Martin Somdahl (1855-1931), son of Ellingsen Somdahl and Martha Severson, was born at Honefoss, a suburb of Oslo, Norway. He was married in 1881 in Norway to Marie Jonine Olsen Guldlin (18601930), a daughter of Lars Olsen Guldlin. He came to (Valley City) Dakota Territory in 1885 with his wife and son Carl. They were members of the family group of the Lars Olsen Guldlin family, consisting of Mrs. Maren Sander Guldlin and four daughters, Laura, Mina, Louise and Cornelia. Mr. Somdahl proved up on a homestead in Minnie Lake Township. He was employed by Mr. Parkhouse in a general store, then in 1892 bought out P. O. King's furniture business. Martin Somdahl was an undertaker and funeral director for forty years; he was Coroner for four terms and honored by a life membership in the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. Four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Somdahl: Carl Olaf - born in 1884 in Norway, attended school in Valley City, mechanical engineer - graduate of Purdue "U" in 1910. Built Valley City Gas Works in 1912; married Alma Berg (1893) of Valley City in 1914. Worked for Western Gas Construction Co. of Fort Wayne, IN 1900-1919; owner of Antigo Gas Co. 1919-1950. Their children are: Robert, Marjorie Somdahl Hagarty and Carl Walter. Clarence Ploug (1886) born in Valley City where he attended school. He graduated in mechanical engineering from Purdue "U" in 1910. He worked as a mechanical engineer for J. J. White Co. of New York; New York Central; Standard Gas and Electric Co., Chicago, Illinois and Sherwin Williams Co., Chicago, Illinois. He married Barbara Christie in New York in 1912. She died in 1936 and he married Harriet Green in 1951. The children are: Christie and Carlton Peter. Louis Nicholaus (1888-1960) born at Minnie Lake Township and married Elizabeth Schroeder, daughter of William G. Schroeder and Sophia Boxmeyer. Worked in grocery store in Valley City and then retired to Richland, Washington. Children: (Evelyn Elizabeth) (Phyllis Mae) and Eugene Louis. Olaf Nicholaus Guldlin Somdahl born in 1898 in Valley City, North Dakota. Graduate of Miami "U", Ohio. He was in the Investment Banking business, then several years with Prentiss Hall. In 1954 in Real Estate and Mortgage and Loan business in Miami, Florida. He married Inez Taylor in 1949 who died in 1953.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 228