Ole and Inga Braaten Husband's Full Name: Ole O. Braaten Husband's Place of Birth: Torpe, Aal, Hallingdal, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Ole Halstensen Braaten Husband's Mother's Name: Ambjorg Olsdatter Trelude Lovsletten Husband's Siblings' Names: unknown Wife's Full Name: Inga Tollefsdatter Jorstad Wife's Place of Birth: Ostre Slidre, Oppland, Norway Wife's Father's Name: Jorstad Wife's Mother's Name: unknown Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown Children's Names: Ambjor, Emma, Marit-Sophia, Ingebjorg, Karen, Carrie, Oscar, Joseph, Ernest (adopted at age 2) Ole emigrated from Norway with his parents in 1856 at age 9. They first lived in Holden, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Inga emigrated from Norway in 1870 at age 16. Ole and Inga were married in Minnesota in 1871 and lived in Goodhue County. In about 1910, they moved to Manfred, ND and continued to live there until their deaths. Igna passed in 1921 and Ole in 1927.

Oscar and Christine Ongstad Husband's Full Name: Alf Oscar Ongstad Husband's Place of Birth: Pelican Rapids, MN Husband's Father's Name: Hans Peder Ongstad Husband's Mother's Name: Nicoline Olson Ongstad Husband's Siblings' Names: Hilda (Hans Bergerud), Clara (Martin Moen), Alfred, Emil, Anna (Fred Lindbo), Henry, Olaf, James, Lottie (Henry Lunde), Ida (John Sande), Minnie and Edna (Art Larson) Wife's Full Name: Christine Thune Ongstad Wife's Place of Birth: Binford, ND Wife's Father's Name: Ole Thune Wife's Mother's Name: Karrina Knutsdatter Skattebo Thune Wife's Siblings' Names: Knute, Emma, Caroline (Lena), Mary Children's Names: Orvin, Nora Casey, Walter, Duane Oscar Ongstad was born to Hans H. Ongstad and Nicoline Ongstad, pioneer residents of the Pelican Rapids area. He was reared and educated in Pelican Rapids and came to the Manfred area in 1914 where he had since made his home with the exception of his tour of duty in the military service. He enlisted in the army July 6, 1917 and spent two years in France and Germany, receiving his honorable discharge September 2, 1919. After his discharge from the service he entered the garage business and later was appointed postmaster at Manfred, a position he held for 20 years until his retirement in 1962. On July 13, 1920 he was united in marriage to Christine Thune at Binford, ND. Four children were born to them: Orvin, Duane, Walter, Nora (Mrs. Roger Casey) He was a member of the Vang Lutheran Church and the Frank E. Curry American Legion Post at Harvey where he had been a member for the past 25 years. Christine was born at Binford, and was reared at Manfred. She graduated from Oak Grove Lutheran High School, Fargo. She was also assistant postmaster at the Manfred Post Office for a number of years. She was a member of the Vang Church and taught Sunday School as well as serving as Superintendent for a number of years. Following Oscar's death she moved to Fessenden where she lived until moving to Harvey in 1983. She was buried at the Vang Cemetery, north of Manfred next to her husband Oscar.

Haldor and Delia Rodne Husband's Full Name: Haldor Rodne Husband's Place of Birth: Imsland, Rogaland, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Lars Olsen Hebnes Husband's Mother's Name: Sigrid Ølsdatter Vormestrand Husband's Siblings' Names: Karen (Ivan Rodne); Sevrin (Anna Finvik); Ole J. (Margit Knutson); Ole L. (Anna O. Lunde) Wife's Full Name: Delia Ring Wife's Place of Birth: Nedstrand, Norway Wife's Father's Name: unknown Wife's Mother's Name: unknown Wife's Siblings' Names: unknown Children's Names: Selma (Casper Berve); Tom, Harley (Phyllis Howard); Clara (Ben Rogelstad); Selmer (Nora Ramsfield); Gilma (Roland Howard); Ruth (Bernard Skiftun); Louis (Clara Overland) Back:– Selma, Tom, Lewis, Harley, Selmer Front: Clara Haldor, Ruth, Delia, Gilma Haldor immigrated in 1894, coming first to Buxton. When he came to Wells County he lived with his brother Ole J. They used oxen for breaking the sod. In 1900, Haldor decided to homestead for himself, locating on land very near to his brother. They had eight children.

