Martin and Berte (Anderson Amlien) Kirkeby Martin Olson was born on June 24, 1850, (there is some confusion on his date of birth as it is also the possibility of July 7). He was born at Kirkebyhaugen, which is near Hakadal in Akershus County, Norway. His parents were Ole Olson and Marthe Carine (Karine) Larsdatter. When he was four years old, in 1854 he left Norway with his parents, a 11 year old half-brother, Jens Christian; and his baby brother Anton. They began the long ocean voyage to America. His mother Karine, and presumably his brother, Anton, died of illness on the ship before reaching Quebec, Canada, where the Norwegians immigrating to American in 1854 landed. (Per Vesterheim Gen. Center, Madison, WI) After their arrival his father, along with his two sons traveled to the United States, first to Wisconsin. Here they remained for a couple of years, then they moved on to Glenwood township in Winneshiek County, Iowa, where they would locate near many other Norwegian immigrant families. Martin¹s father Ole remarried before 1860 to a lady named Magnild, who was 12 years older than Ole. She took on the responsibility of raising Martin and Jens. The boys worked on the farm and attended school and church when possible as most children of their time and background did. Martin is still shown as living with his father and step mother in the 1870 census as a farm laborer, and was using the name Kirkeby, the name of the village or farm from which they had left in Norway. Jens (John) took on the name of Olson. Berte (Bertha) Anderson Amlien was born on August 18, 1848, in Vestre Toten, Oppland County, Norway. She came to the United states with her parents (possibly Peter and Ragnild Anderson but not proven) in 1870 and settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa. After a short stay in Wisconsin, her family joined the Washington Prairie Congregation where the Kirkeby's were already members. This is where Bertha and Martin met and on November 26, 1872, they took out a marriage license. They were married on December 7, 1972 by Rev. Vilhelm Koren, pastor of that congregation. Four years after they were married they set out for the new west, arriving in Norman county where they homesteaded the farm stead that has been in his home since. ( The Kirkeby farm was sold in April 2002 to Roger and Kris Hamernik who are currently remodeling the home and hope to move in by August). Here they shared the pioneer days both in building up a home and in building the community and church. Bertha passed away on April 23, 1918 and Martin passed away on November 12, 1941. They are both buried at Wild Rice Cemetery. Martin and Bertha joined Wild Rice just a few years after it was started. They were faithful and supportive members, having served on the board and various committees. They also too an active part in shaping it¹s policies during its formative and later years. Martin was also a member of the Wild Rice Electric Board, a past president of the Flom Co-op Creamery board and the Flom Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He also served on the school board and the Flom township board. Martin was one of the first members of the first school board members of Woodland Nook School. The Kirkeby's donated land for the first Woodland Nook school to be located on. Martin and Bertha were engaged in farming for over 45 years. Martin and Bertha were the parents of eight children; two died in infancy, Carl, Albert, Ole, Lewis, Johanna (Thorvold Thorson) and Julia (Amlien). No records to confirm where the two who died in infancy are buried. Editor's Note: Berte Amlien was born to Anders Hansen and Johanne Olsdatter Amlien in Vestre Toten, Norway. She was a sister to Helene (Amlien Dorseth) and Ole Grefsrud, his son Olaf immigrated to America and was the father of Palmer Grefsrud. Because Ole moved onto the Grefsrud farm when he married, he dropped the Amlien name and took the farm name of Grefsrud. Martin Olesen Kirkeby was born on July 7, 1850 and Baptized on July 22, 1850, in Norway according the to Churchbook's in Norway.