Ole Jorstad Full Name: Ole Jorstad Place of Birth: Manfred Township, ND Father's Name: Nels Olson Jorstad Mother's Name: Gunhild Reistad Jorstad Siblings' Names: Richard, Gilma, Nenne, Myrtle Ole was a good mechanic, self-taught. Ole lived on a farm near Manfred. He served in the Army during World War II. Following discharge he returned to Manfred where he lived and farmed the balance of his life. He was a member of Vang Lutheran Church and the American Legion of Harvey. Ole was born in 1906 and died in 1977.

Severin and Agnes Ekrem Husband's Full Name: Severin Jacobson Ekrem Husband's Place of Birth: South of Alesund, Norway Husband's Father's Name: Jacob Mikkelsen Eikrem Husband's Mother's Name: Anna Martha Amundsdatter Aarøe. Husband's Siblings' Names: Rasmus, Sina and Lena Wife's Full Name: Agnes Helgeson Wife's Place of Birth: unknown Wife's Father's Name: unknown Wife's Mother's Name: unknown Wife's Siblings' Names: Children's Names: Anna, Loui, Joel, and Sverre Daughter Anna Ekrem Bymoen Severin Jacobson Ekrem (1879-1961) and Rasmus Jacobson (1872-1960) were brothers. They were born in the Sunnøre area, south of Alesund, Norway. Rasmus worked on a ship, which traveled to the Far East. He entered the states via Ontario, and worked for a while in the iron mines in northeastern Minnesota. Severin joined Rasmus and they homesteaded near Sawyer, ND. Both brothers came to Manfred about 1900, and worked in a butcher shop. Rasmus used the family name Jacobson, and Severin used the farm name of Ekrem from Norway. Severin and Rasmus made a trip to Norway about 1906. When the return boat stopped at Bergen, Severin was introduced to Agnes Helgeson, and they "visited two times". Severin left his "calling card" with Agnes and returned to Manfred. Agnes came to the states about 1907, and worked off her boat ticket with a family in Flandreau, SD. She and Severin were married in the family's living room on July 7, 1909. The couple returned to a farm which Severin had built up, located between Manfred and Wellsburg. Their first-born son died at birth due to complications. Margaret (Nordtorp) Jacobson attended Agnes in this experience. The baby is buried in an unmarked grave in the Wellsburg Cemetery. Their family grew to include Anna, Loui, Joel, and Severre. Anna and Joel had their tonsils removed at home. The kitchen table, the top of the treadle sewing machine cabinet, a kerosene lamp, and Agnes administering the ether supported the doctor's efforts. Anna became a teacher and taught at Manfred. In 1942 she married Manfred Bymoen, and resided in a New Rockford nursing home until her death in 2002.

Clarence and Lena Nelson Husband's Full Name: Clarence Nelson Husband's Place of Birth: Stavanger, Norway Husband's Father's Name: unknown Husband's Mother's Name: unknown Husband's Siblings' Names: Adolph Wife's Full Name: Lena Larson Wife's Place of Birth: Sweden Wife's Father's Name: Peder Larson Wife's Mother's Name: Hansine Larson Wife's Siblings' Names: David, Mrs. Simon Johnson, and Edna Larson Children's Names: Mabel, Walter, Clair, Harley, Lila, Roy, Helen 50th Wedding Anniversary with Family Clarence (Kleng) Nelson, Manfred, came to the United States from Norway when he was 16 years old. After living with relatives in Wisconsin and Northwood he served in the army for 3 years, coming out in 1896. Then he came to Manfred. The first winter he spent in his homestead shack was very severe. He awoke one morning to find his shack completely covered with snow. Luckily, the door opened inwards and he had a shovel. After he dug himself out and dug his horses out of the barn, he moved in with his sister and family, the Lars Natlands. In 1899, he married Lena Larson at Manfred, North Dakota. They farmed on Sections 23 and 14 in Manfred Township. Lena Larson Nelson Mrs. Clarence Nelson, nee Lena Larson was born in Sweden in 1880. She came to the United States with her parents at the age of one year. Her early childhood was spent near Cummings, ND. In the early nineties her family came to Wells County where her father filed on a homestead, near what is now Heimdal. Here she resided until 1899 when she became the bride of Clarence Nelson, who farmed near Manfred. Here she lived for almost half a century, 48 years to be exact. With her husband, she helped to convert the early home into a beautiful farmstead. It was here their children; four sons and three daughters were born and grew to maturity. Mrs. Nelson was a member of the Vang Lutheran Church and of the Vang Ladies Aid. She served as president of the Aid and she was happy to take an active part in its up building. Being interested in all church activities she gave freely of her time and was ever ready to lend a helping hand. In 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson retired from active farming and made Glasgow, Montana their home. It was here they celebrated their Golden Wedding Day in 1949 in the presence of several children and other relatives who reside in Glasgow, and other relatives and friends from North Dakota. In 1950, Mrs. Nelson passed away at Rochester, Minnesota, after an illness of five months. She was laid to rest on the fifth of May in a Glasgow, Montana cemetery. Mrs. Clarence Nelson's story was written by Sennev Nertrost Whipple

