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Benson County North Dakota Genealogy

Broe Township

 

St. Petri Lutheran Church and Cemetery

Pastoral Acts        Early Members

NE¼ Section l  Broe Township
Rural York, North Dakota

History taken from the 1899-1999 Centennial Anniversary History Book

This is a history of the St. Petri Church and its congregation. The following has been compiled from the records dating back to 1896. Before the church was organized, people would attend services at private residences when a pastor was in the area and available. The first pastor invited to visit this community was Rev. E.T. Quam who drove up from Sheyenne, North Dakota once a month to conduct services in these modest homes. The very first service was held in the sod house of Anthon Thompson on April 17, 1898, at which time Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thompson's son, Herman was baptized.

The first minutes translated from Norwegian read: "Following services at the Lars Tollefson home near Sheep Lake, Benson County, North Dakota on October 29, 1899, the following persons: Christen Solberg, Mathias Nybo, Willie Peterson, Lars Tollefson, Lars Sandven, Gustav Pederson, Peder Hilde, Maruis Lunde, Ole Wensryg, Iiver Kinneberg, and Robert Thompson expressed a desire to organize a Lutheran congregation. Rev. E. Lovland was elected president and M.K. Nybo the secretary. A name for the congregation was to be chosen at the next meeting which was to be held at the Lars Sandven home on the 30th of November."

In the discussion regarding the choice of a name, Marius Lunde, who served as "Klokker" the first year, spoke in favor of a Biblical name. He suggested the name "St. Petri" by referring to Peter's confession to Christ in Matthew 16-18. "When Christ asked Peter, "But whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God." Replying, Jesus said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church." St. Petri, therefore, was the name chosen by the charter members for this congregation. The first trustees to be elected were Christ Solberg, Lars Tollefson and Torval Torgerson. The treasurer elected was Lars Sandven who served in this capacity until his death in 1921. The congregation also voted to adopt the constitution of the United Lutheran Church. Whereas, on the 24th of March, 1900, the congregation became affiliated with the United Lutheran Church. The first delegated to attend the annual meeting in Minneapolis were M.K. Nybo and Christ Solberg.

The meeting on April 5, 1900 was called especially for the purpose of deciding upon the church site. John Svensby who had joined the congregation at the second meeting on November 30, 1899, had made an offer of land. Mr. Svensby owned 40 acres in SE 1/4 of Sec 32 and 40 acres in the SW 1/4 of Sec 33 all in R69WT155N, this land is currently owned by the Harold Berven family and the Kittle Groff family respectively. John Lundgren joined the congregation on March 24, 1900, and had also made an offer of land. He offered his land at the NE 1/4 Sec 1 R70WT154N. At this meeting it was decided that these two offers should be voted on. Twenty two voted for Svensby site and twenty-eight for the Lundgren site. John Lundgren's offer of three acres of land was chosen for the church site and graveyard. After the vote, 13 members gave up their membership to St. Petri. At the annual meeting in December the congregation expressed their thanks to Mr. Lundgren for the gift of the land. Ironically, Mr. Lundgren was the first person buried in the new cemetery.

On March 19, 1901, at the meeting at Christ Solberg's home, a committee consisting of M.K. Nybo, Lars Sandven, and Lars Tollefson were elected to meet with the representative of the other congregations of this charge to extend a call to a pastor to fill the vacancy caused by Rev. Lovland's death. Rev. J.J. Strandness accepted the call and served this charge until 1903.

Plan for the church building began as early as August 30, 1902. Lars Tollefson, M.K. Nybo and Christ Solberg were named to a committee to accept subscriptions for the building fund. Erick Dokken and Ingebrigt Seim were to calculate a cost estimate for the new building. On December 9th, further plans were made and a committee consisting on Anthon Thompson, John Moe, and Anton Nilson were appointed to collect the budget.

Several meetings pertaining to the building of the church were held during the spring and summer of 1903 with Erick Dokken as chairman. At this time, the congregation also considered an affiliation with the Knox and Sand Lake churches and calling another pastor to fill this vacant charge. Rev. H. Hjertaas accepted this call during the latter part of the summer and served these congregations until 1905. At the annual meeting in December, J.R. Eide was elected "klokker" and served in that capacity for nearly forty years.

