Born: 2 Oct 1865, Trysil, Norway
Married: 1) 29 Jan 1890, Clay Co, MN to Martin M. Ostby
2) 10 Dec 1898, Argusville, ND to Olaf P. Nordby
Died: 28 Jan 1931, Argusville, ND
Buried: Osterdalen Church cemetery, Argusville, Harwood twp, ND
Parents” Gjermund Gjermundsen Ostby
Marte Nilsdtr Flermoen
Inger immigrated in 1889 and came to Argusville, N.D. to be near her brother Gelinus. She met Martin M. Ostby and they fell in love and were married. Since North Dakota does not permit relatives to marry they got their license in Minnesota, rowed across the river to marry and came back to the N. Dak side for the reception. Inger and Martin had two sons – Melvin and Martin Ingman. Husband, Martin, had TB and when baby Martin was one day old he died. When Inger was told of his death she said she thought the logs of the cabin were rolling in on her and she fainted.
Ole, a brother, came from Norway to help Inger and he stayed until Inger married Olaf Persen Nordby. Olaf and Inger had 5 children and two of them died as babies. Olaf, who also developed TB, wanted to move back to Norway where the pure air would cure him. They took all 5 children which now included Olaf, Martha and Petra Nordby and went to Trysil.
While in Trysil another tragedy struck when they discovered Petra had a brain tumor and died. They also soon realized that Olaf was not getting any better and decided to go back to the U.S. so Inger would not lose her land.
One sunny day in 1906 Olaf took his boat and went down the Sheyenne River to visit friends. When he returned he had a coughing spell and died on the porch of their home. Inger managed to support herself and her 4 children ( two from the first marriage and Olaf and Martha from the second marriage ) by selling eggs, butter and she had a small piece of land that friends and neighbors helped her plant and harvest. When son Olaf was older he was able to help her until her death in 1931.
Inger was my grandmother and we lived with her 5 years in the new house my carpenter Dad built by the point where the Red and Sheyenne Rivers meet. I have many fond memories of going with my grandmother to take care of her chickens, geese and other animals. She never did learn English but in that Osterdalen Church neighborhood she had no problem. My mother told me that when “Ganny” was ill she would sit in her bed with her ukele and sing “Kan du glemme gamle Norge”.
~ submitted by granddaughter Ivy Ostby Hjornevik