Harness and Shoe Shop Location: In Meads Hardware Store Block 4, lot 7 was owned by James Mead Proprietor: Arnt Anda Year Started: Ad was found in the 1905 County Paper Year Ended: 1906 History of Business: J. A. Mead succeeded E. W. Stein in the harness and heavy hardware business. In 1906 James A. Mead loaded up his household goods, dogs, and colt and moved to Stanley, North Dakota to make his future home. He intended to enter into the grain business there and later branch out into real estate. The business was closed following his departure from Manfred.

Nelson and Mead Location: Block 4, Lot 7 Proprietors: Nelson and Mead Year Started: ad in 1905 paper Year Ended: unknown History of Business: Nelson and James Mead were dealers in farm machinery, hardware and harnesses according to their ad in the 1905 newspaper. Daisy – Nelson and Mead Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Kermit and Beverly Larson Husband's Full Name: Kermit D. Larson Husband's Place of Birth: Heimdal, ND Husband's Father's Name: Arthur Ludwig Larson Husband's Mother's Name: Edna Christine Ongstad Husband's Siblings' Names: Leland (Delores Davidson); Ardis (Henry Kucera) Wife's Full Name: Beverly Valent Wife's Place of Birth: Fessenden, ND Wife's Father's Name: Ralph Angelo Valent Wife's Mother's Name: Anna Marie Wood Wife's Siblings' Names: James; Betty (Noel Peters); Eleanor (Clinton Anderson); Marjorie (William Wendschlag); Sylvia (Robert Woodworth); Hazel, Donald (Florrine Just); Audrey Children's Names: Diane (Norman Boese); Jay (Beth Wilkinson); Steven, Craig (Catherine Kirkeide) Farmed in the rural Manfred area. March 19, 1934 - February 27, 2024 Kermit D. Larson, 89, of Manfred, ND passed away Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at St. Aloisius Nursing Home in Harvey, ND. A celebration of Kermit’s life will be held in the summer of 2024. Arrangements are with the Nelson Funeral Home of Fessenden, ND. Kermit was born March 19, 1934, to Arthur and Edna Larson. He attended grade school in Heimdal and graduated from Fessenden High School in 1952. Kermit and Beverly (Valent) were united in marriage in Fessenden on September 29, 1955 and farmed the Larson Homestead farm for over 50 years. Kermit had a great sense of humor, loved playing cards, and was always ready to help his neighbors, especially if there was dessert involved. Kermit was a member of the Hoff Lutheran Church of Heimdal for many years where he was on the Church Council. He also served on the West Norway Township Board and the Heimdal and Fessenden Elevator Boards and served on the Central Plains Water Board. Kermit is survived by his wife of 68 years, Beverly and one sister, Janice Dean of Fridley, MN: Kermit and Beverly raised 4 children: one daughter, Diane (Norman) Boese of Winter Springs, Florida,: three sons, Jay (Beth) Larson of Apple Valley, MN, Steve (Denise) Larson of Columbus, IN and Craig (Catherine) Larson of Little Canada, MN: 10 grandchildren, Nathan (Lizzi) Boese and Caralyn (Neal) Moore, Grant, Nicholas, and Cole Larson: Courtney (Dylan) Michel, Garrett (Lisa) Larson, and Trent Larson, Ryan and Carter Larson. 5 great grandchildren: Emma, Blake, Julia, Austin, and Jack. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Edna Larson; two brothers, Leland and Waldo Larson; one sister, Ardis Kucera.