At the February 1903 meeting, a building committee consisting of E.O. Dokken, R.L. Opheim, M.K. Nybo, Lars Tollefson, and Anthon Thompson were elected by the congregation. Ingebrigt Seim was chosen to draw the plans for the church. The congregation members provided and hauled stones for the foundation and all the lumber for the church. There is no reference to the completion date of the church building except that two business meetings were conducted on June 13th and July 19th, 1903 at the St. Petri Church. The worship services were conducted in the Norwegian language.

The first baptism service conducted at the new church was held on July 19, 1903 when Theodore Thompson, Roald Nybo, and Mabel Berven were baptized. However the first baptism recorded in the pastoral book is that of Clarence Tollefson who was baptized on July 24, 1899. The first communion service was held November 30, 1899. The communicants were Mr. and Mrs. Lars Sandven, Mr. and Mrs. M.K. Nybo, and Mr. and Mrs. Christ Solberg. The first funeral service was conducted December 5, 1903 for Mrs. Lars Sandven with Rev. J.J. Strandness officiating. The first confirmation class of St. Petri consisted of Casper and Lewis Nybo and Abraham Haaheim. They met with Rev. Hjertaas at Knox during the winter of 1905 and on April 16th confirmation services were conducted for them at Knox Lutheran church. On January 8, 1907 Rev. Strandness officiated the first confirmation services at St. Petri. Members of this class were Eileen Nybo (Mrs. Han Halvorson), Clara Broe (Mrs. C.J. Simpson), Eivend Solberg and August Hagen. The first wedding held at the church was on December 26, 1911 when Mr. and Mrs. John and Marie Lysne were married.

