Verna married Robert NEWCOMB on 15 Aug 1942 in Valley City, ND. USA. Robert was born on 26 Sep 1912 in Dunn Co, ND. USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lorie Ann NEWCOMB
2. Robert NEWCOMB

Emil married Kate Amelia BABCOCK on 6 May 1911 in Carrington, ND. USA. Kate was born on 1 Jan 1893 in Richland, IA. USA; died on 31 Mar 1973 in Valley City, ND. USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was in Northfield, MN on September 6, 1876 (age 17) when the James Gang (8 members, Frank, Jesse, 3 Younger brothers, and 3 others) attempted to rob the first National Bank. During the shootout the bank teller, a bystander and a gang member we re killed. Ole dove into a rain barrel. A few days later the three Youngers were captured, two gang members were killed; Frank and Jesse escaped.

Ole married Guri Knutsdotter MELBY on 30 May 1885 in Minnesota, USA. Guri (daughter of Knut Olsen RUDI and Guri Kristensdtr ROGNE) was born on 17 Feb 1862 in Melby Øs; died on 22 Oct 1938 in Manfred, ND. USA; was buried on 26 Oct 1938 in Vang Cemetery, Manfred, ND. USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1. Guri Melby Ranum b. 1862

Note: There are four people by the name of Guri listed in this narrative: Guri Knudsdotter Melby Ranum herself, her mother Guri Kristensdotter Melby, her aunt Guri Kristensdotter Melby Opdahl, and her mother-in-law Guri Gulbrandsdotter Ranum.

Guri, also known as Julia, was the first child born to Knud and Guri Melby on February 17, 1862. She grew up on the Melby farm in Rogne, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway and attended the Rogne school and church. In 1881 when she was 19 years old, her parents sold the Melby farm and the whole family emigrated from Norway to the USA, Goodhue County, Minnesota. In 1884, her parents moved to Griggs County North Dakota where they filed on a homestead there, but Guri did not go there. Instead, she went to live in Lyon County in southwestern Minnesota where her aunt Guri Melby Opdahl lived with husband Anders Opdahl.

Ole was born September 10, 1858 in Stokkebryn, North Aurdal, Valdres, Norway. He came to the USA, southwest Minnesota in 1875. Here is an account passed down in the Ranum family about Ole: Ole was in Northfied MN on September 6, 1876 when the James Gang, including Frank, Jesse, three younger brothers, and three others, attempted to rob the First National Bank. During the shootout, a bank teller, a bystander, and a gang member were killed. Ole dived into a rain barrel. A few days later, the three younger brothers were captured, the two other gang members were killed, and Frank and Jesse escaped. Ole's parents had a farm near Ghent MN in Lyon County. Records show that the deed of 160 acres of land owned by his parents, Juel O Ranum and Guri (Julia) Gulbransdotter, was transferred to Ole in 1884. So it was here were Guri and Ole met each other and on May 30, 1885 they married at Minneota MN located in Lyon County. Guri and Ole farmed at Ghent MN Lyon County and it was here that several of their children were born: George Juel 1886, Konrad Oscar 1887 known as Oscar, and Emil Gerhard 1890. The rest of their children were also born in Minnesota: Ida Rosetta 1892, Clara Genette born 1894 at Cottonwood, and Gladys Oline born 1899 at Madison. Ida died in 1895 while they were still living in Minnesota.

Ole and Guri Ranum and family moved to Manfred by 1900 or before the summer of 1901, because school records for June and July of 1901 indicate their children Oscar and Clara attended school number 3 of Manfred Township. Konrad Oscar was confirmed at Vang Lutheran Church in 1903, and then died June 5, 1906 and is buried at Vang Lutheran Cemetery. It was also in 1906 that Ole and Guri Ranum and family joined as members of Vang Lutheran Church. Their daughter Clara was confirmed in 1909 and daughter Gladys in 1913. George, Emil, Clara, and Gladys went on to have descendants.

Ole J Ranum died March 26, 1938 and Guri M died October 22, 1938. Ole's parents had also come to Manfred in their old age, joining Vang Lutheran in 1907. His father Juel died June 25, 1916 and his mother Guri died July 17, 1933. The 1910 census shows that Juel and Guri Ranum were living with their son Ole and family.

