Family/Spouse: Arthur NELSON. Arthur was born on 24 Apr 1893 in Bowbells ND, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Bowbells ND, USA

Notes:

Gilbert is remembered as having been so musical, as are his children. He was the band director of the Coteau Band, where he is shown holding a clarinet. Later he was director of the Bowbells Band. he also played the violin. [Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2 M-Z, Ed. 5, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Mar 20, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.112.5.15884.57]

Individual: Melby, Gilbert Social Security #: 502-01-7001 SS# issued in: North Dakota

Birth date: Apr 4, 1877 Death date: Oct 1963


Gulbrand K Melby

Gulbrand, known as G.K. or Gilbert Melby, was the sixth child born to Knud and Guri Melby on April 4, 1977. During his earliest years, he lived on the Melby farm in Rogne, Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway and attended Rogne church. In 1881 when he had just turned 4 years old, his parents sold the Melby farm and the whole family emigrated from Norway to Goodhue County, Minnesota. In 1884, his parents homesteaded to Griggs County, North Dakota, and in 1887 they moved to Foster County and farmed there for six years, and then in 1893 his parents moved again to the newly opened land of Manfred Township in Wells County.

Gilbert was too young to file on a homestead having just turned 16, but he was able to helped his parents start up their new farm. Gilbert was very musical and could play several instruments. With his great love of music it is very likely that he played with some of the local orchestra groups. It was at Manfred where Gilbert met Esther LeGrand. She was born September 7, 1873 in Skane, Gotland, Sweden, with the given name of Astrid Hildegard LeGrand, to Joseph Alfred LeGrand and Anna Kristina Lindstrom. She had immigrated to the USA in 1885 with her parents, first settling at Northwood ND before coming to Manfred Township.

Gilbert and Esther were married on December 11, 1895 at Manfred. Gilbert and Esther bought the land located in section 30 of Manfred Township that had been in the LeGrand famly. Sometime during these years at Manfred, Gilbert was working in one of the elevators. Due to an accident while employed there, he lost a foot but didn't let this hold him back in any way. With the help of an artificial foot he managed very well, as if he had two feet. Few even realized that he had an artificial foot, having only a slight limp.

Gilbert and Esther moved to Kenmare in 1904, to Coteau in 1909, then to Bowbells, and lastly to a farm west of Bowbells. Thirteen children were born to them: Cecelia 1896, Carlton 1897, Arthur 1899, Marion 1900, Ida 1901, Elmer 1902, Gordon 1904, Morris 1906, Evelyn 1907, Raymond 1909, Earl 1911, Alice 1913, Irene 1916. Nine have descendants, Cecelia did not have children, Gordon died at age 24 from tuberculosis, Morris remained single, Evelyn took ill and died at age 18.

Gilbert farmed most of his life and was a wonderful musician. He directed the Coteau Band and many of his sons also played in his band. He was also the band director at Bowbells. He was also well known as a grain buyer, school board member of Coteau, served in the Minnesota Township and Ward Township Boards of Burke County, served on the Selective Service Board for Burke County during both World Wars I and II, served one term as Burke County auditor 1914-1920. He belonged to the Bowbells Masonic Lodge and the Minot Elks Lodge. Gilbert was afflicated with hodgkin's disease, which his daughter Alice also has. Esther was quiet, so caring and thoughtful regarding each family member, a fine Christian woman, and well respected in the community. Esther died May 30, 1938 at the Bowbells Hospital as the result of heart and kidney complications. Gilbert died October 9, 1963 at the Kenmare Hospital of complications resulting from a stroke.

Occupation:
farmer og musiker

Gulbrand married Esther LEGRAND in 1895 in Wells Co, ND, USA. Esther was born on 7 Sep 1873 in Sverige; died in 1939 in Bowbells ND, 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