Pastoral Acts

Name	Birthdate	Baptism	Confirmation
	1899
Berta Theoline Svendson	21 Oct 1899	30 Nov 1899
Clarence Tollefson	20 May 1899	24 Jul 1899
	1900
Klara Sophia Pederson	8 Jul 1900	29 Dec 1900	30 May 1915
Blanche Alvine Wold	5 Oct 1900	29 Dec 1900
Evangeline Bertha Sandven	9 Nov 1900	30 Dec 1900	3 Aug 1913
	1901
Malven John Solberg	3 Feb 1901	27 Mar 1901	30 Apr 1915
Leonard Bertinies Opheim	27 Mar 1901	21 Apr 1901
Alma Amalia Vik	1 May 1901	11 Aug 1901
Eliam Gurine Helling	5 May 1901	23 May 1901
	1902
Anna Josepine Pederson	10 Mar 1902	6 Apr 1902
Clara Bertine Tollefson	17 Mar 1902	6 Apr 1902
Linda Christine Pederson	11 Mar 1902	6 Jul 1902
Ella Karoline Faring	14 Mar 1902	6 Jul 1902
Floyd Orval Josting Nepstad	18 Jul 1902	31 Aug 1902
Carl Solberg	29 Aug 1902	26 Oct 1902	11 Nov 1917
Melvin Ingval Pederson	12 Nov 1902	8 Dec 1902
	1903
Clara Ragna Amanda Opheim	1 Jan 1903	1 Mar 1903
Theodore Oliver Thompson	25 Jun 1903	19 Jul 1903	11 Nov 1917
Mabel Berven	4 Jun 1903	19 Jul 1903	11 Nov 1917
Roald Martinus Nybo	22 Jun 1903	19 Jul 1903	11 Nov 1917
Tollet Tollefson	10 Nov 1903	7 Dec 1903
	1904
Pearl Stella Nepstad	23 Jul 1904	14 Aug 1904
Clara Lovise	17 Aug 1904	25 Sep 1904
Selma Amanda Muri	30 Sep 1904	15 Oct 1904
Olga Berdince Thompson	13 Oct 1904	4 Dec 1904
	1905
Anna Mathilde Vik	12 Mar 1905	23 Apr 1905
Martha Sapie Solberg	18 Mar 1905	23 Apr 1905
John Bertinus Kineberg	24 Dec 1904	23 Apr 1905
Olianna Thompson	9 Apr 1905	21 May 1905
Carl Hagen	24 Apr 1905	21 May 1905
Inga Tufte	22 May 1905	23 Jul 1905
Mabel Tufte	22 May 1905	23 Jul 1905
Casper Nilies Nybo			16 Apr 1905
Lewis Almer Nybo			16 Apr 1905
Abreham Haahiem			16 Apr 1905
	1906
Caroline Marie Blegen	29 Jul 1906	2 Sep 1906
Harold Berven	7 Jun 1906	4 Jul 1906
Bernice Thompson	1 Apr 1906	22 Apr 1906
Odella Christine Thompson	22 Dec 1905	28 Jan 1906
Enelyn Solberg	26 Feb 1906	22 Apr 1906
Elmer Throdor Tufte	23 Jul 1906	30 Sep 1906
Helene Marice Paulson	20 Oct 1906	4 Nov 1906
Ragna Karianna Solberg	24 Dec 1906	2 Dec 1906?
Amanda Sophie Muri	27 Aug 1906	30 Sep 1906
	1907
Vikton Robert Rasmuson	1 Aug 1906	1 Jan 1907
Lillian Posalia Broe	6 Dec 1906	23 Apr 1907
Albert William Lokken	4 Jan 1907	24 Mar 1907
Oscar Solberg	13 Feb 1907	7 Apr 1907
Bellinda Tollefson	27 Jun 1907	28 Jul 1907
	1908
Clarence Bernthardt Thompson	11 Jul 1907	28 Jul 1907
Milda Olanna Solberg	24 Apr 1907	28 Jul 1907
Juna Clarum Rude	29 Jun 1907	25 Jul 1907
Elmer Bertar Lunde	29 Aug 1907	3 Nov 1907
Anna Caroline Hagen	29 Aug 1907	3 Nov 1907
	1908
Agnes Riga Nelson	26 Nov 1907	1 Jan 1908
Hazel Thompson	4 Feb 1909	15 May 1908
Clarmen Idna Gullickson	29 Mar 1908	17 May 1908
Thorleif Emil Tufte	8 May 1909	7 Jun 1908
Olga Tealina Strand	23 Jun 1908	26 Jul 1908
Olga Krestine Solberg	15 Oct 1908	15 Nov 1908
Lillian Bernice Locken	15 Oct 1908	15 Nov 1908
Isac Herman Muri	19 Oct 1908	15 Nov 1908
Mildren Eveline Volden	30 Oct 1908	13 Dec 1908
	1909
Julia Kristine Broe	8 Dec 1908	7 Mar 1909
Luella Pearl Jacobson	1 Feb 1909	4 Apr 1909
Ruda Krestine Solberg	1 Jun 1909	11 July 1909
Henry William Pederson	28 July 1908	1 Aug 1909
Einar Solberg	8 Aug 1909	12 Sep 1909
Bertha Thompson	23 Aug 1909	12 Sep 1909
Anna Gunhild Pederson	28 Aug 1909	26 Sep 1909
Nils Solberg	18 Aug 1909	24 Oct 1909
Clarence Kenneth Rude	18 Sep 1909	24 Oct 1909
Rollin Corlando Kordahl	22 Apr 1909	24 Oct 1909
Alice Theodora Thompson	22 Apr 1909	24 Oct 1909
Bernhard Sandven			7 Mar 1909
	1910
Agnes Hagen	31 Dec 1909	20 Feb 1910
Pearl Hazel Evenson	3 Jan 1910	25 Mar 1910
Verdgie Viola Boe	7 Mar 1910	24 Apr 1910
Blanche Harriet Rosenquist	8 Apr 1910	15 May 1910
Ruda Sophie Tufte	25 Apr 1910	5 Jun 1910
Jay Clifford Gullickson	16 May 1910	26 Jun 1910
Oscar Solberg	19 Aug 1910	25 Sep 1910
Loid Alexander Hilson	9 Aug 1910	25 Sep 1910
