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Lake Ibsen Township North
Dakota
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Lake Isben School Today
Photo by Peter Herman Photography
The Lake itself was named for a Norwegian dramatist. In 1858, the Sioux and Chippewa Indians met on the shores and made a peace treaty which was observed by both tribes. They also used the Petites Isles Aux Martes in the Lake as a burial ground for their dead who perished in a small pox epidemic. The bodies were placed on scaffolds according to tribal custom and could be seen from the shores.
The township was officially organized in March 1906. Its first meeting was held in the school house near Gustav Moe's residence on March 20, 1906. The first township officers were: Annon Targeson, John Anderson, Gunner Hefta, Bill Anderson and John C. O'Neil.
The earliest homesteaders to settle Lake Ibsen township arrived around 1883-1884. They seemed to be attracted to the Lake in the township and settled on its shores, and as it is true of the other surrounding communities of Leeds were primarily of Scandinavian decent. One of the first settlers of the township was L.P. Havrevold who first came to North Dakota in 1880 and settled in Fargo where he clerked in a store. In 1883 he moved to Ramsey County, where he took a squatter's right. In June of that year, he and three companions started from Devils Lake and at the end of the day's journey reached Lake Ibsen. His companions were Ole Goldberg, Gunder Torgerson and John Lunde. They found an abundance of fish in the lake, wild geese nesting on its banks, and innumerable wild birds in the trees along the shore. They liked what they found, and eventually all except John Lunde set their stakes there. Havrevold later helped to organize the Republican party in North Dakota and in 1890 was elected to the State Legislature and was re-elected for a second term. While in the Legislature he introduced House Bill 60 which was an act requiring that the Scandinavian language be taught in the University at Grand Forks.
Gunder Torgerson had come to visit North Dakota in the spring of 1881 going as far as Fort Totten. He first filed a claim south of Churchs Ferry, where he lived a year. In 1884 he took a homestead claim on the shores of Lake Ibsen. Pete Vesvig arrived in the area in 1884, from Buxton, North Dakota, with a team of plodding oxen. He first homesteaded in Big Coulee and then later purchased Gunder Torgerson's farm on the shores of Lake Ibsen.
Gunder Torgerson has been a resident of Benson County since its early settlement and has aided in the development of its natural resources by his perseverance, industry and good management and by his honesty and good citizenship. His pleasant home is on section 10, township 155, range 68.
Mr. Torgeson was born in Satersdalen, Christiansandstift, Norway, October 22,
1842. He was the fourth of six children born to the union of George and Torbor
Halvorson, also natives of Norway. The family came to America in 1861 and
settled in Winneshiek County, Iowa, where our subject engaged in farming. He
acquired a small farm in that county and made his home there until 1883. Two
years prior to that time he had made a visit to North Dakota in the spring of
1881, passing through part of Minnesota and going as far out as Fort Totten. In
1883 he sold his farm in Iowa and came to Benton County to take up government
land. He first filed a pre-emption claim to a tract of land south of Church’s
Ferry and lived there about one year and then took up a homestead claim on the
shore of Lake Ibsen, where he now resides. He thus became one of the earliest
settlers of the township and has assisted and witnessed the wonderful growth and
development of Benson County within the past few years. His present residence is
a substantial and convenient structure and his barn is one of the best in the
county. He has improved his lands and is now the owner of a valuable property.
Mr. Torgeson was married, in 1865, to Miss Gunild Salveson, and
to this union nine children have been born, namely: Torges,
deceased; Salve, deceased; Sigur; Tilda,
deceased; Ole, Annie, Salve, Louise and Thomas.
The family are members of the Lutheran Church and Mr. Torgeson supports the
principles of the Republican party. He has gained his present valuable property
by honest industry and good management and has a host of warm friends throughout
the county. (History
Biography of North Dakota. Transcribed by Laurel Durham)
Other homesteaders in the township were: Sven Torgerson, Annon Targeson, Jerry Conway, John C. O'Neil, J.M. Anderson, Bill Anderson, Erick Anderson, John Tarang, N.T. Lien, Ole Haugen, John Maristuen, Gunner Hefta, John Holm and G.P. Moe.
Gotfred H Gunhus. Prominent among the early settlers and prosperous farmers of Benson county is the gentleman whose name introduces this article. His comfortable home is situated on section 35, Leeds township, where he is the owner of a half section of the most valuable lands in North Dakota. Mr. Gunhus was born in Snorum Modums Prestegjeld, Norway, November 30, 1856. He was the second child in a family of six children born to Hans and Anne (Saastad) Asbjornhus, both parents being now deceased. At he age of fourteen years Mr. Gunhus was apprenticed to a tailor in Drammen and there he remained until he was twenty four years old. In the summer of 1881, having grown tired of his trade, Mr. Gunhus came to America. He went to Dane county, Wisconsin, and afterward to Eau Claire county, in the same state, working at anything he could get to do. In the summer of 1884 he started to go to the Pacific coast, but on his arrival at St. Paul, Minnesota, he joined an excursion to Devils Lake, and on reaching there he was so pleased with the country that he immediately filed a claim to land in what is now Lake Ibsen township, thus becoming one of the earliest residents of Benson county. He brought with him about one hundred dollars and this was expended in building a shanty and getting his bachelor home fitted up. The next year he began breaking on his claim and in 1886 took up the homestead claim on which he now lives in Leeds township. In 1888 he practically lost his entire crop, barely getting the amount of his seed from the entire yield. Since that he has prospered, however, and has a valuable estate and his home is furnished with all the conveniences of modern farm life. .Mr. Gunhus was married, in 1889 to Miss Andrina Goldberg. She born at Mabel, Fillmore county, Minnesota, and to this union five children have been born, as follows: Selmer, deceased. Alma, Selma, deceased, Harry A. and Mabel S. Mr. Gunhus is a member of the Lutheran church and in political views is a Republican. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his township and county. He is a member of the board of supervisors and of the school board and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community. Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by B.Z.
Pete Nesvig arrived in the area in 1884 from Buxton, North Dakota, with a team of poldding oxen. He first homesteaded in Big Coulee and later purchased Gunder Torgerson's farm on the shores of Lake Ibsen.
Ole and Heile Haugan came to North Dakota via Michigan state from Trondheim, Norway, about 1885 and homesteaded in Lake Ibsen Township. The first year or two they lived in a sod hut and later acquirred a "tree claim" quarter. Henry Haugan was born on the farm in March, 1888 and was raised there. He left for a few years to work in the bank in Brinsmade but later returned to the farm after Ole died. Henry had a deep passion for music. Though he had little formal training, he organized and directed school, community and dance bands in Brinsmade, Isabel Township and surrounding areas. He also directed church choirs, quartets, a male chorus, and any group he could get together. He often had several instruments in his possession and would give lessons to anyone interested in learning to play the instrument.
More information can be found in
Our Heritage: Leeds-York 1886-1986
If you wish to submit or correct data for this county, please contact
Colleen Goltz
Benson County Coordinator
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