Title
KNUD KNUDSON FAMILY
Creator
Millie Knudson Elkins
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 139N RANGE 93W
Text
KNUD KNUDSON FAMILY
Knud Knudson I was born in Drangedal, Norway July 6, 1823. He grew to manhood there and married Gunhild Stenger, who was born Sept. 3, 1837.
Their oldest children, Knud II, Anund and Abraham, were born in Norway.
The family came to America in May, 1870. Their infant son, Abraham, died during the voyage and was buried at sea. They had four more children after coming to America, Abraham II, Martinius (Martin), John and Annie. They settled near Harmony, Minn. Their occupation was farming.
The spring of 1887, the family came to Taylor, N.D., then Dakota Territory and settled on a home-stead south of Taylor Sec. 27, T. 139, R. 93 and did farming.
Knud Knudson I passed away the fall of 1888 and was the first to be buried in the Pioneer Cemetery south of Taylor. His wife, Gunhild, passed away 1919.
The early harvesting was done with a scythe and the grain tied in sheaves by hand. Threshing was done by horses or oxen tramping around on the grain, after which it was gathered and sacked. It wasn’t long until reapers were used, and then binders and machinery for threshing.
The early homesteaders used different fuels for heating and cooking, such as twisted hay at first. Some burned dried cow chips, also wood from trees. Some were fortunate enough to find lignite coal. The fare of the early settlers was very simple.
Money was scarce, so picking buffalo bones and selling them brought some income as the prairies had been the homes and graveyards for thousands of buffaloes. The early years included many trials and hardships, but also many joys.
After schoolhouses were built, they were used as central places for spelldowns, debating, school programs, Sunday School and worship services.
My father, Knud Knudson II, was born in Drange-dal, Norway May 5, 1863 and was married to Elise Helmer in Harmony, Minn. Dec. 10, 1885.
Elise Helmer was born in Norway June 9, 1867. Her parents were Ole and Marie Helmer. Her mother died when she was five years old. She came with her father and stepmother to America July 1881. They settled near Harmony, Minn. And a year later moved to Cooperstown, N.D.
The spring of 1886, May 2, Knud and Elise Knudson came to Taylor, N.D. They had loaded a freight car with a team of horses (Tom and Bill), a cow, some chickens, a few farm implements and household goods, shipping them by rail; and they, themselves, came by passenger train. They stayed at the section house with the Erland Paulson family until they had the sod house completed on their homestead five miles south of Taylor, Sec. 28, T. 139, R. 93. Later a sod barn and chicken coop were built.
The newspapers they kept were “Skandenaven” and “Decorah Post”.
The first schoolhouse in the Knudson neighborhood was built of sod. Later, a lumber building was erected. Some of the earliest teachers were Carrie Johnson Brand, Lena Rue Myran, Carrie Baird Kirby, Lillian Haugen Dohrmann and Dorothy Berry de St. Clement.
Knud Knudson II soon acquired a tree claim of 160 acres. Later, he bought more land and, besides farming, raised horses and cattle.
Knud Knudson II died in the spring of 1907 leaving his widow with nine children, the youngest less than two years old. She was a widow for 40 years and passed away January, 1947.
Knud Knudson II and wife Elise raised nine children.
Millie, 1888, was married to John Elkins, who passed away in 1976. They farmed south of Taylor until moving to Taylor. They raised nine children.
Clara, 1889 is married to Louis Gullickson. They farmed north of Taylor and are living in Taylor now. They raised nine children.
Lavina, 1890, married Clarence Gullickson. They ranched near Cannon Ball, N.D. and are now living in Mandan. They raised four sons.
Knute, 1893, married Evaline Hendrickson and lived on a farm south of Taylor. They raised four children. His wife passed away 1951, and Knute passed away 1964.
Annie, 1895, married Martin Marcusen. They lived on a farm south of Taylor. They raised four children. Annie passed away 1952 and her husband passed away 1964.
Warren, 1897, was married to Anna Swenning. They had two daughters. Warren passed away 1945. His widow lives in Fargo, N.D.
Rosalie, 1899, a teacher, married M. L. Young and lived in Anamoose, N.D. She passed away 1963. They had one son.
John, 1902, was in Seattle attending medical school when he passed away 1928.
Victor, 1905, married Lois Belnap. They are both retired teachers, living in Billings, Mont. They have three children.