Violet Violyne Nilson	25 Oct 1910	20 Nov 1910
Edfield Arthur Odeguard	4 Oct 1910	20 Nov 1910
Olga Annette Locken	30 Aug 1910	23 Oct 1910
Edwin Peterson			7  Aug 1910
Karen Hagen			7 Aug 1910
	1911
Harold Earnest Belgen	22 Mar 1911	23 Apr 1911
Chester Meglore Volden	27 Apr 1911	4 Jun 1911
Oleanne Berthine Solberg	14 Jul 1911	6 Aug 1911
Carl Leonard Solberg	14 Jul 1911	6 Aug 1911
Mona Elain Rosenquist	19 May 1911	6 Aug 1911
Myrtle Thompson	17 Nov 1911	17 Dec 1911
Oskar Nelson			2 Jul 1911
Thelmer O. Thompson			2 Jul 1911
Svanhild B.G. Sandven			2 Jul 1911
	1912
Fernando Ione Tapness	31 Dec 1911	25 Dec 1912
Signe Marie Solberg	Jan 1912	9 mar 1912
Alton Lawrance Nilson	23 Jan 1912	10 Mar 1912
Anna Berthina Tollefson	23 Jan 1912	10 Mar 1912
Elmer George Hilson	25 Feb 1912	7 Apr 1912
Amanda Bergoit Tufte	11 Apr 1912	21 Apr 1912
Georgia Thelma Jacobson	23 Feb 1912	21 Apr 1912
Anna Kristine Rodning	4 May 1912	16 Jun 1912
Nora Hagen	7 Apr 1912	30 Jun 1912
Gladys Evelen Loken	19 Jun 1912	21 Jun 1912
Peder Lysne	9 Jul 1912	18 Aug 1912
Olga Myrtle Pederson	28 Jul 1912	18 Aug 1912
Hazel Arvilda Hermanson	4 Sep 1912	10 Nov 1912
Alvin Solberg		3 Dec 1912	10 Dec 1912
Clara Agnes Sulland			21 Jul 1912
Elmer Larans Sulland			21 Jul 1912
Albert Gerhard Hanson			21 Jul 1912
Karl Gustan Tostenson			21 Jul 1912
Walter Gerhardt			21 Jul 1912
Chester M Nybo			21 Jul 1912
Malvin L Nybo			21 Jul 1912
Olaf Solberg			21 Jul 1912
Magnus Solberg			21 Jul 1912
Alton L Jacobson			21 Jul 1912
Marvin R Jacobson			21 Jul 1912
Perciral H Gremsgard			21 Jul 1912
	1913
Hazel Juneatte Volden	12 Feb 1913	24 Mar 1913
Ruth Jordis Erie	20 Dec 1912	13 Apr 1913
Albert Ingmar Thompson	30 Mar 1913	4 May 1913
Edna Evelen Evenson	25 Dec 1912	18 May 1913
Arnold Mylo Rosenquist	25 Mar 1913	18 May 1913
Troy Judean Thompson			22 Jun 1913
Marvin Edwin Lyngstad			22 Jun 1913
Clara Lillian Solberg	25 Mar 1913	22 Jun 1913
Orval Gaylon Broe	12 Apr 1913	22 Jun 1913
Ivey Morris Strand	21 Jun 1913	3 Aug 1913
Hjalmer Edwin Hermanson	7 Jun 1913	3 Aug 1913
Leif Arthur Tolo	9 Sep 1913	5 Oct 1913
Lawrence William Hilsen	6 Sep 1913	2 Nov 1913
Selmer Bernhard Rodning	17 Oct 1913	16 Nov 1913
Sylvester Verne Scobba	20 Nov 1913	2 Dec 1913
	1914
Doloras Beatrice Nelson	10 Apr 1914	24 May 1914
Myrtle Kirkeide	4 Jul 1914	30 Aug 1914
Viola Bernice Broe	21 Jun 1914	30 Aug 1914
Arnold Norman Pederson	22 Jul 1914	16 Aug 1914
Olaf Solberg	28 Sep 1914	26 Oct 1914
Roald Inge Lysne	11 Oct 1914	8 Nov 1914
Lila Ruby Thompson	3 Nov 1914	13 Nov 1914
	1915
Elnora Cordilia Volden	3 Jan 1915	12 Feb 1915
Helen Valbord Evenson	20 Jul 1914	21 Feb 1915
Montie Arden Scobba	16 Jan 1915	1 Apr 1915
Lillian Christine Stamner	23 Jan 1915	1 Apr 1 1915
Myrtly Solberg	14 Apr 1915	9 May 1915
Nora Mildred Hermanson	7 Apr 1915	30 May 1915
Alma Irene Hermanson	7 Apr 1915	30 May 1915
Tolief Tollefson	17 May 1915	18 Jul 1915
Gladys Johanna Tolo	10 Jun 1915	18 Jul 1915
Hazel Gertrud Odeguard	31 May 1915	8 Aug 1915
Olga Maria Rodning	1 Sep 1915	17 Oct 1915
Claris Evelyn Hermanson	20 Aug 1915	7 Nov 1915
Eleanor Geneva Boe	25 Sep 1915	7 Nov 1915
Norman Bernhard Hilson	13 Sep 1915	28 Nov 1915
	1916
Helen Olivia Volden	19 Dec 1915	12 Mar 1916
Alina Louise Loken	5 Dec 1915	12 Mar 1916
Milbert Norman Lornsdal	21 Mar 1916	21 Apr 1916
Dagney Gladys Pederson	20 Mar 1916	21 Apr 1916
Alvin Ingvald Thompson	15 Apr 1916	14 May 1916
Johan Lysne	20 Mar 1916	14 May 1916
Olga Solberg	13 Jun 1916	30 Jul 1916
Gudrun Agnette Evenson	29 May 1916	13 Aug 1916
Einar Manfred Kirkeide	26 Jun 1916	13 Aug 1916
Oscar Edwin Erie	8 Sep 1916	234Aug 1916 ?
Pearl Evelyn Fagri	20 Jun 1916	24 Sep 1916
Loraine Nomabell Halvorson	8 Aug 1916	24 Sep 1916
Florence Olive Myrtle Stamners	15 Oct 1916	3 Dec 1916
Palma Olide Blegen	26 Nov 1916	25 Dec 1916

