Anders Lars Walen was born September 29, 1862, in Norway. He came to America in 1882, to the Willmar, Minnesota, area. He married Johanna Petterson on December 30, 1884. She was born June 19, 1868.

Anders and Johanna settled on a quarter of land in Section 8, Griggs County, North Dakota, east of where Binford now stands. There they dug a hole, 14 x 16 feet in a side hill. Boarded up inside with lumber, this became the first dwelling house of their own. A similar building was put up for the cattle, 12 x 24 feet, using willow rails purchased at Red Willow Lake to support the sod roof. It was good and warm but in the spring the cattle nearly drowned when the spring thaw came.

While living in the dugout house, three sons were born: Henry, April 6, 1886; Elmer, May 21, 1888; and Adolph, April 12, 1890.

Drought and hot winds killed the crops, and winters were harsh. Anders hauled bundles with an oxen team for two years. He worked west of Sykestori on a threshing crew in 1888.

In 1891, the family moved back to Brooten, Minnesota, where they lived for 20 years. Nine more children were born: Ida, May 16, 1892; Albert, August 28, 1894; Ingeborg Annette (Nettie), April 6, 1896; Victor, April 20, 1898; Mandel, March 27, 1900; Ella, May 9, 1902; Lillie, June 24, 1904; Alfred, December 3, 1906; Alma, March 1, 1909.

In March of 1910, Anders, Johanna and their family moved back to North Dakota. They first lived in Section 19, Glenfield Township. They later settled on Section 4, Glenfield Township. Anders purchased this land in 1917. In North Dakota, two more sons were born: Frederick, December 13, 1911; and Oscar, March 8, 1915.

Anders was a farmer, and served as Foster County Treasurer 1919-1920, Anders, Johanna and their family were members of the Glenfield Lutheran Church.

Johanna died November 3, 1935. Anders died August 9, 1945. Three of their sons settled on farms in Glenfield Township. Henry on Section 26, Elmer on Section 5, and Adolph on Section 3.

Source:  Glenfield History 1886 €“ 1987 Page 183