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.

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.

Ted Jorstad Husband's Full Name: Theodore O. Jorstad Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred Township, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Thomas T. Jorstad Husband's Mother's Name: Ragndi Olsdotter Jorstad Husband's Siblings' Names: Mayme Larson, Margaret, Alfred, Wife's Full Name: Madeline Florence Langelle (divorced) Children's Names: Sandra Carpenter, Judy Tabler Ted was born in Manfred Township, attended Harvey schools. He was a railroad worker, and held other jobs in Alaska and Chicago before returning in 1975 to Manfred, where he owned and operated a service station until 1977. He then lived in Harvey for a time, and more recently had been living at a Rugby Nursing Home. Theodore O. Jorstad 77 died Sunday, April 20, 1980. A grave side service was held Thursday at Vang Lutheran Cemetery, Manfred. Survivors include daughters Mrs. James (Sandra) Carpenter, Tacoma, Washington, and Mrs. Charles (Judy) Tabler, Larned, Kansas, four grandchildren and a sister Mayme (Walter Larson).

Mads and Sigrid Nertrost Husband's Full Name: Mads Nertrost Husband's Place of Birth: North Aurdahl, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Husband's Mother's Name: Husband's Siblings' Names: Wife's Full Name: Sigrid Strand Nertrost Wife's Place of Birth: North Aurdahl, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Nils Strand Wife's Mother's Name: Sennev Hande Wife's Siblings' Names: Children's Names: Bertha Myhre, Mads Jr., Sennev Whipple, Anna Smith, Nels Nertrost Mads Nertrost America, believed to be the "Land of Promise", beckoned so Mads and Sigrid decided to try their luck in the new world. In the spring of 1880, they sailed via the White Star Line bound for New York. After a voyage of six stormy weeks they arrived at the port of entry, Castle Garden, in the harbor of New York City. Daughter Sennev wrote - I have reconstructed a scene, as described to me, when my parents with two small children disembarked. I can visualize my father plodding down the gangplank carrying heavy baggage and with my two-year-old sister riding "piggy-back." My mother, hopeful and courageous, was following clasping her six-week-old son to her breast. They spent two years in Northfield, Minnesota. Then they decided to go to Dakota Territory to file on a Preemption claim of 178 acres, traveling by train as far as Valley City, where the railroad ended. From here, on a June day in 1882, a covered wagon caravan started out in the direction of the setting sun, en route to what now is Jessie, nine miles northwest of Cooperstown, Griggs County, Dakota Territory. In this company were several families who became our neighbors. The June weather was mellow, the virgin prairies filled with flowers under a star lit sky, on a feather bed spread on the ground, in the leeway of the covered wagon. First came the task of building a shelter. A small patch of virgin soil was broken up. The turf lay glistening in the sun for a few days, and then it was cut up and shaped into convenient sizes. These were built up like bricks; creating a humble one room "home". It had one window, a door, and the floor just the good old earth. Main articles of furniture were a small wood-burning stove, a bedstead, a table, several chairs and a huge iron bound chest brought from Norway. In this container were mother's prized Norwegian articles - linens, silverware, a large leather bound Bible, several hymn books, Luther's enlarged Catechism, readers for children, Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales, and The Arabian Nights. Our bedding and a feather bed were also included. It was in this little sod house that I was born the following October, in 1882. Parents and three children lived in this single turf abode until spring, when a one-room frame house was erected and sodded up to the eaves. In half a dozen years two more children were born, and we were five. Accommodations had to be arranged for the growing family. I recall an extra bed, a box like affair, a foot high - made of boards, low enough to be pushed under the big bedstead in the daytime. This was furnished with a straw mattress and blankets, a feather quilt for covering, and the three of us slept soundly. Although poor, as the common lot of all pioneers, we were rich in the love that held us together as a family. In those early territorial days there were no places of worship except the home family altar. A mission minister held services in some far distant schoolhouse twice a year. It was on such an occasion, when I was nine months old, that my father and mother took turns carrying me to baptism as they walked to a school house six miles distance, on a hot July day in 1883. It was the coming of the Soo Line Railroad that brought home seekers to Wells County. We arrived at Manfred in1894 where father made use of his Homestead right establishing permanent residence on a quarter section of land four miles northeast of Manfred. Five children were born to this couple, Bertha, Mads, Sennev, Anna and Nels. They were active members of the Vang Lutheran Church and the Manfred community. Mads died in 1898 while the children were still very young. Sigrid died in 1926. Source: Sennev Nertrost Whipple, daughter