Blacksmith and Wheelwright Location: Block 4, Lot 11 Proprietor: Olaf Tansem Year Started: 1898 Year Ended: 1905 on this site with these proprietors. History of Business: Olaf Tansem purchased the property in 1898 and in 1905 transferred his business to Jakob Klev who leased the property. Jens Renden purchased the property in 1905. Jens Renden built a new blacksmith shop in 1905, which he ran until 1943. Blue Daisy – Blacksmith and Wheelwright Reference points: Red rectangle - Manfred School Blue rectangle - Vang Lutheran Church Purple rectangle – Post Office/Bank Green rectangle – Solheim Station

Severt and Engebor Broe Husband's Full Name: Sver Larson Broe aka Severt Husband's Place of Birth: Ossian, Winneshiek, Iowa Husband's Father's Name: Lars O. Broe Husband's Mother's Name: Anne M. Larsdatter Husband's Siblings' Names: There were about 15 siblings including Jorgen, Lars, Louis and Anna Wife's Full Name: (1) Engebor M. Erickson (aka Ingebjorg) Wife's Place of Birth: Ossian, Winneshiek, Iowa, USA Children's Names: Leonard (Petra Hanson), Anna (Aksel Halvor Trygstad), Helen (Jonas Berve), Henry Jorgen (Cecelia Berve), Peter (Josephine Prusha), Emma (Gustav A. Anderson) Wife’s Full Name: (2) Ingeberg Brauhagen Helberg Wife’s Place of Birth: Norway (immigrated in 1902) Children’s Names: Joseph (Luella J. Nygaard), Edwin (Caroline Rolandson), Ordean Severt Broe and Engebor M. Erickson were both born in Ossian, Iowa were married in Iowa on Dec 20, 1877. They had 7 children who lived to adulthood. In 1885, they were listed on the enumeration census living in Traill County, Dakota Territory. There were also church records indicating the baptism of their children shortly after each was born. In 1886, they along with several of their neighbors became charter members of the Bethel Lutheran Church, rural Manfred. They owned at least a portion of Section 2 of Manfred Township and gave the NE corner of the quarter of their land to the church. A new church building and cemetery were placed on this land. The new church was built in 1915. The original church was moved to Heimdal. Severt’s 1st wife Engebor used several different names through the years. Ingebor M. Erickson was the name on the marriage license, Belle was used on one census, Mary Bell on another, and her gravestone lists her as Ingeborg. Mary was the name used on the Manfred census. The children and husband remained constant and at one time it said she had been married 22 years. The Bros were listed in the 1900 census for Manfred Township (then known as Jim River Traill). On April 25, 1902 Ingebor died. She was buried at the Bethel Church Cemetery along with Baby Broe. It appears they may have been the first burials in the cemetery. The graves are near to the front gate, and the list of people buried there does not reflect anyone being buried prior to 1902. In 1905 the land that Severt owned was purchased by Sofus Ongstad. He already owned Section 1. He moved his family to the farm in 1915, at which time their home was built. On February 1907, Severt remarried. His bride’s name was Ingeberg Brauhagen Helberg. The wedding was performed in Simcoe where his daughter Anna Trygstad lived with her husband Aksel Halvor Trygstad, a Lutheran Pastor. Ingeberg and Severt lived on the farm in Manfred. They had three sons, Joseph, Edwin and Ordean. Ingeberg passed away in 1914. She was only 38 years old. She was buried in the Simcoe Cemetery near Velva in McHenry County. Severt maintained his residence on a farm near Simcoe according to the 1920 census, but by 1930, had moved to Alamo in Williams County, where some of his children were living. Severt passed away in December of 1943 and was buried at the cemetery near Alamo, ND.

Melvin and Theresa Bergh Husband's Full Name: Melvin Bergh Husband's Place of Birth: North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Soren Bergh Husband's Mother's Name: Marie S. Olsen Husband's Siblings' Names: Alvie, Clara, Sigurd, Mabel, Signe, Julia and Henry Wife's Full Name: Theresa (Dovre) Bergh Wife's Place of Birth: Detroit Lakes, Minnesota Wife's Father's Name: Knute Olson Dovre Wife's Mother's Name: Mathilda Opdahl Dovre Wife's Siblings' Names: Erling, Conrad, Clifford Children's Names: Judith (Bergh) Crowley, Jon Melvin Bergh Theresa Dovre is the youngest of the Knute Dovre/Mathilda Opdahl family. She was raised in Manfred. They lived in the LeGrand Addition of town. Theresa’s mother Mathilda was a sister of Ed Opdahl. Theresa and Melvin were married on August 25, 1944. They lived in Detroit Lakes, MN. Melvin passed in 2010, and Theresa followed in 2011.

