For the past year I have been translating a book from 1896 with the help of a couple of Norwegian relatives. It has been fun and a learning experience. Olaf is nowing doing the last section for me. It is about the early residents living in Twin Valley, Norman County, Minnesota in 1896. There are a few from Oppland I see in the first 3 pages, so I will put them onlist for the archives. Margit Twin Valley City 1. Mayor Chas. Hanson was born in Ullensaker, Norway, in 1859. He came to America with his parents in '69 and lived with them in Ruthford, Fillmore Co., Minn. The year after they came here to Wild Rice. He was the first to open a store in Twin City, where he now operates a music business etc as well as being the City's Mayor. 2. John R. Veium was born in Saude parish, Telemark, Norway in 1867. He came to America in '81 and stopped first for a time at Mankato, Minn. The same year he went to Red Wing where he lived for 3 years. He then took a trip back to Norway to visit family and friends. After a year's passage he came again to America and then came here to Norman Co., where his brother was a priest. He lived here for 4 years, after which he went again to Norway. There he stayed for only 4 months, and then came back to America and lived a year in St. Paul. Later he moved to Twin Valley, where in '90 he began a general store together with L. Walhus. In 1893 he bought out Walhus and has since operated the business alone. 3. C. P. Waller was born in Solør, Norway in 1866 and came here to America with his parents in '71. He has now for several years operated a general store in Twin Valley with his brother Olaf along with John Homelvig. In the fall of '95 they opened a branch in Syre, a few miles from Twin Valley. He is married and has a child. 4. O. H. Aaker was born in Decorah, Iowa, in 1856 and lived there until '77, when he went to Flandreau N.D., where he took a homestead. There he lived until '85 when he came here to Norman Co. and began a general store in TwinValley together with his brother Hans Aaker. He is married and has 5 children, while one is dead. 5. Hans Burgess was born in Ringebu parish in Norway in 1854. he came here to America in '78 and settled in Black River Falls, Wis. He lived there until '86 when he moved here to Norman Co., Minn. He worked first for some years for Andrews and Hampton in Ada, later he moved to Twin City, where he is now the City's Postmaster. He also has a farm some miles east of the city. He has a wife and several children. 6. Halvor Hanson was born in Id parish at Fredrikstad in 1845. He came here to America in 1871 and settled at St. Paul and lived there until '81, when he came here to Norman Co., Minn., where he took 80 acres of land right by Twin Valley City, on which land a part of the City now lies. He is unmarried. 7. Laurits Sethney was born in Toten, Norway, in 1868 and came here to America in '86, after which he settled here in Norman Co., Minn. He was married a couple of years ago and now operates a furniture store together with his brother Hans. 8. Louis Peterson, wheat buyer, was born in Osola, Polk Co., Wis., in 1863. He came here to Twin Valley in '91, where he has bought wheat for an elevator company. He was married in '92 to a daughter of Peter Skjægrud. They have no children. 9. L.H. Aas, plasterer, was born in Hitterdal parish, Norway, in 1851. He came here to America in '73 and settled in Decorah, Iowa. He lived there until '81, when he moved to Ada, Minn., where he lived until '87, when he moved here to Twin Valley, where he works at the plastering trade. He married some years ago, but has no children. 10. Louis K. Wold, carpenter, was born in Hitteren parish, Norway, in 1866. He came here to America in '89. Since '94 he has lived in Twin Valley, where he works as a carpenter. 11. Jens Sethney was born in Vestre Toten, Norway, 1870. He came here to America in '87 and settled in Twin Valley where he first for a few years was a clerk with Aaker Brothers. Later he bought a furniture store from Jakob Sannan with his brother Laurits, which business they now operate under the name of Sethney Brothers. Jens Sethney works now as a clerk with Christ. Waller and Co. He was in '92 married to Petra Kallerud, daughter of Ole Kallerud of Home Lake, and they have one child. 12. Theodor Wold was born in Sibley Co., Minn., in 1872. He came here together with his parents to Norman Co. '80. He now operates a hotel, that he bought from his father a couple of years ago. He is the owner and manager of Columbia Hotel. 13. A.J. Lee was born in Næs parish, Hedmark, Norway, in 1854. He came here to America in '70, and settled in Decorah, Iowa, where he lived until '80. He then moved here to Norman Co., Minn., where he began to farm on the north side of Wild Rice River. But when the railroad came here and the City of Twin Valley was founded, he sold the farm and moved here. The first year he operated a restaurant, now for several years he has operated a hotel, since he is the owner of the Grand Hotel. He has a wife and several children. 14. O.H. Klemmetsrud was born inValders, Norway, in 1865. He came as a one year old child with his parents here to America in '66, that settled in Dane Co., Wis., where they lived until '81, when they moved here to Norman Co., Minn. He has now for several years operated a photography business in Twin Valley, at the same time he also has galleries in Ulen and Fertile. He is married to Anne Bakke, daughter of Anders Bakke of Home Lake. They have no children. 15. S.O. Hanson was born in Waupacca Co., Wis., in 1866, where he lived with his parents until '86, when he came here to Norman Co., Minn. He now operates a hardware store together with his brother A.O. Hanson. He is married and has 3 children,of which one is dead. 16. A.O. Hanson was born in Ringebo, Norway, in 1864 and came here with his parents the same year to Waupacca Co., Wis. Here he lived until '85, when he came here to Norman Co. He now operates a hardware store together with his brother S.D. Hanson, at the same time they sell farm machinery. He is married and has 2 children. 17. Sam Olson, painter, was born in Vestre Toten, Norway, in 1857. He came to America in '65 and settled in Dane Co., Wis. He lived there until '85, when he moved to Spring Grove, Minn., where he lived until '87. He moved after that to Fargo, N.D. and lived there for 2 years, after which he moved to Norman Co., Minn. He first took land in the Town of Flom, but after a few years, he sold the land and moved to Twin Valley, where he now works as a painter. He has a wife and several children. 18. John Fjældstad was born at Vestre Toten, Norway, in 1863. He emigrated from Norway in '85 and came to Duluth, Minn., where he lived for 3 years. He then went to Fargo, N.D., and lived there until '93, then he moved here to Norman Co. He was married in '93 to Clara Waller, daughter of Peder Waller of Home Lake. They have 2 children. He now lives in Twin Valley, where he works at various jobs. 19. John A. Jørgenson was born in Aalesund, Norway, in 1864. He came here to America in 1864 and settled in Norman Co., Minn. In '89 he began a saddlery, which he now operates. He has a wife and several children.