Ole Knutson MELBY

1864 - 1940  (75 years)

• Name	Ole Knutson MELBY
  Birth	13 Dec 1864	Melby Øs   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	Goodhue Co., MN, USA
  Death	24 Oct 1940	Manfred, ND. 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.
  Person ID	I44195	Valdres Slekt
  Last Modified	20 Nov 2007

  
  

  Father	Knut Olsen RUDI,   b. 1 Jun 1843, Rudi 51/1, Store Rudi, Øs d. 12 Jan 1927, Manfred, ND. USA (Age 83 years)
  Mother	Guri Kristensdtr ROGNE,   b. 8 Mar 1844, Rogne 43/5, Marké Øs d. 26 Mar 1921, Manfred, ND. USA (Age 77 years)
  Marriage	14 Apr 1861	Rogne Kirke, Øs
  Family ID	F6272	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Marit Nilsdtr SKATTEBO,   b. 18 Sep 1872, Moadn Under Skattebu 39/6, Øs d. 8 Nov 1936, Manfred, ND. USA (Age 64 years)
  Marriage	Foster County, ND
  Children	1. Gurina Olava MELBY,   b. USA d. USA
  Family ID	F16246	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Nov 2007

  
  

• Sources

  [S23] Audrey Helene Solheim.