Dale and Shirley Opdahl Husband's Full Name: Dale Opdahl Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Husband's Father's Name: Edwin Opdahl Husband's Mother's Name: Sophie Rogness Opdahl Husband's Siblings' Names: Jean, Verneil, Phyllis, Dennis and Gary Wife's Full Name: Shirley Mae Lautt Opdahl Wife's Place of Birth: Harvey, North Dakota Wife's Father's Name: Reuben Lautt Wife's Mother's Name: Martha Lautt Wife's Siblings' Names: Adeline, Twila, Janice and Linda Children's Names: Ilona, Rodney, Kelly, Kent and Aaron Dale was born on the original Opdahl homestead and lived there until his family moved to the Roble homestead in 1944. He attended country school at first, and after the move attended Manfred School through the eighth grade. At that time, he went to work on the family farm helping raise turkeys, milking cows and raising grain crops. He married Shirley Lautt and moved onto the Opdahl family farm. They have raised turkeys, milk cows, beef cows, horses, and a variety of other animals, as well as raising grain. They have participated in various organizations including the Sheyenne River Salle Club, various turkey and dairy federations, Harvey Rural Fire Department, Fagerlund Sons of Norway, Vang Lutheran Church. Dale and Shirley have five children. Dale died September 18, 2024, at his home.

Issac L and Gina Berge Husband's Full Name: Issac L. Berge Husband's Place of Birth: Forest City, Iowa Husband's Father's Name: Lars Anderson Husband's Mother's Name: Kerstine Gurine Husband's Siblings' Names: Peter and Lauritz Berge Wife's Full Name: Gina Maria Arnston Wife's Place of Birth: Blackhammer, Minnesota Wife's Father's Name: Halvor Arnston Wife's Mother's Name: Guro Rask Arnston Wife's Siblings' Names: Sigrid Quarve and Christian Arnston Children's Names: one foster daughter Mrs. Osten Kvaalen In 1900, Issac and Gina were married in Fessenden, ND. They then moved to Manfred, ND where he had a grain elevator and managed the hardware store owned by Timan Quarve. T. L Quarve was married to Gina’s sister Sigrid. The store was located in the lot known as the triangle, just south of the church. They are listed on the 1900 Census of the James River Precinct along with other people who then lived in Manfred. Issac was also the second postmaster in Manfred; this was in the year 1900. The hardware store changed hands in 1902. From Manfred, the Berge’s moved to Fessenden staying there for a couple of years. Then they moved to Velva, and lived in Velva for 15 years and proved up a homestead in McLean County. Isaac was one of the church founders in Velva. Issac developed the Berge Grain Elevator Company with elevators in Velva, Ruso, Max, Parshall, Butte, Elgin, Golden Valley, and Mercer. Eight years of depression and draught, however, was too much. In 1938 he lost his entire company – eight elevators across North Dakota. In 1922 they were living in Bismarck, and later they moved to Minneapolis.

Willborg/Aasand/Soderback Store Location: Block 3, Lot 3 Proprietors: 1900 – John Benson/Swan Willborg 1917 – Olaf Roble/Fremont Hanson 1918 – John Weber 1920 - A. S. Aasand 1925 – Erik Soderback/Henry Soderback 1947 – John and Katie Smith Year Started: 1900 Year Closed: ca 1947 History of Business: John Benson and S. N. Willborg built the grocery store in 1900. It had living quarters upstairs. Benson sold out to Willborg in 1903. Willborg sold the store in 1917 to Olaf Roble and Fremont Hanson. They sold it to John Weber in 1918, and Weber sold it to Anton Aasand in 1920. A. S. Aasand had a Hardware Store. Anton Aasand sold the business Eric Soderback in April 1925 who operated a hardware store and also sold implements. His wife had a millinery shop in the building. Eric Soderback died in 1941, and his son Henry carried on with the business until 1947. The property was then sold to by the county to John and Katie Smith. We do not know what became of the building. The present owner of the land is Fessenden Coop Elevator. It is directly north of the elevator. Often there are piles of grain on the property in the fall.