Jacob and Evelyn Ulrich Husband's Full Name: Jacob Peter Ulrich Husband's Place of Birth: Cathay, Wells, ND, USA Husband's Father's Name: Jakob Peter Ulrich Husband's Mother's Name: Dorothea Levi Husband's Siblings' Names: Rebecca, Gordon, Roger, Irene (Kenneth Horne), Johanna, Dorothy (Mehring), Levi Wife's Full Name: Evelyn V. Emery Wife's Place of Birth: Williams County, North Dakota, USA Wife's Father's Name: Orton N. Emery Wife's Mother's Name: Minnie Rose Bowker Wife's Siblings' Names: Nellie, Melvin , Ralph, Maude, Glenwood Children's Names: Richard P. Ulrich, Virginia Ulrich Berger, Linda K. Ulrich Jacob Peter Ulrich was born in Cathay, North Dakota, his wife Evelyn was born in Williams County, North Dakota. They were married in about 1934. In about 1940 they lived in Manfred in what is known as the elevator house. “Pete” was the Standard Oil bulk dealer. Their children attended school in Manfred. They later moved to Minot.

Manfred's Beginnings Articles: First Child Born in Manfred Humble Beginnings Manfred in 1893 Pioneer Burials Pioneer Life Quick Facts Rage and Fury of Blizzards Railroads of Wells County School and Church Constructed Threat of Prairie Fires Manfred's early years were a busy time, full of growth and industry. We have assembled a variety of articles that focus on life in Manfred, especially Manfred's early years. If you know of an article, paper, or story that you would like to see included here, please contact us and let us know.

Lewis and Judy Weigelt Husband's Full Name: Lewis Weigelt Husband's Place of Birth: Manfred, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Henry Fred Weigelt Husband's Mother's Name: Pauline Emma Sprenger Husband's Siblings' Names: Morris, Allen Wife's Full Name: Judy Damon Wife's Place of Birth: Iowa Wife's Father's Name: Rev. John Damon Wife's Mother's Name: Wanda Mitchel Wife's Siblings' Names: William, Joann, Marsha Children's Names: Brian, Rachel and Ashley Lewis and Judy live in rural Manfred. Lewis worked over 50 years as the Fessenden-Bowdon bus mechanic and driver before retiring in 2019. Judy works with home health care. At one point they were both active in Manfred History and Preservation, Inc. Lewis passed away in 2025.

Gust and Martha Hanson Husband's Full Name: Gustav K. Hanson Husband's Place of Birth: Fram Township, Wells, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Emil N. Hanson Husband's Mother's Name: Martha Hanson Husband's Siblings' Names: Anna, Emma, Gjerste Wife's Full Name: Martha Hauge Hanson Wife's Place of Birth: North Dakota Wife's Father's Name: Torger J. Hauge Wife's Mother's Name: Anna Erfjord Hauge Wife's Siblings' Names: Albert, Ella, Clarence, Tennes, George, Leonard Children's Names: George Hanson, Delores Hanson Bretheim Gust and Martha Hanson were members of Trinity Bethany Lutheran Church in Harvey. Gust was born in Fram Township, east of Harvey. Gust and Martha were married in 1923; they farmed east of Harvey until retiring in 1976, when they moved to Harvey. He was a member of the township and school boards for many years.

