Hi Margrit, Here is the bio. on Ole M. Knudson my grandfather from History of North Dakota- History and Peoples Vol. III published in 1917. Ole M. Knudson, who during almost seventeen years' connection with the Minot Waterworks in the capacity of engineer has never lost a single day, was born in Gudbransdal, Norway, Jan. 6, 1860. a son of Knudt and Ragnhild (Olson) Knudson, who were also natives of that country, where the father conducted business as a contractor and builder, both passing away in Norway. Ole was one of twins, the youngest children in a family of ten. He attended school in Norway and at the age of 12 years began earning his own living by working in a livery stable, where he was employed for four years. His mother being a widow, he contributed to her support and at the end of that time he returned home and assisted his mother on the farm, his father having died when Ole was but six years of age. He continued at home until he reached the age of eighteen, after which he was employed by a farmer of Norway for two years. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he then came to America, making his way to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, at which time he was totally unacquainted with the English language. He was first employed in the piling lumber, working in that way throught the summer after which he secured a job on a tug deck, spending two summers in that way. He was next employed on a carriage in a sawmill for seven seasons, at the end of which he went to St. Pa;ul, Minnesota, wher he secured a position as a stationary engineer. He had learned the trade when a young lad and he followed that business in St. Paul for seventeen Years, continually promotion hes energy and efficiency through his wide experience. In 1899 he took up his abode on a claim near Minot and for one year he was employed as engineer at the Leland Hotel, after which he took charge of the Minot Waterworks, continuing as engineer in that city for almost seventeen years. During the entire time he has never been off duty for a single day and frequently he has worked both day and night. He assisted in the installation of all the machinery of the plant and he keeps everything in excellent condition. He is still a large landowner in North Dakota, renting his land, from which he derives a good annual income, and in 1906 he completed his present home at the corner of Second St. Sothwest and Third Ave. He likewise owns other valuable city property near the State Normal School and his realty holdings are visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. His entire attention, is devoted to the waterworks plant and it is the consenus of public opinion that it would be impossible for Minot to secure a more competent and faithful official In 1894 Mr. Knudson was married to Miss Emma Bloom of White Bear Lake, MN. daughter of Caspar Bloom and Margaret (Elmer) Bloom. To Mr. and Mrs. Knudson have been born four children: Edith, Stanley, Ruth, and Esther who is four years of age.. Mr. Knudson is a member of the Association of Commerce at Minot and belongs to the Lutheran church. In politics he is independent but he has never been a office seeker, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his duties as superintendent of the waterworks in which connection his record has ever been most creditable. My mother was Ruth - Ole's daughter, Ole died in 1918 of TB, much family history is lost. Thank you for your interest, and any feedback would be very much appreciated. Barb Nelson (BNelson230@aol.com)

It is fitting quite well with your bio: Marriage of Knudt and Ragnhild, note the age difference: KNUDT HALVORSEN Male Event(s): Birth: Christening: Death: Burial: Marriages: Spouse: RAGNILD OLSDR Family Marriage: 27 OCT 1844 Sor Fron, Oppland, Norway Husband Age at Marriage: 55 Wife Age at Marriage: 25 Messages: Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date. Source Information: Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type: M420143 1816 - 1827 0125566 Film NONE M420143 1828 - 1838 0125566 Film NONE M420143 1839 - 1848 0125566 Film NONE Sheet: 00 > Ole was one of twins, the youngest children in a family of ten. He attended > school in Norway and at the age of 12 years began earning his own living by > working in a livery stable, where he was employed for four years. His mother > being a widow, he contributed to her support and at the end of that time he > returned home and assisted his mother on the farm, his father having died when > Ole > was but six years of age. He continued at home until he reached the age of > eighteen, after which he was employed by a farmer of Norway for two years. > Attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he then came to America, > making his way to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, at which time he was totally > unacquainted > with the English language. He was first employed in the piling lumber, > working in that way throught the summer after which he secured a job on a tug > deck, > spending two summers in that way. He was next employed on a carriage in a > sawmill for seven seasons, at the end of which he went to St. Pa;ul, > Minnesota, > wher he secured a position as a stationary engineer. He had learned the trade > when a young lad and he followed that business in St. Paul for seventeen > Years, > continually promotion hes energy and efficiency through his wide experience. > In 1899 he took up his abode on a claim near Minot and for one year he was > employed as engineer at the Leland Hotel, after which he took charge of the > Minot Waterworks, continuing as engineer in that city for almost seventeen > years. > During the entire time he has never been off duty for a single day and > frequently he has worked both day and night. He assisted in the installation > of all > the machinery of the plant and he keeps everything in excellent condition. > He is still a large landowner in North Dakota, renting his land, from which he > derives a good annual income, and in 1906 he completed his present home at the > corner of Second St. Sothwest and Third Ave. He likewise owns other valuable > city property near the State Normal School and his realty holdings are > visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. His entire > attention, is devoted to the waterworks plant and it is the consenus of public > opinion > that it would be impossible for Minot to secure a more competent and faithful > official > In 1894 Mr. Knudson was married to Miss Emma Bloom of White Bear Lake, MN. > daughter of Caspar Bloom and Margaret (Elmer) Bloom. To Mr. and Mrs. Knudson > have been born four children: Edith, Stanley, Ruth, and Esther who is four > years > of age.. > Mr. Knudson is a member of the Association of Commerce at Minot and belongs > to the Lutheran church. In politics he is independent but he has never been a > office seeker, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his duties as > superintendent of the waterworks in which connection his record has ever been > most > creditable. > > My mother was Ruth - Ole's daughter, Ole died in 1918 of TB, much family > history is lost. > Thank you for your interest, and any feedback would be very much appreciated. > Barb Nelson (BNelson230@aol.com) > > > ==== NOR-OPPLAND Mailing List ==== > http://www.nhohlag.org/stevne.htm > Announcing the 2003 Tre Lag Stevne. A joint Stevne of Gudbrandsdalslaget, > Tr?nderlag of America, and Nord-Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go > to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >