Polk County Historical Society

If you have an interesting historical-type story that you’d like to share, or If you have questions regarding any early residents of Polk County, or If you are related, or can provide additional information about the families mentioned here,

PLEASE CONTACT:
The Polk County Historical Society
Robert Street East
Crookston, MN 56716
218-281-1038
Open daily from 1-5 pm starting May 19th... until September

Those interested in genealogy may wish to check, also-  http://www.mnhs.org/library/collections/

July 2000

The following newspaper microfilms are available at the Historical Society:

Planning a family reunion? www.FamilyReunion.com is a good place to start.

If you need a good reference book… try Roy Johnson's Red River Valley… (977.6)
It contains a selection of historical articles first printed in The Forum from 1941 to 1962. It was copyrighted in 1982 by the RRV Historical Society in Moorhead, and edited by Clarence A. Glasrud.

The book jacket says, "Roy P. Johnson died in 1963 after a career that began in 1916 as a railway station agent. His ability as a telegrapher ultimately led him to employment as an Associated Press telegrapher assigned to The Fargo Forum. In 1927 he joined the editorial department of the Forum. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, returning to The Forum in 1945 continuing his career as a reporter until his death."
And
"It does not pretend to be a complete or a balanced history but a collection of human stories written by a newspaperman for the enjoyment of his readers."
July 2000

Getting Started with your Family History
List the full names, birth dates, places, wedding dates, places and divorce dates of all your family members that are living
Then... talk to the senior members of your family. Ask them all the questions that you haven't taken the time to ask. Dig out the old photo's & have them tell you who all the known & unknown folks are (put the information on the back of the photos).
Ask everyone if they know of any one who has worked on the family history, or written stories about the family, and get a copy.
Those of you with the internet might want to check berganfamily.com... Nancy Melby is pictured somewhere there looking a tad younger!

Mattias & Tolleff Dahl
Doug Mitchell said his great grandparents were living in Woodside Township by 1912, but could have been there as early as 1884. They had six children… Emma, Melvin Silhim (Sehum?), Alfred, Selma (born 1885 in Woodside) & Effie.
Fafard family of Poplar River Township
Jim who now lives in New Port Richey, Florida is seeking information about his Fafard family. Poplar River is now part of Red Lake Township so we suggested that he contact Ann Healy …
Henderson & Overby families
Lars E. Oyane, the Luster County Historian from Bergen Norway is searching/researching the Overby's from his area. This family located in the Fosston & Erskine area
Gust Johnson
Kathi Steen of Oregon requested Gust's obituary
Knopke
The Knopke family visited the Museum & the Archives at Mount Saint Benedict in June.
Koeppe Building
Ken Koeppe, California… would like a picture of the Koeppe Building. It was the building on Main right across from Z-Place.
Ostenson
LaCoursiere & Ramse families
Larry of Arizona & Marlyss of Louisiana are related, and are researching these families.
Samuel Larson Ramberg & Maren Jacobson
Milt Brickson, Enon, OH stopped at the Historical Society. He was looking for information concerned with Maren O. Jacobson who died in 1902; also, for anything about Samuel Larsen Ramberg who was born in 1862 & immigrated in 1897.
Thorstein Larson- NE of Grand Forks
Neslund & Wing

The following is taken from the book The Will To Succeed published by Bonniers of Stockholm & New York copyright 1948. A chapter entitled "Leather Hinges" was written by Leonette Neslund.
This is a very small part of that chapter: "Something entirely new came into Anna's life during her first spring in America. One early April morning there was unusual activity on Island Point across the bay. In her diary there is an entry; 'Bror tells me the Indians have made camp and are getting ready for spring trapping and hunting. I will call on them tomorrow. There are many children amongst them.' The next morning, without telling her brother, Anna climbed down the steep shore into the flat bottomed boat and rowed to the Indian camp. Little did she realize that the tribe was unfriendly and suspicious of the white man. Armed with a small paper bag of loaf sugar, a skein of brightly dyed yarn and a handful of American words and phrases, that could only be spoken with a decidedly Swedish accent, she made her call. Her diary tells a little of what happened. "The American Indians are polite people. When I entered their camp all work ceased, and the men put their hands on their guns and stood at attention just like the Swedish soldiers do when some big officer walks by. Of course, the Indians didn't all have guns, some had spears, and some had small axes. Only one stood with his arms folded across his breast. He stood so still that except for his eyes, I could not tell that he was flesh and blood. I am ashamed of myself because for a brief moment I thought I felt a hot breath of hate and resentment, and I wanted to run away. To conquer this shocking breach of etiquette, I curtsied low and held out my gifts. The bronze statue before me never moved, but neither did I, for I had suddenly grown roots on the Island Point that held me firm and fast. How long we stood there I do not know. Maybe it was only one moment, but it seemed a very, very long time to me before I saw her coming, swiftly and noiselessly towards me relieving me of my gifts. That is how I met Mia, the bronze statue's daughter, tall, slim, brown, and warm in heart and color. I will never forget her and will always lover her.'
"When my brother knew of my visit to the Indian camp, he lectured me severely. I knew he was very angry for as he lectured he bit hard on the stem of his unlit pipe."
***
Joy Lintelman, a professor at Concordia College at Moorhead, questioned the truth of the writing since so many of her colleagues doubted the friendly nature of the white & Indian relationship.
***
Our local Polk County Historical Society began the truth search. The result... The individuals involved homesteaded in the Union Lake area. Leonette, the author of "Leather Hinges" was a high school student, won a trip to Sweden, gave talks about her grandmother... and Leonette (now called Bonnie) lives in Washington state. 
This has to be like Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story... be sure to check the progress…
Olena Pederson
Frances, who lives in Chicago, was looking for an 1886 birth certificate for Olena Pederson. None was located.
Sargl
Nancy Rose of Connecticut would like to know more about Michael & Augusta Sargl family... they lived in the EGF/Tabor area.
Francis & Grace (Brown) Stadsvold
Bob Statsvold of Texas would like to know more about his relatives Francis & Grace (Brown) Statsvold.
Sullivan
Mary Settles living in California is interested in the area Sullivan family.
Floyd & Jessie Timmer pump
Gladys Nielsen from Wyoming stopped at the Museum to see the pump donated by her family. It's the green one…

Tweten/Twedten
Terryl Tvedten Wharton contacted the Museum via the internet. She was trying to locate concerned with the Clarence Tvedten family.
Wickstrom & Durst
Our local Nancy Melby returned recently for an overseas trip. You could check the photographs from same shortly at the internet site… berganfamily.com

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