Family History Surname Data Index

~Alphabetical Index linked to surnames

From 'Nordmændene i Amerika' by Martin Ulvestad, 1907

Mercer and Oliver Counties
In 1883 Albert J. Hansen from Helgeland and his wife came alone from Glenwood, Minn. to Stanton N. D., where they settled. Later in the year came Hans and Ole A. Finstad from Nordre Land and H. G. Bagley from Nummedal. The settlement, that bears the Bagley name, lies on the border between Mercer and Oliver Counties. The nearest marketplace was Mandan, about 25 miles away. Wheat and cattle raising was and is the county's leading source of income.
Oluf, son of the aforementioned Albert Hansen, was the first white child born in the aforementioned area. He was born in July 1883.
Ole Finstad writes, "After we came to Stanton, we drove out across the prairie to look at the land. Everything was wild. Deer, antelopes and Indians were the only living creatures we saw on our travels. We agreed, however, to settle here and dug some dugouts for our use in the first year. In time, when we had the opportunity to obtain some timber from the other side of the Missouri River, we built proper houses.
There is a congregation, belonging to The United Church.

Following some names there is a † which means that in 1907 that person was deceased.

Translated by, and posted with permission of, Olaf Kringhaug

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