Calvin and Myrtle Neuenschwander Husband's Full Name: Calvin Neuenschwander Husband's Place of Birth: Jefferson, Tennessee Husband's Father's Name: Daniel Neuenschwander Husband's Mother's Name: Katherine Schrug Husband's Siblings' Names: Martha, Mary Hannah, Emma, Katherine, Otto Wife's Full Name: Myrtle Dyer Wife's Place of Birth: Canada Wife's Father's Name: Andrew Dyer Wife's Mother's Name: Margaret Wife's Siblings' Names: Delle, Laura, Ella, Eva, James Children's Names: Harold, Margaret Morrison, Clare Nelson, Jean Cowell Calvin and Myrtle Neuenschwander farmed west of Fessenden; when they retired they moved to the Manfred parsonage and spent several years living in town.

Manfred Lumber Co. Location: LeGrand Addition, Lot 12 Proprietor: O.K. Melby Year Started: 1902 Year Ended: before 1933 History of Business: O.K. Melby Lumber Co. was also named MANFRED LUMBER. O. K. Melby established this business. He also built the home across the street with the white fence around it where he and his wife Mary lived. In 1905 it was reported he was also enclosing his lumberyard with a fence. By Fall of that year he resigned his position as grain buyer for the Ireys Elevator to devote all his time to his lumber business. In 1906 he hired Ole Onstad to attend to the lumberyard during harvest time so he could look after his threshing rig. He secured the contract to furnish the poles for new telephone line for the Highland-Russland Telephone Co. 28 phones and wire were strung for 31 miles connecting the central office at Fessenden and running due west. Rogers Lumber bought out this lumberyard for $1,000. The Manfred Lumber Co. building was taken down and the Rogers Lumber Company building moved to this site and remodeled the building for use as a garage by Rudolph Peterson in 1933. Daisy – Manfred Lumber Co. Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Wilhelm and Anna Goedecke Husband's Full Name: Wilhelm Goedecke Husband's Place of Birth: Hannover, Germany 1st Wife’s Name: Mathilda Pagel Place of Birth: Lubeck, Germany Children: Fred (Barbara Werlinger), Minnie (Emil Bundt), and Elsa (William McBain) 2nd Wife's Full Name: Anna Glaue Wife's Place of Birth: Hannover, Germany Children's Names: Gustav (Tesse Hollar and Minnie), Wilhelm (Doris) Wilhelm Goedecke immigrated to the USA from Germany in 1887. He first settled in Fargo which was considered a struggling river city. In 1889 he married to Mathilda Pagel in Cass County. They settled in the area known as Manfred Township, the land was later owned by Albert Biever ¾ mile from Manfred. Wilhelm was one of the first people to make his home in the area. They had three children. Mathilda died when she was only 30 years old and was buried in the Manfred Township Cemetery west of town. Following Mathilda’s death Wilhelm married Anna Glaue. She and her son Gustav had recently emigrated from Germany. They settled in Manfred and a son Wilhelm Jr. was born to them. Their children attended school in Manfred.

Quick Facts Manfred was platted on Section 28, Township 149 North, Range 71 West, on land first patented from United States by Jesse E. Fincher and Christ O. Roble. In pioneer days the site of Manfred was called the Jim River Crossing of the Mouse River Trail. On May 3, 1894 the post office of Manfred was established with T.K. Rogne, postmaster. Later postmasters were I.L. Berge, S.N. Wilborg, Axel Le Grand, George Gilbertson, Gertrude LeGrand and Ole Ranum. T. K. Rogne and Lars Burkum established the first general store in Manfred in 1894 Other early Manfred business firms were: Benson & Wilborg Rognlie & Sorenson I. L. Berg John Nelson G. R. Nordtorp, as agent for the Smith and Rogers Lumber Company founded the first business house in 1893. He later erected his home, the stone house, which was a familiar landmark. The Royal Elevator with Erick Gartland, buyer was the first and only elevator for many years. Later there were five elevators in the town. Olaf Tansem was the village blacksmith , followed later by Jens Renden. Manfred State Bank , of the Beiseker Empire, had as early cashiers S. H. Ongstad and R.C. Adams Miss Sadie E. Hutchinson taught the first term of school in Manfred in 1897 LeGrand’s addition was added to the original Manfred Townsite. The Manfred vicinity is made up of largely Scandinavians, the leading lodge is the Sons of Norway. Source: Wells County History

Tollef and Bertha Hauge Husband's Full Name: Tollef Haugen Husband's Place of Birth: Manitowoc, WI Husband's Father's Name: Knute Haugen Husband's Mother's Name: Anna Thorsdatter Dovre Husband's Siblings' Names: Andrew, Torvald, Sophia, Ragnhild Wife's Full Name: Bertha Jomen Haugen Wife's Place of Birth: Manitowoc, WI Wife's Father's Name: Arne Knudsen Jome Wife's Mother's Name: Ingeborg Skov Jome Wife's Siblings' Names: Sophia, Carl and Gust Children's Names: Lillian Neuenschwander, Curtis, Alfred, Helmer, Alma, Mabel Tollef K. Haugen was born to Knute Haugen and Anna Thorson Haugen February 19, 1854, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. His wife, Bertha Jomen Haugen was born November 25, 1854, also in Manitowoc. They lived in St. Croix County Wisconsin until moving to Manfred, Wells County, in 1904. When they first came, they rented a farm from Mr. Haugen's uncle Harold Thorson. This farm was sold to Angus Fisher. Tollef Haugen bought school and state land, also southwest of Manfred. While their home was being built, they rented the Ole Hedahl farm north of Manfred, while Mr. Hedahl served as Wells County Auditor. The home the Haugen's built was moved to Harvey a few years ago and is still located on the north side. The Haugen's had six children: 1) Lillian, married to Otto Neuenschwander of Fessenden. They had seven children, Arthur, (killed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941), Roger, Diane, Bertha, Norman. Wilfred and Lois. 2) Curtis who homesteaded near Salvador, Saskatchewan, Canada (never married). 3) Alfred of Manfred married Mary Roble. They had three children, Maurice, Married Norma Theige; Hadley married Eileen Liebelt, Beatrice, married Calvin Bender. 4) Helmer known as Elmer also homesteaded in Canada and married Elizabeth Ann Hind, a woman born in England, they had two children, Robert and Mabel. 5) Alma married Martin Melby, Manfred; they had 4 children, Myrtle, Kermit, Ellanora and Donald. 6) Mabel taught elementary school, she did not marry. Brief sketches of Grandma & Grandpa Haugen from Laurie O'Connor Grandpa Tollef Haugen was a very tall man, standing 6'5", while Grandmother Berit was quite short. Icky recalls the grandchildren wondered how she managed to get the sugar lumps hidden way up high, out of reach of the children. They lost their first Manfred area farm to a bank foreclosure and then went to work for the Hedahls for a time. Grandpa managed to buy another 1/2 section, where they built their home. This farm was theirs until they retired and was later purchased and farmed by Calvin and Beatrice Bender (Alfred Haugen's daughter.) Tollef did not run any livestock, just the horses needed to farm the ground. As he got up in years, he used to explain, "he had to take a nap every afternoon because the horses needed a rest!” Tollef was a very capable metal worker and had a nice forge; he could heat and seam many metals. Like many pioneers who learned to drive automobiles late in life, he could be flustered by the changing technology. Icky Neuenschwander recalls sitting in the back seat with Norman, as Tollef sped down the old road to Harvey, bouncing and careening. His Model T had an accelerator pedal on the floor as well as on the steering column, and Grandpa Tollef did not realize his foot was accelerating as he struggled valiantly to release the hand accelerator! For more information on the Haugen Family see the October 2006 issue of The New Manfred News pages 7-8 Source: Growing With Pride

2019 Annual Pioneer Festival A program of former Manfred students shared their favorite memories and appreciation of the school’s extensive restoration. They enjoyed demonstrations of blacksmithing, historic clothes washing, bonnet making, knot tying, and doll clothes crafting. Kids partook in the water balloon toss, gunny sack and 3-legged races and class time. People enjoyed food from M&M Munchies food truck and ice cream provided by MHP. Throughout the day, they took in Manfred and pioneer history with church talks and guided tours. MHP Inc is looking at options for other days and times next year and are thinking of activities that will draw people to Manfred and the Pioneer Festival. They are hoping to grow the Pioneer Festival and people’s interest in Manfred. Schedule of Events 1pm: Introductions and Short Program of School Memories 1:30-5pm: Old-fashioned games with prizes Demonstrations of blacksmithing, clothes washing, class time, bonnet making, knot tying Standing-still parade Ice cream social Scavenger Hunts All Day: Touring of Historic Manfred Food available for purchase from M & M Munchies food truck