Trysil Historielag

Born: 2 Jan 1839, Trysil, Hedmark, Norway

Married: 1) Maren Eriksdtr Lie, 27 Dec 1865, Trysil, Norway ; 2) Marthea Eriksdtr Lie, 31 Dec 1882, Wiser Twp, Cass Co, ND

Died:  14 Mar 1925, Harwood, Cass Co ND

Burial:  16 Mar 1925, South Nora Pioneer Cemetery, Wiser twp, Cass Co ND

Parents:  Morten Paulson Grønnesset & Kari Larsdatter Mellemsgaard

 

newsclipping, 15 Mar 1925

Valley Pioneer Dies at Home of Son at Harwood

Paul Mortenson Came to State in 1870 and Settled on Homestead

Paul Mortenson, one of the oldest pioneers in this part of the Red River Valley, died at 1 p.m. yesterday at the home of his son, Peter M. Mortenson, near Harwood.  Death was due to pneumonia after an illness of about 10 days. Previous to his last illness he had been enjoying good health continuously.

Mr. Mortenson was born at Trysil, Norway, Jan 2, 1839.  He came to the United States Aug 4, 1870* (see below) and came immediately to Harwood township where he took up a homestead. *

He was also one of the founders of Concordia College.

In 1865 he married Maren Lie, who died in 1881. He later married Mathea Lie. The second Mrs. Mortenson died in 1914.  Surviving are three sons, Emil J. and Otto J. of Moorhead and Peter M. of Harwood; four daughters, Mrs. Karen Bueide, Argusville, Mrs. J.C. Soberg, Wibaux, Mont.; Mrs. O.J. Ovrebo, Aneta, ND and Mrs. N.A. Peterson of Valier, Mont.  A brother, Morten Mortenson of Harwood and a sister, Mrs. A. Engemoen of McIntosh, Minn, also survive.

Funeral services will be held from the Nora church, 4 miles east of Gardner at 2 p.m. Monday, March 16. Rev. Ronsberg of Perley, Minn. will officiate.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.   The body will lie in state Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. in Wright’s funeral home.  It was Mr. Mortenson’s request that no flowers be sent.

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• Paul went first to Holmes City, MN before moving to Red River Valley.

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excerpts from ~ North Dakota History and People, Vol 2, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co, 1917. Lounsberry edition.

“…In 1870 he crossed the Atlantic, making his way first to Douglas Co (MN) where he remained for about three months.  On the 8th of October 1870*, he arrived in Cass County (ND) and settled on the farm which he now owns and occupies, its location being on Section 12, Harwood township. He then built a log cabin with bark and sod roof and puncheon floor.  From the door hung the latchstring, which was always welcome for their friends.  In that primitive home Mr. Mortenson remained for thirteen years, but as he prospered in his undertakings he added fine new improvements to his farm and now there are excellent buildings upon the place. He has two hundred and fifty -one acres of land located on the bank of the Red river and constituting one of the best farms of the county. At the present time…he is renting his land and is living retired for he is now well advanced in years.

Mr. Mortenson has been married twice.  In 1865, in Norway, he wedded Miss Maren (Lie)…by whom he had seven children, as follows: Emil, now a resident of Montana; Otto, living in Moorhead, Minnesota; Karen…married to Rev. L.H. Bueide; Marie, wife of John Soberg and lives in Montana; Minnie, the wife of Rev. O.J. Overbo of Aneta, North Dakota and two who are deceased.  The wife and mother passed away in 1881 and in 1882, Mr. Mortenson was again married Marthea Lie, sister of Maren, with whom he had three children: Peter, at home; Matilda, who is the wife of Nicholas Peterson, of Hunter, Cass County; and one who is deceased.

Mr. Mortenson and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and in politics he is a republican. He has served as township supervisor and as justice of the peace and is most conscientious in the discharge of his official duties. He has also been school director for a number of years.

…He still occupies the old farmstead farm where he has lived for forty-six years.”

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excerpts from “Nora Lutheran Church, Gardner ND, 125th Anniversary 1874 – 1999”, M. Leroy Madsen, editor.

“10 May 1874: First meeting of the Trysil (later named Nora) congregation held after church services at Paul Mortenson home.  The following formed the new congregation: Ole Strandwold, Paul Mortenson, Werner Saetre, John Johnson Saetre, Lars Christiansen Myhre, Hans Larsen, Hans Olsen Aastad.”

“24 January 1875: Congregational meeting. Paul Mortenson offered two acres of land for a cemetery free to the congregation, one acre to be fenced.” Later this site was rejected.

“ 16 September 1877.  …Committee of Paul Mortenson, Ole Strandwold and Martin Schou were to find a location to build a church or schoolhouse.”

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Paul and his family were members of Nora Lutheran Church, nine miles north of his farm.  He served as the “klokker” for many years and often walked the nine miles to church.

 

See Karen Bueide Stangeland  and Marthe Mortensdtr Engemoen and Morten Mortenson  and Lars Mortenson on this website.