Ole J. Eidsvig

Ole J. Eidsvig was born in Alesund Sundmar, Norway on May 15, 1865. He received his education there. He came to America in 1886. During his first years in America he did farm work and railroad construction. This job took him west to Spokane, Washington.

Anne Jenson was born in Rusford, Minnesota, on December 26, 1871 to parents Ole and Marie. The family moved to North Dakota in 1880. They came by railroad to Valley City and came from there to their homestead 18 miles south of Valley City. This homestead is now the site of Kathryn. Somehow title passed out of Mr. Jenson's hands to someone else. Anne's grandfather had accompanied them from Rushford but died enroute from Valley City. He was the first person buried in the Waldheim Cemetery.

Ole Eidsvig and Anne (Bjerke) Jenson were married December 1, 1892. They perhaps spent their first year of married life in the log cabin owned by Karl Jenson and later the Walker place, present owner is Jewell Wadeson. Their first child, Martha, was born in this cabin on September 22, 1893. Annie and her sister Hilda homesteaded in Thordenskjold Township on the quarter Northeast of Section 30. This together with the quarter Southwest of Section 30, which Ole purchased, became the home of the Eidsvig family. With only about 100 acres of this farm being tillable, much of the income came from livestock. Like most early settlers they started farming with little to work with and no assets other than their willingness to work. Anne and Ole had seven children. Four living at this time. Anne's mother spent many years living with them. Their children worked hard along with their parents. Oscar, the only son, stayed home with his parents as long as they lived here and later purchased the farm. In 1927 the Ole Eidsvigs purchased a home in the outskirts of Litchville where Mr. and Mrs. Eidsvig and Hilda Jenson made their home as long as they lived.

In the earlier years Ole took part in the Equity, local Co-op and shipping associations. He was custodian at the Waldheim Church for many, many years. Ole and Annie took much interest in their church and community by their support of the small home towns of Eastedge, Kathryn and the Waldheim Lutheran Church. Their living descendants to this time number 121 , 5 children, Martha Strinden, Helen Nygard, Oscar Eidsvig and Olive Thorfinnson. 22 grand-children, 69 great grandchildren and 25 great-great-grandchildren.

Ole and Annie Eidsvig and Hilda Jenson are at rest in Waldheim Cemetery, which is located one mile from the family home.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 59