ruben), Lyle, Genevieve (Jean) (Edward Thomas) Joseph Le Grand and his family were early settlers in Manfred, having emigrated from Sweden, when Axel, their oldest son, was four years old. They settled in Northwood, and then later moved to Manfred. Joseph's grandfather had moved to Sweden from France, at the time of Napoleon. He was an aide of Gen. Bernadette, who became king of Sweden. Eventually Joseph, the grandson, married a Swedish girl, Anna Lindstrom, and they immigrated to the United States, where they lived and raised nine children. Axel, the oldest, grew up in North Dakota, and married Jennie Fincher, whose parents homesteaded in Pony Gulch near Harvey, living in a cave in the hills, until a cabin could be built. During these years of farming on a homestead, Jennie, as a young girl, remembered the hardships, and having Sioux Indians as their only neighbors, who often came to her father for help. These two hardy pioneers, Axel and Jennie, lived and farmed in Manfred, raising six children, three boys and three girls. They are: Norman LeGrand, deceased; Evelyn LeGrand Carter, El Cajon, CA; Herbert LeGrand, deceased, had a daughter, Jeanette; Helen LeGrand Ruber, Folsom, Calif.; Lyle LeGrand, Del Mar, Calif.; Jean LeGrand Thomas, Hemet, Calif., a son, Eddie. Axel passed away in 1928 and Jennie lived until 1971, having married Guy Fisher, in 1938. Of the original Joseph LeGrand family of nine, only one remains at this time, Harry Le Grand of Lynwood, Calif., who was Axel's youngest brother. This is the last of the LeGrands, there is no one to carry on the family name.

Nels O and Hannah Fjeld Husband's Full Name: Nels O. Fjeld Husband's Place of Birth: Husband's Father's Name: Husband's Mother's Name: Husband's Siblings' Names: Wife's Full Name: Hannah Schie Fjeld Wife's Place of Birth: Wife's Father's Name: Wife's Mother's Name: Wife's Siblings' Names: Children's Names: Alvin, Erastus, Camilla Picture taken 1899, Source Vang 75th Anniversary Book Pastor Fjeld served the Vang Lutheran Church from 1896 – 1899. He came to Manfred Township from South Dakota. He was married to Hannah Schie. Three children were in this family: Alvin, Erastus, Camilla. In addition to the church at Manfred he also served the Harvey Lutheran Church. It was noted in the church history of the Harvey church that in March 1900, a meeting was called to take steps toward the building of a church in Harvey, however, the sudden death of their faithful pastor, Rev Fjeld, stopped any further planning at this time. Source: Fessenden Diamond Jubilee book – 1893-1968

Eilert and Tillie Nelson Husband's Full Name: Eilert Norman Nelson Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred Township, ND Husband's Father's Name: Knut E Nelson Husband's Mother's Name: Randi Ulberg Nelson Husband's Siblings' Names: Ida, Anna Wife's Full Name: Ottilla Ramstad Nelson Wife's Place of Birth: Hatton, ND Wife's Father's Name: Erik Ramstad Wife's Mother's Name: Marie Sletten Wife's Siblings' Names: Gunder, Carl, Gilman, Evelyn, Lillian, Orville, Ernest, Sanford, Leonard, Wallace, Elnor Children's Names: none Eilert was associated with his father Knut Nelson in the farming enterprise ever since he was old enough to help out, and he took over full operations after his father's death in 1947. He owned the place jointly with his mother until her death. This farm was located in Manfred Township, just three miles north of Manfred along the county road. The farm unit comprises some 520 acres, of which 425 are under cultivation. The family owned considerably more acreage at one time, but sold out some of their holdings several years ago to bring the farmstead into operating size for one man and one set of machinery. Eilert had about 30 head of cattle on the place, and also kept four head of horses - almost a record in those days. He combined most of his crop, but also threshed some of his own grain to get a supply of straw, and has also did some custom threshing for his neighbors. The barn was built in 1915 and other buildings added including the granaries, machine shed, blacksmith shop, chicken house and garage. The last additions to the house were made in 1926. Eilert married Tillie Ramstad of Hatton in March of 1936. He served as a deacon at Vang Lutheran Church. He died in 1976. Tillie grew up and attended school near her farm home near Hatton. After her marriage to Eilert they lived and farmed north of Manfred. She moved into Harvey in 1977 and entered the St. Aloisius Nursing Home in March of 1994. She was a member of Vang Lutheran Church and was active in the Ladies Aid and as a Sunday School Teacher. She died in 1995.

