Atlas of Benson County, 1910 Plat Map
Golden Jubilee of Harlow-Butte Valley, Albert & Beaver Townships 1912-1962
Peter Anderson came to Albert Township in 1885 and filed on land. He, with his brother Hans were the first two settlers in Albert Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Ole E. Alm came from Norway and settled in Albert Township in 1886. Mr. Alm was born in 1850 and Mrs. Alm in 1852. They came first to Rothsay, Minnesota and later by ox team to their homestead ten miles north and two miles east of Maddock.
Anna Engen (Anna Kirkeby) was born in Skedsmi, Sogn, Norway November 21, 1875 and came to the United States at the age of four years. She came to Benson County at the age of thirteen. She was a life long member of the Albert Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Anton Ellingson was born at Lanesboro, Minnesota May 20, 1864. He homesteaded in Albert Township where he resided until his death.
Engebret Fossum was born at Berum, Norway May 5, 1856. He worked in Oslo, Norway for eleven years as a machinist in a paper mill. In 1884 he emigrated to the United States arriving at Rothsay, Minnesota. In the autumn of 1889 he came to Benson County and settled on a farm in Albert Township. He retired to Maddock in 1920. He died at the age of ninety.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jacobson came to Benson County in 1887 and took up a homestead in Albert Township. They were Charter members of the Immanuel Congregation and Mrs. Jacobson was the first president. They retired from the farm and moved to Maddock in 1920. Mr. Jacobson passed away in 1934 and Mrs. Jacobson in 1944 at the age of 92.
Peder O. Lalum was born in Stange, Telemarken, Norway March 14, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Lalum came to Rothsay, Minnesota in 1882 with two small children. In June they came with a group of settlers to Albert Township and filed on land. They were Charter members of the Immanuel Congregation which was organized June 20, 1887. Two years later the Ladies Aid Society was organized at the home of Mrs. Peder Lalum. Mr. Lalum died in 1918 and Mrs. Lalum in 1939.
Engebret Olson was born in Sigdahl, Norway October 27, 1861. Coming to America at the age of 19 years he homesteaded in Albert Township where he lived until his death July 31, 1945.
Anders Westad and wife came in 1886 to Albert Township along with the Ole Alms, Peder Lalums, Mickel Ness, an Anderson family, Theodore Nottestad and Edward Dyrud.
Other settlers who homesteaded in Albert Township were: Ed and Ben Feeder, John Anderson, Kittle Lien, Anton and Olaus Kirkeby, Anders Torgenrud, Clara St. Clare, Jens Jenson, Jim Michaels, Julius and Gust Dunham, James Kirkeby, Andrew Omdal, Anton Engen, A. Kindlien, Ben Wattum and Frederick Ellingson. Also Anders Lalum who came with Peder O. Lalum
Information from "St. Olaf Lutheran Church , Minnewaukan, North Dakota 1888-1938"
The first settlers came here as early as 1886, filed on land and established a settlement in the portion of Eldon and Albert townships in Benson County, known as the St. Oaf community. Those pioneers came with practically no material possessions; but they possessed a great heritage. The first missionary pastor to visit this community was Rev. O.H. Aaberg of Devils Lake, North Dakota who preached the first Lutheran sermon at the home of Ole Alm in the summer of 1887. St. Oaf Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized under the leadership of Rev. Lee at the home of C.K. Helgeson immediately after services February 23, 1888 with the following charter members: Christen K. Helgeson, Amund Nordrum, Ole Lybeck, Ole Alm, Anton Wattum, Ole Evenson, John Engebretson and Hans Engen. C.K. Helgeson served as secretary at this meeting. according to records available, the first officers elected were: Ole C. Evenson, secretary; Ole E. Alm, treasuer; Amund Nordrum, Antn Wattum, and Hans A. Engen, trustees.
Members of the St. Olaf Ladies Aid as of the 1938 were: Mathia Alm, Mathia Wattum, Anne Helgesonm Marie Engebretson, Anna Wattum, Oliana Westrum, Otillie Torgenrud, Julia Nordrum, Beret Erickson, Turi Hanson, Mrs. Petterson, Christina Wattum, Ingebor Helgeson, Anna Tofsrud, Mrs. Anderson, Aase Gilbertson, Croline Skadeland, Ingrid Tastad, Nettie Glbertson, Magda Westrum, Clara Hallebbken, Karen Alm, Isabelle Olson, Bertha Bakken, Mrs. M. Spidahl, Gustina Helgeson, Christina Lillemoen, Maggie Andersonm Andrine Olson, Hilda Erickson, Ida Ellingson, Luella Gilbertson, Gena Gilbertson, Martha Ellingson.
If you wish to submit or correct data for this county, please contact Colleen
Goltz Benson County Coordinator
If you have problems with this site, contact the State Coordinator or Assistant
State Coordinator for the NDGenWeb
Project