Janice married Donald GRABER on 19 Jun 1965. Donald was born in 23 Nov in USA; died in USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Jeff ABBOTT. Jeff was born in USA; died in USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Canada

Notes:

Residence:
address 746 W Flora Ontario CA 91762-3012 1-909-986-5389

Emmett married Cora Jeanette MELBY on 30 Sep 1944. Cora (daughter of Oscar Julius Knutson MELBY and Bergit "Bertha" Gulliksdotter NORDTORP) was born on 23 Apr 1912 in Manfred, Wells Co, ND. USA; died on 1 Feb 1998 in Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Canada

Notes:

Residence:
address 746 W Flora Ontario CA 91762

Notes:

Oscar J Melby

Oscar, also known as O.J. Melby, was the tenth child born to Knud and Guri Melby on March 7, 1890 while they were living in Foster County. The crops were poor during that time. However, the Sioux railroad track was being laid through North Dakot a and so a source of income was possible for the folks. So, Knut and all his neighbors went to work for the railroad, building the track. It was through this work that they learned of the new land opening up further west in Wells County. Knud wa s impressed with the land and filed on section 8 in Manfred Township. In 1894 when Oscar was 4 years old, his family and other families moved in a caravan, herding their animals and hauling their belongings on wagons.

Oscar took all his schooling in Manfred Township. He became well-versed in farming having worked side by side with his father and older brothers through the years. His parents retired in 1911, and Oscar took over farming his father's land. He marr ied Bertha Nordtorp on July 10, 1910 in Millet Alberta Canada. Bertha was born May 12, 1891 in Øystre Slidre, Valdres, Norway to Gullik and Ragnhild Nordtorp. They had first immigrated to the USA in 1892 on Bertha's 1st birthday, but returne d to Norway in 1899, only to return again in 1906 on her 15th birthday. They settled both times in Manfred, and it was there that Oscar and Bertha became acquainted. They became engaged in 1908, but her parents moved to Canada and they needed he r help. Oscar and Bertha kept in touch and after the crops were planted in 1910, Oscar went to Canada for his bride.

In 1914, Oscar and Bertha bought land in section 30 of Manfred Township which had been passed from brother to brother Gilbert, then Chris, then Ole, and then finally to Oscar. Here they lived the rest of their lives. They owned and operated a threshing rig for 22 years. Oscar was very musical having a beautiful high tenor voice, and played the clarinet and violin. They were both very active in Vang Lutheran Church, and Sons of Norway, and other offices in th e community. Born to them were eight children: Cora 1912, Roy 1916, Ruth 1919, Muriel 1921, Orlien 1924, Kenneth 1925, Gene 1928, Ethel 1931. Oscar died February 16, 1954, and Bertha died November 11, 1985. Both are buried at Manfred.

Oscar married Bergit "Bertha" Gulliksdotter NORDTORP on 19 Jul 1910 in Millet, Alberta, Canada. Bergit (daughter of Gullik Rønjusson NORDTORP and Ragnhild Olsdtr HEGGE) was born on 12 May 1891 in Ringsaker, Hedmark; died on 11 Nov 1985 in Harvey, Wells Co. ND. USA; was buried on 15 Nov 1985 in Vang Lutheran, Manfred, Wells Co, ND USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 1891

Notes:

[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2 M-Z, Ed. 5, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Sep 15, 1998, Internal Ref. #1.112.5.15883.107]

Individual: Melby, Bertha Social Security #: 501-36-2412 SS# issued in: North Dakota

Birth date: May 12, 1891 Death date: Nov 1985


Residence code: North Dakota

ZIP Code of last known residence: 58465 As of April 1995, this ZIP Code was not in use by the U.S. Postal Service. The following primary location may have once been associated with this ZIP Code or may be in the same general geographic region of the U.S. It is also possible that the Social Security Administration had the wrong ZIP Code listed for this person.

Manfred, North Dakota


[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2 M-Z, Ed. 5, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Mar 20, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.112.5.15883.107]

Individual: Melby, Bertha Social Security #: 501-36-2412 SS# issued in: North Dakota

Birth date: May 12, 1891 Death date: Nov 1985


Residence code: North Dakota

ZIP Code of last known residence: 58465 As of April 1995, this ZIP Code was not in use by the U.S. Postal Service. The following primary location may have once been associated with this ZIP Code or may be in the same general geographic region of the U.S. It is also possible that the Social Security Administration had the wrong ZIP Code listed for this person.

Manfred, North Dakota

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: Manfred, ND. USA

Notes:

Han dro først til USA (Wisconsin) han jobbet for jernbanen, men flyttet til senere til Canada (Wanda M). Han reiste tilbakke til Norge før han reiste til Canada. I Norge kjøpte han gården Hobrenna i Ringsaker og drev den sammen med handelsvirksomh et før han reiste til Amerika.

Occupation:
handelsmann

Gullik married Ragnhild Olsdtr HEGGE on 16 Apr 1884. Ragnhild (daughter of Ola Sveinson HEGGE and Ingrid Halvorsdtr SÆLID) was born on 13 Oct 1861 in Hegge 22/4, Sveinshegge, Øs; died on 27 Oct 1929 in Camrose, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: Manfred, ND. USA