Mathias and Elizabeth Biever Husband's Full Name: Mathias Biever Husband's Place of Birth: Germany Husband's Father's Name: Mathias Biever, Sr. Husband's Mother's Name: unknown Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown Wife's Full Name: Elizabeth Schneider Wife's Place of Birth: Germany Wife's Father's Name: unknown Wife's Mother's Name: unknown Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown Children's Names: Joseph, Anna Jenny, Albert, Ella Parries, Mathew, Frank and Josie Breyer Mathias "Math" Biever, 78 years old, died last Wednesday, January 16, 1935, at Manfred. The cause of death was due to complications brought about by old age. Mr. Biever was one of the well-known old timers of the county and has lived near Manfred for many years. He was actively engaged in farming up to a few years ago when he was rendered unable to continue further along those lines. He was a highly esteemed member of the community and was honored by being elected as a School Director and he was Treasurer of the school association. Mathias Biever was born in Germany on December 19, 1857, where he grew to manhood. In the year of 1881, he came to the United States where he located in New York for one year. In 1882 he came to North Dakota and settled in Cass County for seven years. In 1889 he moved to Wells County and took a Homestead near Manfred. They were very early settlers in this township. Living close to the site of the town of Manfred, they saw the Soo Line Railroad and the town built. He has resided there ever since and still owns that land. He married Elizabeth Schneider at Moorhead, Minn., in 1885 and to them were born the following children: Joe of Fessenden, Mrs. Mike Jenny of St. Anna Twp., Albert, Math Jr. and Frank all of Manfred and Mrs. John Parries of Moorhead. One daughter, Mrs. Anton Breyer, preceded him in death. Mr. Biever had 20 grandchildren. Mr. Biever was affiliated with the St. Augustine Catholic Church of which he has been a member for many years. Funeral services will be held from the Catholic church in this city on Saturday afternoon. Mathias Biever was born on 19 Dec 1857 in Germany. He died on 16 Jan 1935 in Manfred, Wells, North Dakota, USA. He married Elizabeth Schneider on 11 Nov 1885 in Moorhead, Clay, Minnesota, USA. She was born on 10 May 1861 in Germany. She died on 09 Oct 1938 in Manfred, Wells, North Dakota, USA. (source obituary) Elizabeth Schneider (Mrs. Joe Biever) Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Biever, 77, were conducted yesterday, October 11th, from the St. Augustine's Catholic Church of Fessenden, with Rev. Father Harte of Carrington in charge. She passed away on Sunday, October 9th, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mike Jenny, west of Fessenden. Elizabeth Biever, nee Schneider, was born in Germany on May 10th, 1861, where she grew to womanhood. At the age of 20 years she came to the United States to make her home, and on November 11, 1885, she was united in marriage with Math Biever at Moorhead, Minnesota. They first lived near Leonard, in Cass County, ND. In the year 1889 they came to Wells County, and settled on a homestead near Manfred, which was their home until they broke up farming activities in 1934. Mr. Biever had preceded her in death, passing away in January, 1935. Since that time Mrs. Biever has made her home with her children. Surviving are the following sons and daughters: Joe Biever of Fessenden; Mrs. Mike Jenny of Fessenden; Albert Biever of Harvey; Mrs. John Parries of Moorhead, Minn., and Matt and Frank Biever of Manfred. One daughter, Mrs. Anton Breyer, also preceded her in death, passing on in 1931. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Following the funeral services here in town, interment was made at Hillside cemetery. Pallbearers were H. H. Parsons, J. P. Morgan, P. E. Fahey, E. W. Vancura, John A. Layne and Calvin Neuenschwander. (source - obituary)

Dick and Emma Hirschkorn Husband's Full Name: Dick Emanuel Hirschkorn Husband's Place of Birth: Wilton, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Frederick Hirschkorn Husband's Mother's Name: Otilia Lucas Husband's Siblings' Names: Dan (Bertha) and Emil Wife's Full Name: Emma Anita Oster Wife's Place of Birth: St. Boswells, Sask Wife's Father's Name: Adam Phillip Oster Wife's Mother's Name: Katherine Meyer Wife's Siblings' Names: John, Adam and Rosina, Katherine, Magdeline, Ida, Lily, Helen and Bertha Children's Names: Richard (Betty Knoedel); DeWayne (Dyana Schander) Curtis (Pamela Davis) Dick Emanuel Hirschkorn was born to Frederick and Otilia Hirschkorn at Wilton, North Dakota. The family later moved to rural Wells County and he grew up on a farm near Manfred. Emma Anita Oster was born to Adam and Katherine Meyer Oster near St. Boswells, Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1931 she moved to the United States and lived near Manfred with her sister Katherine. Dick and Emma were married in Fessenden by Judge J. L. Johnston. They lived in Harvey for a time, and then moved to a farm in the rural Manfred area. They were active members of the Manfred Seventh Day Adventist Church. They became parents of three sons: Richard, DeWayne (Fritz), and Curtis. They retired from farming in 1970 and moved into Fessenden where Emma was active in the Specialist Club and the Thrift Shop Store. They enjoyed spending time with their family and their four grandchildren, Todd, Carol, Darin and Doran. Dick passed away on March 5, 1974. Emma continued to live in Fessenden until she passed away on March 1, 1982.