Obituary - Wells County Free Press - November 3, 1938 front page, column 2

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Manfred, ND. USA
• Emigration: 1881, USA

Notes:

KNUT AND GURI MELBY

Knut Olson Rudi b. 1843, was the fourth son of Ole Mikkelson Rudi together with his second wife Ragnhild Knutsdotter Holdal. The Rudi farm was inherited by Knut's older brother, Ole. When Knut came of age he was ready to establish his own farm. He and Guri Christensdotter Melby b.1844 were married in 1861. Knut obtained his share of the inheritance money from his older brother, which he then used to buy the Melby farm from Guri's parents. Guri had been blessed with parents who had each inherited a farm. Her father, Christen Mikkelson Rogne had inherited Røgnemarke farm #43/5 and her mother, Guro Gudbrandsotter Melby had inherited Melby farm #41/1. Guri was the oldest child and when she came of age and was ready to marry, she was given the inheritance of the Melby farm. Her parents and her siblings then moved to Røgnemarke.

Knut and Guri commenced with farming Melby, and also began their family. Born to them in Norway: Guri 1862, Ole 1864, Christen 1868, Knute 1870, Ragnhild 1873, Gulbrand 1877, and Marit 1880. It was not so easy to provide for a large family living on the small Melby farm. There was the pull to go to America which they had resisted considering so far over the years. But the pull was becoming stronger because in the recent years several of Guri's siblings had immigrated to the USA and were sending back wonderful reports about that place where a large piece could be obtained for only the filing fee. They finally made the decision to go, sold the Melby farm and departed the spring of 1881 with their seven children, ranging in age from 19 to 8 months.

Their destination was to Goodhue County Minnesota where others from Valdres already had successful farms established. They stayed there three years while becoming acquainted with their new homeland. New areas further west were continually being opened for settlement. In 1884 they were ready to file on their own land and start farming. They first went to Griggs County, North Dakota where two more children were born to them: Caroline 1884 and Martin 1886, and in 1887 they moved a little further west and farmed in Foster County for six years. It was there that, Knut's home served as the first mail stop during those years. Also, Knud together with others in his family organized the first school district which was called Melby, and he served as it's first chairman. Knut and Guri's 10th child was born here: Oscar 1890.

The crops were failing during those years, so it was not easy for the people. The Soo Railroad track was being constructed westward through the region, so all the men went to work helping to build the track. But their first love was farming and so as the track was being laid they had opportunity to see the new lands that would be soon open to settlement. Knut and others in his family thought that Wells County looked good, and so they went to Sykeston, the location of the first court house in Wells County, and each filed on a new claim which were all located not far from the railroad track. Back in Foster County, they loaded up all their meager belongings on wagons... Knut even took his barn apart and laid it flat in sections on a wagon, they gathered their domestic animals together and caravaned to Wells County to their new claims in Manfred Township.

Everyone was busy with putting up sod houses to use as temporary quarters until they could obtain lumber to build their homes. Knut erected his barn, and it is this barn that can be seen on the photo of Knut and Guri proudly standing in front of their home. Their house still stands, though abandoned. And though the barn Knut had brought from Foster County did not survive the years, the granary and the pig and chicken house are still standing. The grainary can be seen in that same photo. The photo showing Knut and Guri with nine of their ten children, was taken at the home of their son, Ole, in the village of Manfred. This home still stands, though abandoned.

Knut was one of five founding fathers of Vang Lutheran Church in 1894. Many of their children were starting to have families of their own, and Guri always had lots of cookies on hand when they came. Music was always a part of family gatherings, and Knut and Guri were gracious hosts. Knut and Guri farmed until 1911, at which time they moved into Manfred and their son Oscar continued on their farm. Guri began to fail in her later years and died in 1921. After that, Knut would often stay at the home of one of his several children living in the area. Knut died in 1927. Both Knut and Guri are buried at Vang Lutheran Cemetery at Manfred.

Occupation:
farmer

Knut married Guri Kristensdtr ROGNE on 14 Apr 1861 in Rogne Kirke, Øs. Guri (daughter of Kristen Mikkjelsen ROGNE and Guro Gudbrandsdtr BUSTEBAKKE) was born on 8 Mar 1844 in Rogne 43/5, Marké Øs; died on 26 Mar 1921 in Manfred, ND. USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Goodhue Co., MN, USA
• Emigration: 1881, USA

Notes:

Beitrusten kaller henne Melby