Burkum Hardware Store Location: Block 3, Lot 8 Proprietor: Lars Burkum and T. K. Rogne Year Started: In 1894 T. K. Rogne and L. O. Burkum established the first store in Manfred. In 1905 they built the building pictured which was known as the Burkum Hardware Store. Year Ended: 1916 History of Building: H. B. Myhre bought out L. O. Burkum in 1916 and Anton Aasand and Nick Halvorson was purchased the building in 1917. In 1926 the Sons of Norway purchased the building for lodge use and continued to use it until 1952 when the building burned down. Daisy – Burkum Store Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Erik and Marit Rogne Husband's Full Name: Erik Bendiksen Skogen Husband's Place of Birth: Rogne, Skogen, Østre Slidre, Valdres, Norway Husband’s Place of Death: Rogne, Skogen, Østre Slidre, Valdres, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Bendik Halvorsen Skattebu Husband's Mother's Name: Guro Eriksdotter Rudi Husband's Siblings' Names: Ragnhild, Sigrid, Ingrid, Kari Wife's Full Name: Marit Larsdtr Rudi (Rogne) Wife's Place of Birth: Rudi, Neigarden, Østre Slidre, Valdres, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Lars Syversen Hovi Wife's Mother's Name: Kari Aalaksdatter Rudi Wife's Siblings' Names: Syver, Ingrid Melby, Aslak, Sigurd Children's Names: Bendik, Kari Gilbertson, Lars, Erik, Halvor, Gurii (Gina) Onstad Photo – Marit Rogne taken in 1917 Marit L. Rogne was the third child born to Lars Syversen Hovi and Kari Aalaksdatter Rudi. She was born on November 14, 1835 in Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway. Marit Larsdatter Rudi married Erik Bendiksonn Rogne in 1859 in Valdres, Norway. They had 5 children, Bendik, the oldest, Kari, Lars, Erik and Guri. After her son Erik Rogne died in 1899, Bendik and Kari Gilbertson went to Norway and brought back their mother. This was in 1900. She proved up a homestead at Esmond in 1905, then went back to Norway, but returned again with Bendik in 1909. She lived with her son Bendik for a period of time, and then moved to the home of her daughter Guri. Although she never drove a car, she loved to visit the neighbors and would often spend several days with them. She did a lot of knitting and kept the family in mittens through the cold North Dakota winters. She would spin the wool on the spinning wheel she brought over from Norway. She also did a lot of reading and particularly enjoyed it when the Decorah Posten would arrive - the newspaper that had lots of interesting Norwegian material in it. She died at the age of 90 on March 15, 1925 in Manfred, ND and is buried in the Vang Lutheran Cemetery north of Manfred. --------------------- Obituary from Wells County Farmer March 25, 1926 front page - column 3 Pioneer Manfred Lady Passes to Great Beyond Mrs. Marit L. Rogne, who has made her home for the past few years with her daughter, Mrs. Ole Onstad of Manfred, died Monday, March 15, after a short illness. The deceased was born in Valdres, Norway, December 15, 1835, and came to this country about twenty years ago. She reached the ripe old age of 90 years and 4 months. She leaves to mourn, one son, Bendik Rogne, and one daughter, Mrs. Ole Onstad, besides a host of friends. Funeral services were held Wednesday, at 2:00 o'clock from the Vang Church, Rev J. M. Langseth Officiating.

Sorenson Millinery Proprietor: Mrs. Ben (Maggie) Sorenson Location: Block 2, Lot 1 Year Started: October 1905 Year Ended: ca 1907 History of Business: This women's hat making business was located in Sorenson Hardware operated by her husband Ben Sorenson. The millinery closed in 1907 after Maggie's death. The picture shows an example of Maggie's work. Daisy – Sorenson Millinery Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Marvin Bendickson Husband's Full Name: Marvin Bendickson Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Husband's Father's Name: Martin Bendickson Husband's Mother's Name: Olga Lund Bendickson Husband's Siblings' Names: Adeline, Helen, Florence, Fern, Glen, Joanne, Lucille, Donna Bendickson Home West of Manfred The Bendickson family is listed on the Manfred census from 1915 - 1940. Marvin is one of Martin's children.