Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Goodhue Co., MN, USA

Notes:

Ole K Melby

Ole, also known as O.K.Melby, was the second child born to Knud and Guri Melby on December 13, 1864. He grew up on the Melby farm in Rogne, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway and attended the Rogne school and church. In 1881 when he was 161/2 years old, his parents sold the Melby farm and the whole family emigrated from Norway to the USA, Goodhue County, Minnesota. It is said that Ole returne d to Norway and spent two years there working to pay off a debt the family had incurred so that they could come to America. In 1884, his parents moved to Griggs County North Dakota where they hadfiled on a homestead there, and in 1887 they moved to Foster County. Here Ole filed on his own land and started farming.

In December 23, 1889 he married Marit Skattebo. Mary was born in Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway on September 18, 1872 to Karina Skattebo and Nils Nordtorp. Mary immigrated to the USA with her family in 1884. They settled at Northfield MN remaining there three years, and then moved to Foster County in 1887. There she met and married Ole, and one child Gurina Olava Melby was born to them pass ing away in infancy. In 1890,Ole, his father Knud, his uncle T.K. Rogne together with others founded the Melby School District.

In 1892 the crops had failed, so times were desperate. Because the railroad was, at that time, building the track through the region, all the men were able to go to work for the railroad. As the track was being laid westward, they had the opportun ity to see the land of Wells County. They saw that it was good and decided to file on this land newly opened for settling. In the spring of 1894, several family and friends formed a caravan moving their belongings and animals to this new land. Ole farmed successfully for eight years , which included owning and operating a threshing outfit for the fall harvest. He also bought grain in the early years, then in 1902 established a lumberyard in Manfred and built a home there, where Ole and Mary lived the rest of their lives. Late r, he was also associated in a garage business. Ole and Mary were charter members of Vang Lutheran church, and were very active throughout the years. Mary died November 8, 1936 and Ole died October 24, 1940. Both are buried at Vang Lutheran Cemetery of Manfred ND.

Ole married Marit Nilsdtr SKATTEBOFoster County, ND. Marit (daughter of Nils Kristoffersen NORDTORP and Kari "Karrina" Knutsdatter SKATTEBO) was born on 18 Sep 1872 in Moadn Under Skattebu 39/6, Øs; died on 8 Nov 1936 in Manfred, ND. USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Gurina Olava MELBY was born in USA; died in USA.

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rudi 51/1, Store Rudi, Øs

Notes:

Han var en flink bonde som fikk gården på fote igjen. Han flyttet husene 150 meter vestover og bygde på dem, slik at det ble større plass både ute og inne. Store Rudi ble fra nå en velstandsgår. "Mekkjelson" var med i politikken, og satt i herreds tyret i flere år. Han satt i utvalget som forberedte delingen av Slidre og i byggekom. for den nye kirken i Rogne sokn.

Occupation:
grb 1820-

Ola married Ragnhild Knutsdtr HOLDAL. Ragnhild (daughter of Knut Nilsen HOLDAL and Anne OLSDTR) was born in 1811 in Holdal, Nord-Aurdal; died in 1897. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rudi 51/1, Store Rudi, Øs

Notes:

Occupation:
grb

Kristen married Guro Gudbrandsdtr BUSTEBAKKE on 17 Dec 1843. Guro (daughter of Gudbrand Rønjussen DALE and Guri Gudbrandsdtr HEGGE) was born on 16 Jul 1819 in Bustebakke 26/14 Øs; died on 26 Mar 1921 in Manfred, Wells Co, ND. USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: USA
• Residence: Rogne 43/5, Marké Øs

Notes:

Hun var fra Melby eller Bustebakke Hun arvet Melby og tok navnet Melby.De var på den gården lenge, men flyttet etter hvert til Rogne hvor mannen hennes kom fra. Den siste sønnen er født på Rogne. Tore Ey kaller henne Guri.

Notes:

Married:
Da hun ble enke ble hun med barna sine til USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rudi 51/1, Store Rudi, Øs

Notes:

Han var Haugianer, og en meget strevsom og flittig mann, men han overtok gården i vanskelige tider og de sleit mye for å holde på eiendommen sin

Occupation:
grb 1804

Mikkjel married Kari Olsdtr KLEIVGARD in 1799. Kari (daughter of Ola Ingeretsen KLEIVGARD and Anne ARNESDTR) was born in 1778 in Kleivgård, Na; died in 1834. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rudi 51/1, Store Rudi, Øs

Notes:

Hun var først med mannen sin på Åberg, men flyttet sammen med ham og svigerfaren til Rudi.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Holdal, Nord-Aurdal

Notes:

Occupation:
grb

Knut married Anne OLSDTR. Anne was born in 1787; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Holdal, Nord-Aurdal

Notes:

Hun var tjenestepike på Holdal i 1801

Notes:

Han fikk halve Rogne av faren i 1814. Han døde året etter sønnen, som da hadde overtatt gården. Han skal ha vært en viljesterk herre. Medlem av herredstyret 1839-1847. Han var med i krigen sammen med broren Ola i 1814. De hadde med seg et par vognlaster med mat som de delte ut til soldatene etter vegen. Det var lite mat i den norske hære n på det tidspunktet. Han var en stor og sterk kar og den eneste som klarte å stagge broren Ola når han hadde drukket.

Occupation:
grb

Mikkjel married Guri Torsteinsdtr PRESTHEGGE in 1820. Guri (daughter of Torstein Eivindson PRESTHEGGE and Marit Gudbrandsdtr MELBY) was born in 1799 in Presthegge 23/1 Øs; died in 1879 in Rogne 43/5, Marké Øs. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Rudi 11/2 Øs

Notes:

Han fikk Bustebakke da han giftet seg med Guro som var enke på den gården, men alt i 1828 makeskiftet han Bustebakke mot Rudi. Skjøtet er datert 24. mars 1828. Han overlot Rudi til svigersønnen Halstein Haldorsen Kårstad.

Occupation:
grb

Gudbrand married Guri Gudbrandsdtr HEGGE. Guri (daughter of Gudbrand Jørgensen ONSTAD and Marit Sveinsdtr HEGGE) was born in 1783 in Hegge 22/1 Jonshegge Øs; died in Rudi 11/2 Øs. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Bustebakke 26/14 Øs

Notes:

Hun var først gift med Jens Nilsen Vøle (Vårum) som døde i 1811, samme året som de giftet seg.