By Millie Knudson Elkins
Knud Knudson I was born in Drangedal, Norway July 6, 1823. He grew to manhood there and married Gunhild Stenger, who was born Sept. 3, 1837.
Their oldest children, Knud II, Anund and Abraham, were born in Norway.
The family came to America in May, 1870. Their infant son, Abraham, died during the voyage and was buried at sea. They had four more children after coming to America, Abraham II, Martinius (Martin), John and Annie. They settled near Harmony, Minn. Their occupation was farming.
The spring of 1887, the family came to Taylor, N.D., then Dakota Territory and settled on a home-stead south of Taylor Sec. 27, T. 139, R. 93 and did farming.
Knud Knudson I passed away the fall of 1888 and was the first to be buried in the Pioneer Cemetery south of Taylor. His wife, Gunhild, passed away 1919.
The early harvesting was done with a scythe and the grain tied in sheaves by hand. Threshing was done by horses or oxen tramping around on the grain, after which it was gathered and sacked. It wasn’t long until reapers were used, and then binders and machinery for threshing.
The early homesteaders used different fuels for heating and cooking, such as twisted hay at first. Some burned dried cow chips, also wood from trees. Some were fortunate enough to find lignite coal. The fare of the early settlers was very simple.
Money was scarce, so picking buffalo bones and selling them brought some income as the prairies had been the homes and graveyards for thousands of buffaloes. The early years included many trials and hardships, but also many joys.
After schoolhouses were built, they were used as central places for spelldowns, debating, school programs, Sunday School and worship services.
My father, Knud Knudson II, was born in Drange-dal, Norway May 5, 1863 and was married to Elise Helmer in Harmony, Minn. Dec. 10, 1885.
Elise Helmer was born in Norway June 9, 1867. Her parents were Ole and Marie Helmer. Her mother died when she was five years old. She came with her father and stepmother to America July 1881. They settled near Harmony, Minn. And a year later moved to Cooperstown, N.D.
The spring of 1886, May 2, Knud and Elise Knudson came to Taylor, N.D. They had loaded a freight car with a team of horses (Tom and Bill), a cow, some chickens, a few farm implements and household goods, shipping them by rail; and they, themselves, came by passenger train. They stayed at the section house with the Erland Paulson family until they had the sod house completed on their homestead five miles south of Taylor, Sec. 28, T. 139, R. 93. Later a sod barn and chicken coop were built.
The newspapers they kept were “Skandenaven” and “Decorah Post”.
The first schoolhouse in the Knudson neighborhood was built of sod. Later, a lumber building was erected. Some of the earliest teachers were Carrie Johnson Brand, Lena Rue Myran, Carrie Baird Kirby, Lillian Haugen Dohrmann and Dorothy Berry de St. Clement.
Knud Knudson II soon acquired a tree claim of 160 acres. Later, he bought more land and, besides farming, raised horses and cattle.
Knud Knudson II died in the spring of 1907 leaving his widow with nine children, the youngest less than two years old. She was a widow for 40 years and passed away January, 1947.
Knud Knudson II and wife Elise raised nine children.
Millie, 1888, was married to John Elkins, who passed away in 1976. They farmed south of Taylor until moving to Taylor. They raised nine children.
Clara, 1889 is married to Louis Gullickson. They farmed north of Taylor and are living in Taylor now. They raised nine children.
Lavina, 1890, married Clarence Gullickson. They ranched near Cannon Ball, N.D. and are now living in Mandan. They raised four sons.
Knute, 1893, married Evaline Hendrickson and lived on a farm south of Taylor. They raised four children. His wife passed away 1951, and Knute passed away 1964.
Annie, 1895, married Martin Marcusen. They lived on a farm south of Taylor. They raised four children. Annie passed away 1952 and her husband passed away 1964.
Warren, 1897, was married to Anna Swenning. They had two daughters. Warren passed away 1945. His widow lives in Fargo, N.D.
Rosalie, 1899, a teacher, married M. L. Young and lived in Anamoose, N.D. She passed away 1963. They had one son.
John, 1902, was in Seattle attending medical school when he passed away 1928.
Victor, 1905, married Lois Belnap. They are both retired teachers, living in Billings, Mont. They have three children.
By Millie Knudson Elkins