Early Members of St. Petri

Taken from Seventy-five Years Leeds/York 1886-1961 Jubilee book

and

"Early history of Beaver Township reprinted from Leeds News June 6, 13 & 20, 1935" Benson County Farmers Press March 10,2004

 

Herman Hermanson was born at Waterville, Iowa in 1874. He came to North Dakota in 1900, and started farming in Butte Valley Township. The family lived for a few years on the homestead on which Mrs. Hermanson had filed in 1898. Mr. Hermanson filed in 1907, on land which adjoined hers.

J.R. Eide was born in Norway, immigrating to America in 1893. He went to Montana and here he related his thrilling experiences as a cowboy. He came to North Dakota and worked in the vicinities of Hope and Churchs Ferry. In 1901, he bought tow quarters of land in Twin Lake Township.

Christ Solberg was born in Norway. As a young man of 19 he migrated to America, going direct to relatives in South Dakota. Here he worked on a farm for two years. Because of his father's death, he returned to Norway in 1891. He was married in 1892. In 1898 he came to America again with his wife and two sons, Eivend and Olaf, coming directly to Benson County. He rented a farm in Beaver Township for that first season and filed on a quarter section in Broe Township in the fall of 1898, moving over there in the spring of 1899.

John Solberg came over from Norway in 1892, going to friends at La Crosse, Wisconsin. He worked in the saw mills and in the woods. He was evidently an adventurous young man as he told of farming experiences in South Dakota with horse and wagon. The free homestead land was pretty well taken up by this time, so he could file on only forty acres in Broe Township.

Rasmus Lunde was born in Norway and immigrated to this country in 1902. He came directly to North Dakota and bought land in Broe Township that year.

Ole Blegen was born at Stewartville, Minnesota. When he was four years old, his parents moved to a farm near Churchs Ferry where he spent his boyhood. He came to this community in 1905, purchasing the four quarters of school land in Twin Lake Township.

John Lysne came to the United States in the spring of 1891, coming directly to North Dakota, where he found employment near Grand Forks. He came to Ramsey County later and worked at miscellaneous jobs for several years. He bought a farm of three quarters near Minnewaukan in 1902, and farmed there for three years. In 1907, he bought a farm in Butte Valley Township.

Ole Froholm came to the United State in 1892. He worked on a farm near Benson, Minnesota for two years. He came to Churchs Ferry in 1894, purchasing land which he farmed for ten years. He came to Twin Lake Township in 1909.

George Jacobson was born at Glencoe, Minnesota. When he was three years old, his parents moved to Churchs Ferry and here his father homesteaded in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson moved to a farm in Twin Lake Township in 1908.

Iver Kinneberg came from Hallingdal, Norway to Churchs Ferry about 1894, and worked in that area prior to filing on a homestead in Butte Valley Township, one-half mile south of St. Petri Church. Later he bought the Kennedy farm.

Henry Broe was born near Ossian, Iowa. When he was three years old his parents moved to Buxton, N.Dak., where his father filed on a homestead. When Mr. Broe was 21 years of age, he was lured westward to seek home and fortune coming directly to Broe Township where he filed on his homestead in the year of 1897.

Peter Muri, was one of the earliest settlers in this vicinity. He came from Norway in the year of 1885, going directly to Steel county in Minnesota. Here he worked for our years. He came to Benson county in 1889 and file on a homestead six miles south of Leeds. He was evidently discouraged by the drought of those years, as he did not stay. He went back to Minnesota in the fall of 1890 and there he farmed and worked out for six years. He came back to North Dakota in the spring of 1897, this time going to Brinsmade where he worked for two years. He filed on his homestead in Broe Township in the fall of 1898 and farmed there  until the fall of 1912. Then with his family he moved to Washington, but in the course of a few years realized there is no place like North Dakota, so he returned to his farm again in the spring of 1918.