Bert and Mary Fehr1 Husband's Full Name: Brechter Eilert Fehr Husband's Place of Birth: Simonswolde, Germany Husband's Father's Name: Eilert Peter Fehr Husband's Mother's Name: Bielda Talea Wallenstein Fehr Husband's Siblings' Names: Peter Eilert, Brechter Eilert, Talea Beyersdorff, Brechter Eilert, Bauwo Eilert, Jan Eilert, Elizabeth Meitz, Johann Eilert, Eberharddine Eilert, Ebhert Eilert, Bielda Beyersdorff Wife's Full Name: Mary Elmira Egger Fehr Wife's Place of Birth: Wattenwylo PO, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada Wife's Father's Name: John Egger Wife's Mother's Name: Marie Vuilleme Wife's Siblings' Names: John, Ray, Ed, Walter, Glen, Oscar, Julie Johnson, Tillie Dunlap, Grace Dereemer Children's Names: Bielda Hoover, Eilert, William, Julia Albus, Ruth Krueger, Walter, John, and 3 children who died as infants Bert and Mary Fehr and baby Bielda Bert Fehr came from Germany in 1889 when he was 17 years old. He first worked in Iowa where many from his village had settled. Later the family came to the Fessenden vicinity where his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Eilert Peter Fehr and his brother Peter had settled on farms northeast of Manfred. It was at the Baptist Church in Fessenden that he met a young lady, Mary Egger, from Marshfield, Wisc. At the urging of the J.R. Seigenthalers of Bowdon, she had come there to teach school. She was teaching a two month term of school west of Fessenden when she met Bert. They were married November 2, 1911 at Toronto, SD where they had rented a farm. Here Bielda, Mrs. Warren Hoover of Manfred, Eilert Fehr of Manfred, and Mrs. Walter Albus (Julia) were born. In 1917 they bought a farm in Rusland township, southwest of Manfred. They lived in a sod house until a frame house could be built. Here Ruth, Mrs. Otto Krueger of Detroit, Mich. and Walter of Manfred were born. They attended the First Baptist Church of Fessenden. They continued to live on the farm until 1953, when they moved to Fessenden They have 17 grandchildren. Mrs. Mary Fehr passed away June 12, 1963. Mr. Fehr married Mrs. Marguret Blair of Warsaw, Wisconsin in 1966. Mr. Fehr passed away in March of 1976, and Mrs. Marguret Fehr passed away in April 1975. Source: Growing with Pride

Ole and Mabel Hovey Husband's Full Name: Ole Hovey Husband's Place of Birth: Griggs County, North Dakota Husband's Father's Name: Nils Hovey Husband's Mother's Name: Marit Hovey Husband's Siblings' Names: Marie, Carl, Julia, Nora Wife's Full Name: Mabel Ellingson Wife's Place of Birth: Pennock, Kandiyohi, Minnesota Wife's Father's Name: Elling T. Ellingson Wife's Mother's Name: Mary C. Ellingson Wife's Siblings' Names: Julia, Nettie, Gladys, Alice, Nephi,and child who died as an infant. Child's Name: Bernice (Paul) Grabe Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hovey celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Sunday June 20, 1965 at the Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred. A short program was held in the afternoon with a welcome and congratulation given by Mrs. Vern Nelson, president of the Vang Ladies Aid. A reading by Mildred Ongstad and a solo by Mrs. Oliver Rodne were other numbers on the program. One highlight was a Norwegian solo by Pastor Solberg. It was the same song sung in Norwegian at their wedding a half century ago. Adolph Shirley, president of the Vang Lutheran Church congregation presented the couple with gifts from their friends and relatives. Mabel Ellingson and Ole Hovey were married at Manfred on December 21, 1914. Carl Hovey of St Paul, brother of the groom was best man and was also able to be present for their anniversary. Their bridesmaid, Marie Hovey is now deceased. Their only daughter Bernice, is now living in Grawn, Michigan. Present for the anniversary was Carl Hovey of St. Paul. He was accompanied by Sophie Schriver of St. Paul. Paul and Bernice Grabe and their daughter Suzanne (Wilson) of Grawn, Michigan were also present for the occasion. Taken from 1965 news article on Golden Anniversary for the Hoveys