Notes:

Christen K Melby

Chris, also known as C.K. or Christ Melby, was the third child born to Knud and Guri Melby on January 11, 1868. 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 13 years old, his parents sold the Melby farm and the whole family emigrated from Norway to the USA, Goodhue County, Minnesota.

In 1884, his parents moved to Griggs County North Dakota where they filed on a homestead, and in 1887 they moved to Foster County. In the fall of 1889 he left home, and in 1890 at age 22 years old, he settled in Lyon County were his aunt Guri Opdahl and sister Guri Ranum both lived.

Chris married October 3, 1891 in Minneota MN to Mary Haas Marken Larson born May 11, 1874 Minneota MN. She was the only child of Arnt Larson and Jorgina Haas who were both born in Mosjøen, Norway. Thirteen children were born to them: Clarence 1892, George 1894, Almer 1895, Grace 1897, Orvin 1899, Agnes 1902, Julius 1903, June 1904, Olga 1907, Kermit 1909, Lillian 1911, and Harriet 1915. Chris was not only a farmer, but he was an influential businessman. He helped shape the beginnings of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank in Minneota and served as cashier. He was in the hardware and implement business from 1911 to 1918. In 1916, Chris was elected to the House of Representatives serving two terms in the Minnesota legislature.

In 1919, he moved to North Dakota and bought his father's farm. He and his family became very active in the Manfred community and in Vang Lutheran Church. Music was a very important part of Chris' life, and at Manfred he directed the Vang Lutheran Choir, and his entire family was very musical. His daughter Grace played the organ until she passed away in 1932. In the fall of 1929, the family returned to a farm in Lyon County. Throughout Chris' life he was in public service and a leader in many organizations: township, county commissioners, Hope Lutheran Church, farmer's cooperative elevator, creamery, and oil company.

Chris died December 13, 1936 and Mary died August 21, 1937. Both are buried at Minneota MN. Five children preceded them in death: Agnes, Julius, and Kermit died in infancy. Orvin was killed by lightening as he was going through a gate with his two horses, who also died. Grace's daughter Julie died in infancy and Grace died at nearly 35 years of age during an operation. Eight children went on to have descendants.

Christen married Marit Haas Marken LARSON on 3 Oct 1891 in Minnesota, USA. Marit was born on 11 May 1874 in Menneota, Minnesota, USA; died on 21 Aug 1937 in Menneota, Minnesota, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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