M.K. Nybo was born in Norway and came to America in 1881 at the age of 16. He is one of the earliest immigrants to the area. He worked on the railroad in different parts of Minnesota and at other employment until in 1884, when he came to North Dakota. He lived at Churchs Ferry for eight years and here he had the dray line. He came to this vicinity in 1898 and filed on land in Twin Lake Township, on which he lived.

A.E. Tufte was born in Norway and came to this country at the age of 17. He worked on farms near Leeds and Churchs Ferry the first three years he spent in this county. In 1896, he started farming north of Leeds. Early in the spring of 1897, not being old enough to take a homestead, he squatted on land which is still a part of his farm. He tells us his first home was a wagon box. Mr. Tufte and family moved to Cando in 1912 to farm, but returned to this vicinity in 1916. A.E. attributes his culinary ability of today to his experience as a bachelor in those pioneers days.

Gabriel Lokken filed on a homestead in Broe Township in 1889. He sold this land and a few years later bought his present farm in Twin Lake Township. He had a well-digging machine, so did that line of work for some time.

Moures Thompson came here from Benson, Minnesota in January of 1900, filing on his homestead at that time. His brothers, Anthon and Robert, had evidently told him of these rich, fertile prairies that produced number one grain, so he too decided to establish a farm in North Dakota. He returned to Benson for the remainder of the winter and came back to his homestead in the fall of 1900, when he built his mansion, the typical one-room shack of pioneer days. Anthon and Robert did the breaking for Moures during the summer of 1900 and also put in his first crop, 15 acres of flax in the spring of 1901. Moures tells of the modest equipment he shipped up from Benson, which included a wagon, four horses and harness and his dog. He spent the summer of 1901 working near Churchs Ferry but settled down to batch on his homestead in the fall.

Tosten Berven and Lars Sandven came out together from Abercrombie, N. Dak. in the spring of 1897. Mr. Berven had worked north of Leeds the previous year and being favorably impressed by the opportunities this vicinity afforded, evidently had induced his friend to come out west to homestead. They built a house across the line dividing their land and here the Sandven family and Mr. Berven lived together until Mr. Berven's marriage in 1902. Everything was then divided 50-50, even the house, 24 by 14 feet in size. This was sawed in half crosswise, Mr. Berven moving his share to his place and Lars Sandven moving his part of the house to his land.

Olof Pierson was born in Sweden on April 19, 1869. He came to America with the family in 1883, staying at Jamestown, North Dakota, the first year, then drove out to Minnewaukan in a covered sleigh, drawn by a team of mules. When the family lived at Minnewaukan, Mr. Pierson and his father picked buffalo bones on these prairies, their trips taking them up to York Lake and the Buttes. This project netted them five to six dollars a ton. In the spring of 1889, the Pierson family settled in Beaver Township, where he farmed extensively until his death in August, 1948. Other interests besides his faming were Herford cattle and Percheron horses, at one time he was the sixth largest Percheron breeder in the United States. 

E.O. Dokken was born in Norway and immigrated to this country in the year 1881. He came directly to Grand Forks, where he worked on a farm for several years. He then learned the carpenter trade. He came to our community in 1899, filing on a homestead in Beaver Township.

Robert Thompson came to Beaver in the spring of 1897. He was born April 24, 1874, at Benson, Minnesota, leaving there in 1896, for Mekinock, North Dakota, where he stayed a year. He started the journey to Leeds on a bicycle but because of a great deal of rain, had to take the train from Lakota. The Robert Thompson family lived with Anthon in his sod home for about three years. When Robert built a frame house on his homestead, Anthon lived with them until his marriage.

Anthon Thompson, December 2, 1872-June 8, 1951, was born at Benson, Minnesota. In July, 1896, he left there in a covered wagon seeking land at Emerado, North Dakota and on the Red Lake reservation in Minnesota. Not meeting with any success there he decided to come to Leeds induced by friends. He filed on his homestead in Beaver on the eleventh of July, 1896.

 Others in the immediate area were Anton Nepstad, the Lundgrens, John Moe, Ole Tollefson, Lars Ollefson, Anton Nelson,  plus many of the pioneers mentioned in the Beaver Township history like Ole Erie.

 

 

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