Born: 3 Dec 1850, Trysil, Hedmark, Norway
Married: 15 Feb 1900*, Osterdalen church, Harwood twp, Cass Co ND
Died: 9 Jul 1936, Cass Co, ND
Buried: Osterdalen Cemetery, Harwood twp, Cass Co, ND
Spouse: Ingrid Youngberg
Parents: Morten Paulson Grønnesset & Kari Larsdatter Mellemsgaard
* The marriage date disagrees with the information below but is correct according to Osterdalen church records and Cass County ND marriage records.
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Excerpts from History of North Dakota, History and People, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co, 1917, Vol. 2. Lounsberry. page 466.
… Morten Mortenson was born in the land of the midnight sun December 3, 1850, his parents being Morten and Kari Mortenson… They had a family of ten children, seven of whom are living, three being still residents of Norway, while four have come to America.
Morten Mortenson was reared and educated in Norway and in 1870 crossed the Atlantic, making his way to Minnesota, where he spent a year. On the 1st of April, 1871, he arrived in North Dakota, taking up his abode in Harwood township, Cass county, where he lived for several years. In 1877 he filed on the farm which he now occupies on Section 28, Harwood township, comprising at the present time two hundred acres of fine land which he has since splendidly improved. When he first came to this country, he worked at the carpenter’s trade but with the exception of a brief period has always carried on general agricultural pursuits and success has rewarded his efforts in substantial measure.
In 1890 Mr. Mortenson was united in marriage to Miss Ingrid Youngberg, a native of Sweden who came to the United States in 1882, locating in Cass Co. To them have been born three children, namely: Minnie A. who is a graduated of the Oak Grove Seminary and is now teaching school; Martin Arthur, deceased; and Oliver Kenneth, who is ten years of age.
The parents are members of the Lutheran Church (Osterdalen) and,…they have gained the warm regard and friendship of many of whom they have come in contact. Mr. Mortenson is independent in politics and for a period of ten years has filled the office of township clerk. He has also long been a member of the township board of supervisors, of which he was chairman for many years.
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Excerpts from “Harwood Centennial, 1882-1982”, p 101 (Veeder Hoag speaking)
“They (Mortensons) were real religious. One Sunday morning my grand-dad looked out and they were plowing out there. My grand-dad knew there was something wrong so he got on his horse and he rode over there. He said, “Morten, how come you work on Sunday?” “Is it Sunday?” “Yes” he said “It’s Sunday.” “Well, I must have forgotten to put the mark down. I didn’t know… I thought it was still Saturday.” And he unhooked his oxen right there and never went another inch. Unhooked his oxen and turned ‘em loose and left the plow in the ground and everything. My grand-dad said they were good neighbors. The best of neighbors.”
See Paul Mortenson and Marthe Mortensdtr Engemoen and Lars Mortenson on this website.
Morton Mortenson and Ingrid Youngberg were my great grandparents. Their daughter Minnie married Severt Severson – these are my deceased grandparents. They lived on the farm in Harwood ND and Oliver Kenneth (Uncle Kenneth) lived with them.
Minnie and Severt had three children: Ellery Wayne (my father – deceased in 1973), Joanne (still living – Dearborn Michigan) and one other child who died when he was five.
Ellery Severson married Helen Misckowiec in 1948. They had five children: Gregory Howard Severson (Luella Westrom – now deceased), Mark Ellery Severson(Bernadette Gerten), Risë Kasmirski (divorced from John Kasmirski), Brian Matthew Severson (Vicki), and Kathy Lee Smith (Ron Smith).
There are 10 descendents from these five children.
It was so exciting to read this history. I know that the farm was sold long ago. Since my father Ellery was a photographer, we have old photos somewhere of these deceased relatives. How would I get these to you?
Thank you for your work.