Glen and Nancy Bendickson Husband's Full Name: Glen Bendickson Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, ND Husband's Father's Name: Martin Bendickson Husband's Mother's Name: Olga Mary Lund Bendickson Husband's Siblings' Names: Adeline, Helen, Marvin, Florence, Fern, Joanne, Lucille, Donna Wife's Full Name: Nancy S. Bendickson Glen and Nancy now live at El Paso, TX and his sister Joanne Telehey is from Voltaire, ND. They brought copies of the farm pictures where they had lived as children when they visited the museum in July 2004. Pictured Visiting the Museum July 16, 2004: Glen and Nancy Bendickson and Glen’s sisterJoanne Bendickson Telehey

Christian Weiss Full Name: Christian Weiss Place of Birth: Russia Father's Name: Jacob Weiss Mother's Name: Anna Maria Klukos Siblings' Names: Katherine Weiss (Jacob Kramer), Henry Weiss (Margaret Schmierer), Christine Weiss (Piedt), Louisa Weiss, Emanuel Weiss (Christina), Regenia Weiss, Lydia Weiss, Gottlieb Weiss (Barbara) Christ Weiss lived in Manfred along with his sisters Lydia and Louisa in a small house just east across the alley from the gas station. They raised chickens in their yard, which was quite unusual in the early 1950s and 1960s. They were kind and gentle people, who stayed mostly to themselves. When I was a young girl I received a gift from them. It was a small hat, probably meant to fit on a doll. I still have that gift that came in a small round black box. We lived quite near to them, and it was a very nice gesture. I remember at Halloween the trick or treaters would go to their home, and generally were given a nickel each, as they didn’t have candy on hand. I think some years we would get a home baked cookie. Christ died in 1964, Louisa in 1963, and Lydia in 1968.

Anderson Livery and Drayline (Manfred Livery) Location: Block 4, Lot 15 Proprietor: Olaf Anderson Year Started: 1900 Year Ended: 1930 History of Business: Anderson Motor Company burned down November 6, 1930. Olaf Anderson was planning on rebuilding the business, but in 1931 he had a fatal heart attack. This is a note from the Minot Daily News rerun on December 25, 1981, about the business – Olaf Anderson ran a garage, sold and traded horses and operated a livery barn on Main Street, Manfred. He operated two or three rigs to take salesmen north and south to the Soo Line. These salesmen stayed at the hotel. Anderson also hauled timbers that arrived on the Soo Line for the railroad bridge east of Wellsburg. In winter, Anderson would harvest ice that was used by the Soo Line at Division Point. With a crew of 20 men, he hauled ice from the James River to a loading platform, one of the busiest places in town (Manfred). Double Blue Daisy – Anderson Livery and Drayline Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Johan P. and Paulina Hoffman Husband's Full Name: Johann Phillip Hoffman Husband's Place of Birth: Wallroth, Germany Husband's Father's Name: Johann Peter Hoffman Husband's Mother's Name: Katharina Elisabeth Stockhausen Husband's Siblings' Names: Engelbert, Johann Phillip Wife's Full Name: Paulina Bartsch Wife's Place of Birth: Germany Wife's Father's Name: unknown Bartsch Wife's Mother's Name: unknown Wife's Siblings' Names: Charles Bartsch ?? Children's Names: Frederick, Emma, John P, William, Charles, Phillip Johann Hoffman who was born in 1870, emigrated from Germany and obtained a land patent in the Manfred area, where he married and started his family. Johann’s wife, Paulina Bartsch Hoffman, was born in Germany in 1871 and died in Manfred 1901. She is buried in the cemetery to the south and west of Manfred, this is known as the Manfred Township Cemetery. In that cemetery also buried are Mrs. Charles (Katharina) Bartsch who died in 1908 at 56 years of age and Emily Bartsch, who died at age 14 in 1895. Their children were born in rural Manfred, Wells, North Dakota between the years 1891 and 1899. According to the county newspaper, Johann (Phillip) sold his threshing outfit in September 1905, had an auction sale selling all his stock, farm machinery and household goods in December of 1905. Phillip and his family left shortly before Christmas in 1905 for their future home in Bowie, Maryland where Mr. Hoffman had purchased a plantation of 500 acres, which contained the customary quota of huts and black tenants.

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.